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03-27-2024, 04:45 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 858
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Early Bear
I have a picture taken of one out on January 31 near Breton.
If I could figure out how to post it off my phone I would. (Computer, not me..)
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03-27-2024, 05:20 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Near Edmonton
Posts: 15,656
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Supermag
Exactly! I also found that the cutlines don't green up until then too. I only do spot and stalk.
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I hear you and in general I agree, but there are many areas that green up long before the cutlines. If you want to hunt bear early, baits help a lot. If you want to spot and stalk early, like I said, find creeks, rivers, beaver dams and south facing slopes or open areas with water. You won't see as many bears early but the hides are prime and it is fun hunting before the bugs come out in large numbers.
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03-28-2024, 07:04 AM
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Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 351
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Hi,
New-ish hunter here. Never shot a bear, bit this year is my year. I couldn't say whether they are up and about yet, but I am gonna try and go out every weekend starting this weekend (just scouting). Worst that can happen is your get some fresh air and exercise.
That's my theory anyway....
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Quasi-newbie, adult onset, diy, budget hunter/angler
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03-30-2024, 10:33 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Communist Capital of Alberta
Posts: 4,021
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MaxxiD
Hi,
New-ish hunter here. Never shot a bear, bit this year is my year. I couldn't say whether they are up and about yet, but I am gonna try and go out every weekend starting this weekend (just scouting). Worst that can happen is your get some fresh air and exercise.
That's my theory anyway....
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Typically I would say start your search around beaver dams and such where they would be looking for beavers and frogs.
But being as there is no snow in the fields and most water is still frozen, you might have some luck looking along the edges of last year's oat fields
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Social acceptance is NOT effective therapy.
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04-02-2024, 02:42 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 4,295
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First Bear Smart report of the year, Grizzly tracks spotted in the snow near Winchell Lake, Tire Bob country.
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Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there is no place, that they be alone in the midst of the Earth.
Isaiah 5:8
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04-02-2024, 11:24 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 3
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First bear of the year for me…
Boar grizzly in JNP near Disaster Point. Was moving pretty slowly… I think it had emerged from his den fairly recently. Digging in slopes for roots etc. took (poor) photos with phone camera. Will upload later when I can get that process figured out.
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04-03-2024, 12:11 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Fort Sask, AB
Posts: 4,980
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Early this morning on our land / crown land boundary cell cam.
This is the earliest we’ve got a bear pic, as specially a griz.
TBark
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04-03-2024, 04:13 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 132
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TBark
Early this morning on our land / crown land boundary cell cam.
This is the earliest we’ve got a bear pic, as specially a griz.
TBark
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Swan Hills area?
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04-03-2024, 04:28 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Fort Sask, AB
Posts: 4,980
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Snipe Lake / Sunset House area.
TBark
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04-03-2024, 05:01 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 16,270
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Grizzlies are an animal of a different colour altogether
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“I love it when clients bring Berger bullets. It means I get to kill the bear.”
-Billy Molls
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04-03-2024, 07:27 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pathfinder76
Grizzlies are an animal of a different colour altogether
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Very true.
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04-03-2024, 08:35 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,696
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There is always a few early bear sightings regardless of weather and there is always going to be people getting excited. There was a time I was out bear hunting every spring early but in time I learned to wait. I have personally seen bears at every month of the year so not surprised by early sighting
I have only ran a bait once and it’s just not for me so can’t speak on that. I have taken a lot of bears and been in on a ton of bear kills all spot & stalk or calling. Probably had some of the best mentors for bear hunting a guy could ever have too. Not even going to throw out a number of bear kills I have been part of because I am not interested in the BS
Here is what I will say with 100% confidence early springs are the worst for spot & stalk. They don’t lead to much of an early season at all. Majority of bears start moving around the same time every year. The downside to an early spring is when things green up they do so fast over a larger area. This spreads bears out because they have more options. It also causes more vegetation inside the bush to green up offering feeding areas that are harder to glass
Early springs suck and will take a late green up that concentrates bears into limited feeding areas
Personally I would not even start looking till last week April and wouldn’t expect things to get decent till after the first week of May
But hey if a guy wants to burn fuel and hike around with a rifle starting opening day giver.
One thing I have learned as I got more experience hunting is timing is important
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04-03-2024, 09:13 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Camrose
Posts: 46,149
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When I ran baits, the first bears usually showed up around the third week of April, and by the start of May the hunting was getting good.
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Only accurate guns are interesting.
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04-05-2024, 04:20 PM
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: red deer
Posts: 3,372
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Possibly looking for a bear hunting sidekick or I wanna tag along more likely hahaha , if y’all need a wingman please PM me. Thanks
I know of a good spot west of mayerthorpe , was there years and years ago. Passed on a black bear as I wanted bigger.
But yea ….. thanks
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04-07-2024, 08:36 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 558
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Have yet to bump into a bear. Have a bait out and moose head laying in the yard that I keep expecting to wake up and find gone but all is quiet so far here in SK.
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04-08-2024, 11:30 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gilby
Posts: 57
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I have a goat carcass for bait near Eckville, posted in the Hunting buy and sell if anyone is interested.
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04-10-2024, 10:41 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,346
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Some bears still in/near den sites. Some aren't.
As pathfinder 76 mentioned "this is a big province" and everyones mileage can and will vary.
There’s currently (dated March 23rd) another “bear in area/winterkill” area closure on Vermillion Lakes BNP:
https://calgaryherald.com/news/local...-to-winterkill
Remarkable the microscopic food morsels (grain, sticklebacks, whitefish suckers et al) bears are able to kickstart their season and sustain their days on.
Banffs bear `122 confirmed sighting March 14 2022 -this year March 18th.
Downhill from Sunshine Meadows (possibly Vermillion Lakes) across Bow River north along tracks paralleling 1A highway. 50k +- thats not even close to 122s denning area (heck a guy can still ski at Sunshine).
Creeky....
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__________________
#WISHING YOU A HAPPY WHATEVER DOESN'T OFFEND YOU
#I Am An Outdoorsman And I Approve This Message
#creativity can't wait for technology
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04-10-2024, 11:12 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,923
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Saw my first one of the year South of Lac La Biche on the shoulder of Hwy 55 this last weekend. No surprise to see them anywhere, but will be a while before they do much.
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04-10-2024, 03:01 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,062
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Saw one last week when I was looking for sheds around whitecourt
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04-18-2024, 07:46 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 59
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Anyone have any hitting their baits yet?? Just hung the stand and filled the barrel today
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04-18-2024, 08:00 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 558
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Will check Saturday, been baited since last Wednesday. I’m sure there will be bears on it, something drug a bull moose head aways in my yard and it wasn’t my old lab who spends most of her time inside now.
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04-19-2024, 09:52 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 132
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brayden3131
Anyone have any hitting their baits yet?? Just hung the stand and filled the barrel today
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They’re definitely out and about.
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04-20-2024, 06:51 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: 509
Posts: 881
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I have 2 baits this year. I lost 2 to wildfire last year. Sucks as both had good bears on them. But all the trees are toast so moved one to my quarter and my other bait is well established.
My new bait has not been hit. But my old bait has had bears on it since April 10.
My buddy shot a nice 6ft last night with his muzzloader huge head probably go 19.5 or a tad more. His first sit of the year.
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04-24-2024, 11:25 AM
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Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 483
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curious
Anyone have reasonible harvest success calling bears ? Kinda want to try it 🤷*♂️
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04-24-2024, 10:41 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Fort Sask, AB
Posts: 4,980
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Family time,
From this morning.
TBark
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