I’ve officially eaten tag soup for eight years running both spring and fall which brings my streak to 16 unfilled bear tags. At this point, I’m scratching my head and questioning my strategy. I’ve considered booking a guide, though with the high cost I’d prefer to get it done on my own if possible. If anyone is willing to share some general areas or any advice that isn’t “south facing slopes with first signs of green” to help me finally harvest my first bear this year, I’m all ears. I would truly appreciate any lead or insight at this stage!
Alberta spring bear HELP
- Thread starter ASP95
- Start date
How do you hunt and what areas are probably good info. I see baiting is allowed in AB. Have you sat over bait?
Licensed to kill
CGN Regular
- Location
- Peace Country Alberta
Would help to know where you are located or planning your hunt.
I’m in Calgary I’ve gone all over the place, bearberry, Rocky, burnt timber, Caroline, porcupine hills. The list goes on. And yes baiting would be good but with really the best place close to me that you can bait being a few hour drive it’s not really doable from my understanding as restocking would involve approx 5hrs of driving a week.
Eventually one will cut a track crossing the road
Check some of the burned areas from a couple years ago , you might be pleasantly surprised and rewarded too.
Rob
- Location
- AB foothills
How are you hunting, need more info. All of those areas are loaded with bears, should have had a bunch on the ground by now…
You don’t want to hear about south facing slopes in the spring? Well, you’re not doing something right.
Tell us more please.
Baiting is by far the most effective, but it does take time and effort, and with today's fuel prices, it isn't cheap. Even setting up a few baits with cameras will let you see what is in rhe area, even if you aren't willing to maintain baits long term.
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
Find a buddy to go with you so you can sit back to back when you do this...use a predator call in any of the areas you mention....just be aware that when you do call, they are hunting you as much as you are hunting them.
I’m sorry to say if you can’t kill a bear in Alberta then your hunting skills are nonexistent, I would go as far to say you just are not even trying. You must be just buying a tag and sitting in your living room in the city waiting to see one. They are every where. Drive down any oil field road and you will see bears. Dive down hwy 881 up north and you can shoot one right off the side of the highway. Come the fall I will have to shoot 3-4 from eatting our grain here at our place.
Venture north to Slave Lake, find cutlines, meadows or old logging/oil roads. Bears venture-out in these areas, from 1:00 pm until dark. I usually sleep-in during the morning hours, being that bears are not as active during these times. Early June is best for the big boars.
- Location
- AB foothills
Why?
All the areas he has said he has hunted are loaded with bears. Why go all the way to SL?
And yes, I’ve killed lots of bears, including up at Slave Lake.
