Spring is an exciting time. The snow finally melts, making access easier for much of the backcountry. For hunters, spring also means the first big game hunt of the year. Many provinces and states have a spring black bear season starting somewhere around April and running through to June. In my home of British Columbia, hunting over bait is illegal. Spot and stalk bear hunting is hard work but very rewarding. In celebration of the upcoming season here are a few tips to help make your spot and stalk bear season a success.
Cover Ground Early
The first tactic for bears is to get out and cover a ton of ground early in the season. In my experience, this is the best way to identify the first pockets of green-up before the bears wake up. Up in the north, the season will usually open before most of the bears have woken from hibernation. Still, it is very important to hit the ground on or near opening day and cover a lot of territory.
April bears are food driven animals and they are going to go to the fresh feed. Fresh grasses as well as succulent vegetation like sprouting skunk cabbage are prime feed in early spring. These prime food sources are going to sprout a week or two before most of the bears leave hibernation. It’s imperative that you use these two weeks to find these food sources so you can capitalize when the bears do wake up. The best way to find these food sources is to cover ground on foot, noting small marshes and sunny roadways that hold food.
Hunt Southern Facing Slopes
Another great tactic is to focus on southern facing slopes early in the season. They are going to green up first because they get more sunlight. This means access will be easier because there will be less snow. Plus, there will be more bears because there is more food. Bears don’t tend to leave an area with food. This means that unless they have a good reason to leave these slopes, they won’t.
Pay Attention to Poop
As the season progresses it is important to read the bears diet from its scat. This will give you two key pieces of information: 1. What is the bear eating? 2. Is this a bear I want to eat? Many hunters have shot a bear too close to human civilization and lived to regret it.
Remember, the bear is a sum of its diet. A bear that has been feeding on garbage or rotting salmon is going to taste like it. On the other hand, a bear that has been feeding on mountainside grasses is going to taste similar to beef. Carefully analyzing the feces of your quarry makes you a more effective hunter and improves the quality of your tablefare. Sometimes it can even pay off in other ways. Once I was following a set of fresh bear tracks in dense timber with my brother. I stopped to examine a pile of poop. I whispered to my brother that the poop was still warm. My brother responded by tapping my shoulder and pointing; The bear was 40 yards away!
Judge Carefully
Another consideration when hunting bears is taking the time to carefully judge a bear before you decide to harvest it. First off, there is an ethical responsibility to make sure that it is not a sow with cubs before you shoot. Furthermore, bears are notoriously difficult to judge on the foot. However, there are some key indicators that you can look for that will give you and idea of the size of a bear.
Bears tend to age a little bit like people. Very few of us are as long, lean, and lanky in our 40’s as we were at 17. If you come across a bear that looks like they are all legs, it won’t be a trophy. Don’t fall victim to ground shrinkage.
Another good indicator is the head. A big boar has a stubby snout and short tiny ears. A younger bear will have a longer, more dog-like snout and larger ears. Big old boars appear stubbier, both in build and facial appearance than their smaller counterparts.
Finally, the biggest clue to the size of a bear is it’s attitude. Male bears are very territorial with other males. In addition, they will practice infanticide on cubs they can find in order to put the mother back in heat. This mean smaller males and sows will be on alert while feeding. Truly big boars on the other hand are well aware they are the biggest baddest thing on the mountain. They will feed without concern and will plod along with a swagger of sorts which smaller bears do not possess.
Be Persistent
Finally, dogmatic persistence is a huge asset during bear season. Everyone would like to harvest an early spring black bear with their immaculate coats. However, it is important to keep in mind that the later in the season, the better your odds. As the season goes on more and more bears wake up from hibernation. Then, in late May to early June the bear rut kicks off and the hunting is the best it will be all year. If you don’t fill your tag early keep pushing as your odds of success will only grow.
Closing Thoughts
Spot and stalk bear hunting is great way to harvest some delicious meat and extend your hunting season. Bears behave different from ungulates creating new challenges and learning for hunters. Covering ground early on southern facing slopes, following poop, judging carefully and being persistant are all key to bringing down the bruin of a lifetime. Hopefully these five tips help you connect with a spring bear this season.