Black bear around Grande Cache?

[kayaker]

Evening guys,

I am mulling over some bear hunting plans for spring and was wondering about the bear hunting around Grande Cache, NE of town and along the Smokey?

I am up there every year in June to paddle anyway and wanted to combine my trip with a hunt this year, and also scope out some new areas.

I can't think why that area wouldn't be good for bears but wanted to see if any on AO had any experience bear hunting there? Have you seen many black bear around there in spring (I have seen tracks in the Willmore but no bears)?

I am probably asking a dumb question as I am sure its a decent bear area!

PS My plan is to hunt a lot on foot and do a fair bit of glassing.

Thanks again.

[bdub]

I hunted there the last year that grizzly was open in Alberta. I was lucky enough to have a grizzly tag for west of Highway 40. There was a pile of black bears at that time. Four of us went and we shot six bears in less than a weak. I could of shot two more as well but didn,t bother. I am sure that there are still lots there unless the grizzlies have them all eaten up. Good luck.

[Leather burner]

Plenty. Not many wildlife species you can't find around GC.

[huntin]

i'd head up the amerada road, there is a security gate but i dont think they can keep you off the road. Any time after the first of May the bears start showing up. but if the grass is starting to grow they'll be in the ditches. last time i worked on that road I got fired for hunting bears after work. was seeing like 8-10 bears a night. Apperently Encana has a no weapons policy.

[kayaker]

Thanks guys,

It seems to green up there quite slowly (cooler) so I'll poke around probably the last week of May/first week of June.

Cheers

[bdub]

I will look through my old hunting album and see when we went if that will help you. It's probably much earlier now with all the global warming thats happening!!!

[bdub]

Just checked my old album and we got there on April 29. Here a a couple of pictures to get you fired up I hope. The Grizzly tracks with the bullets beside them are pretty big. 300 Win Mag bullets for comparison. The other tracks are a gizzly hitting the river at a dead run after I jumped him off of the dead moose in the other picture. I found a trail pounded down coming off of the river up the river bank and into the bush. Had no idea he was there but was glad he blew out of there heading the other way.

[kayaker]

Great stuff!
Thanks!

April 29 is still quite early, you guys did well. I have tried around May 1st in other areas and it never seems as productive as later in May. Thats interesting.

I am hosting a friend from Ontario so need a pick a date and commit. Normally I just watch the weather forcasts and try and get local 'green-up updates'.

Cheers

[bdub]

I remember there was still snow in spots. We were trying to get a grizzly so we planned it for a bit early but the black bears were sure out by that time that year. We got the first one the first day we were there. Best of luck.