Spot and stalk bears

[calgarychef1]

Well I've hunted bear a couple times with the rifle over bait. I got a nice one, better than average actually but it wasn't too challenging so I swore off bear hunting. Then I bought a bow....I'm still not keen on baiting to get a bear and spring is coming up. Who spot and stalks bear, and can anyone give me any pointers. Seems like a great way to get out without having to wait for fall to roll around. Besides I think some bear mucklucks would be great to wear to the next PETA convention!!!

Thanks

The chef

[Kirby]

Well, in bc we have to spot and stalk, or hound hunt our bears. I personally like spot and stalk. First, clear cuts are the key. The bears will head out to the fresh grass on the roads when the snow first dissapears. Spot them, and make your move. They aren't the most difficult animal to stalk. Move slow, and move when thier heads are down. I also like to just make my way down the road on foot. Lots of guys tend to just cruise the road in the truck, and glass.
Good luck, and carry back up :razz:

Kirby

[HOYTarcher]

In Alberta I've had my best luck spot and stalking for big bears. Don't see quite as many but generally run into larger boars. My best was a 21 1/16 boar taking on a spot and stalk hunt. I've found that the non-baiting areas are the best, since the bears seem to remain out feeding longer and don't tend to be moving to or from bait sites. Unless your in a very remote area it seems a lot of the bears in baiting areas become very conditioned to using the bait sites. The best areas I have found tend to have some recent oil & gas activity (within 3 years). Look for an area with fairly new roads and pipelines. Generally the ditches are seeded to clover as are the pipelines. The pipeline RoWs tend to green up first sine they are open and warm and the clover draws bears. I have seen as many as 20 bears in a single evening in good areas. Not as many as you might see in BC but still good numbers. I generally quad pipelines and old roadways (logging) looking for bears and sign. If I find a large amount of sign on a particular line I'll check this area regularily. I've found even if you spook a bear off a line when checking it the bear often comes back within an hour or two, so I'll set up in the area and wait. Remember if your hunting in a Grizzly season in AB you can't use your quad until after noon.