Spot and Stalk Black Bear Hunting
Black bears are one of my favorite animals to hunt. They are numerous in BC. We typically see 8-12 per outing in the spring, that's not a full day hunt, that's within just a few hours. Their population is very healthy, and not at risk here. In fact, biologists encourage more bear hunting in the province, with liberal seasons in the spring and fall. Black bears in the spring kill quite a few young moose, deer, and elk in my area, so management is quite important.
The best time of day to hunt them is the afternoon/evening. Bears aren't really morning creatures, not to say I haven't seen them in the morning, but you typically see way more starting in the afternoon. An observation of mine has been that they spook easier in the morning as well.
Spring vs. Fall? Spring hunts are my favorite because bears are easy to find and plentiful, plus it's nice to get out big game hunting after winter. The coats in early spring are the best for taxidermy; they aren't shedding yet, and still have the winter coat. My taxidermist prefers them. Also, the hide is much easier to deal with and preserve without all the fat that a fall bear has, needing to be scraped off. My husband prefers spring bear, because meat can be a bit 'greasy' in the fall on a fat bear. The best month for me is May; seems middle to end of May is the best. In the fall, September is when I see the most.
You don't have to go out in the middle of nowhere and hike in the mountains to find bears either. They're in logging blocks, and along the logging roads in abundance. Just look for fresh clover, dandelions, and grass patches, in spring. Therefore; the spring bear hunt is a very accessible hunt, and important for many people to be able to fill their freezers. I have been able to bring smaller bears back home by myself. When hunting in fall, if you find a good berry patch, bears will be nearby. Otherwise, glass logging blocks for fall hunts.
Lots of people are curious about what caliber rifle to use when black bear hunting. I find bullet construction is more important. A lot of hunters will say bears are easy to kill; however, in my own personal experience, I have found them to be much tougher than moose or deer. I have seen bears that are shot through the heart, with half of it blown apart, run 50 yards then drop. I've shot a couple of bears with healed, fractured, shortened legs and other old injuries; they are tough animals.
I can say the first bear I shot, was hit with a cheaper, lighter-jacketed 180gr bullet out of a .300winmag, and it turned and charged me. I ended up shooting it two more times to drop it. On inspection the weight retention of the first bullet was sub-par, and most blew up in the shoulder of the bear. I now shoot Nosler Partitions or Accubond bullets in my .280AI and. 300winmag. Another caliber I have found very effective is my .444marlin, shooting a heavy 240gr bullet. Whatever rifle you shoot, shoot a well constructed bullet, and make sure you take a good shot, because post shot, bears often won't leave much blood initially. The thick fur soaks up a lot of blood, and if hit high, you might have a hard time tracking in thick brush. Plus, you don't want to track a wounded bear. The vitals are lower, and further back in a bear than a deer, and are a smaller target.
What bear to select? Of course, avoid sows with cubs. So take time with spot and stalk, to observe a bear, and make sure it doesn't have young in its company. Bears are hard to judge, but boars(males) do have certain characteristics to look for. I find they have more blocky appearance, the front shoulders and legs are sturdy, wide, muscular, and wrists not tapered. I have noticed the snout on boars to be wider, with noses not so pointy, but square shaped. Big boars have a wide space between the ears, which can appear to be to the sides of the head, and even have scars on their face, and ripped, or missing ears from fighting. In BC, as long as a bear is not less than 2 years old, or a sow with cubs in its company, and not the white, Kermode, or glacier color phase, it's legal. Small bear, or large bear, it's up to the hunter to decide, and the size shaming that goes on in bear and deer hunting should really stop.
What is bear meat like? To me, the spring, grass eating, bears are quite mild, and not gamey. Similar to a pork/beef cross. The meat is often tougher, so I prefer ground, and sausages from my bears. Fall berry patch bears, often seem to have a sweeter, mild taste. It has a higher percentage of iron, than most meats and is very nutrient dense. Bear fat is more polyunsaturated and monounsaturated than deer or moose, some saying these are 'healthier' fats. You'll notice the fat doesn't stay as firm at room temperature as deer, or beef fat.
With any bear, cook it well to hit 165°F internal temperature for at least 3 minutes. There is a risk of trichinosis, as you may have heard from Steven Rinella, if bear meat isn't prepared properly. Meat yield is a bit less off a bear than many expect, around 30%, of the live weight. The butcher where I normally take my bear to be made into sausages and ground, states on average 70-75lbs is the yeild off most decent sized bears in our area.
If hunting for food, trophy, or both, bear hunting will get your adrenaline going. It's a controversial hunt for some people, so I try to stress that bears are an animal that is used to the fullest. The hide, meat, fat, and bones can all be used. It's law in BC to remove all edible meat from a bear. It's an important hunt, and we need to advocate for bear hunting's continued existence, whether it be spring or fall hunts, hound hunts, archery, rfle, etc...
Reel Camo Girl Pro-Staff Mandy Starnes