Bear Hunt Questions, Ontario

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oldbill

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Interested in doing a bit of bear hunting in Ontario, in the Kirkland Lake area. I've got access to a cabin on Crown Land and have spotted bears and tracks in the area. I've searched through the Ontario regs and have found that I need to buy a tag, and thats about it.

I'm wondering if it's illegal to shoot a sow with cubs, a cub or a yearling. I understand it's unethical to shoot a sow with young cubs, but there is no information that I can find regarding minimum age or minimum size requirements. Moose and deer regs clearly denote differences in age and ### and issue specific tags for each.

I have also seen some outfitting websites say (paraphrasing) "each hunter gets a fresh bait site and if a sow with cubs starts to visit, you will get to hunt over a different bait site." So is this a legal issue, or a moral one?

In regards to the hunting over bait, I cant find any info that clearly states the practice is legal (which I understand to be the case) or illegal.

Also, I'd like to hear from anyone who has called bears. I've seen some vidoes and think that this would be a very exciting way to hunt bears. I've searched here and found a couple of threads mentioning calling bears, but nothing recent. Any tips, suggestions? Hoping to explore a few cuts where we've seen sign and try a dying rabbit call...
 
Not sure you will be able to call a bear...coyotes will come though...:D

All bears are open, but most prefer not to shoot sows/cubs if possible. You can bait them, or try spot and stalk if you have cuts around that have large areas to glass. Also, bear harvest report is mandatory, whether you fill your tag or not.

As an aside, I tried to buy a bear tag online, and there was no option for it, so I guess I will have to get one from the local retailer...
 
Thanks for the clarification Blargon.

I found this video and a couple others. It looks like it would be quite a trip to have a bear come in like that! I'm hoping to do a spot and stalk with a call to get him in close. I may bait, but my location is far away, and I'm only there for about a week. I know alot of guys bait for weeks in advance which is something I can't do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-DpfTHEmlY
 
There are a few ways to spot and stalk black bears successfully in Ontario. However IME they are very dependent on having large areas of open ground and weather/winds/temp and blueberries still in the open areas (none this year when the season opened). Without going into details baiting will be your best chance to get a bear.

But I would suggest a dual approach might work if you want to spot and stalk - do that mid day. Prime baits in the morning and hunt over one in the late afternoon/evening till last light. Set up maybe three different stations where you find existing fresh tracks or scat. I use sweet feed as it doesn't go bad. Use a bacon burn or honey burn with a propnae torch to advertise. Many times I've had bears on the bait in one day if location is where sign is present.

I like tree stands as it's harder for the bear to wind you. On the ground they often circle and figure you out and won't come in. Many times I've witnessed a bear swinging his nose high in the air - standing up on haunches too - to test the air for danger. On the ground it's harder to beat them at that game but does work if you manage your scent.

I have a video of a specialist bear caller. It can work. But the problem with calling in bush is any predator can show up and it could be somewhat dangerous by yourself IMO. Remember everything coming is looking for dinner, salivating already. Cats, canines, raptors, owls of every kind indiscrimately show up IME. You are ringing the dinner bell. I call in winter so never had a bear come in. So be sure you have your back covered and can see far enough. I've often thought a rear view mirror could be handy:) I've heard of foxes sometimes being right pissed off and very aggressive.

Good luck.
 
Its a moral issue in the fall. When we had a spring hunt it was illegal to shoot a sow with cub(s) the fall they can be taken. If the cubs are large enough I think they will live I will think of taking the sow. I'd prefer to take a cubless sow or a boar. Kirkland has lots of bears around last time I was up that way. Good luck
 
oldbill said:
I have also seen some outfitting websites say (paraphrasing) "each hunter gets a fresh bait site and if a sow with cubs starts to visit, you will get to hunt over a different bait site." So is this a legal issue, or a moral one?
Click to expand...

I think this may be as much a safety issue as a moral one.

The outfitter may want his potential clients to feel that they don't have to be compelled to be in close proximity to a sow with dependent cubs if he/she is not comfortable with it. They are known to defend their little ones and have the means to really ruin your day if they choose.
 
"Not sure you will be able to call a bear...coyotes will come though..."

Early this spring I had a big bear come to my coyote calls within 40m (after 4 minutes of calling) in the Sudbury area, so ya never know! Good luck!
 
Thanks guys. I am planning to hunt with a couple of friends, so hopefully we'll be able to cover our flanks and prevent an attack from a hungry critter. We have spotted lynx and red fox in the area and heard the wolves at night.

Niggles, I'm an invited guest at the cabin so I'm not in a position to be extending invitations. I am moving to the Liskeard area in the spring and would be keen to catch up with anyone from the area for a bit of fishing or hunting at that time. actually making the 7 hour drive to look at a couple houses this weekend.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I'll be sure to post pics if it works out.
 
No problem Old Bill. Been interested in hunting bear but didn't want to go it alone. Going to start out with small game this season. When you do move to Liskeard definitely give me a shout. I'm new to Timmins and haven't met anyone here so a hunting/fishing buddy would be great. Liskeard's not a far hop for me :)

Cheers!
 
I live between Kirkland Lake and Timmins and hunt mainly oat fields, the bears and plentiful and very healthy this year, I'm done hunting them for this year with a 250 and 400 pound bear taken. I don't bait but will do a honey burn on occasion when there hanging up or only coming out after legal shooting light. This was the case with the larger bear and the burn worked on the first attempt to get him out much earlier than his pattern for the last 2 weeks.

I'm thinking maybe a "run and gun" style of hunting might work for you, cover as many prime locations as possible in your limited time and do some honey burns and maybe some light calling to get there attention and coax them out. Popcorn and bacon is also a high value bait that is easy to pack around and keep from spoiling.
 
I used to live between New Liskeard and Kirkland Lake, a wee place called Englehart. From what I remember, bears were plentiful. Honey burns work well to draw them in. I'm headed up there at the end of Sept. to hunt our property for rabbit and grouse. Next year I plan on doing bear up there. Wouldn't mind meeting up with a few experienced bear hunters for some tips/tricks while I'm there....
 
Im not hunting them this year. but Last time I did, I didnt' really enjoy sitting over the bait. The most fun I had was trying to sneak in while they were at the bait. (which was fairly often once you figure out the time pattern) their senses are so keen..I was able to get into range a few times but never pulled the trigger. It is fairly common to have a Sow and cubs come into a bait....need to be patient and possibly have another site you can use.

About calling, Ive read its doable but they don't come reliably and would most likely come during mating season which does not coincide with bear hunting season.
 
Nice to hear from some locals. Congrats on finishing the season with two bears Max. I was up over the weekend and signed on a house in Cobalt, just waiting for the home inspection.

Checked out the area and didnt' see any big game, but I'm heading back up in a couple weeks to try my luck!
 
Did you find a house with some property or will you be going out looking for place to hunt?

New Liskeard sits on an agricultural belt that get milder winters and longer growing season than the area 30 minutes north or south of it. I know they are having problems with the deer but i'm not sure how dense the bear population is in this "belt".

If it doesn't pan out with the farms your best bet might be to spot and stalk the clear cuts north of Engelhart. Remember to bring a shotgun because the grouse season opens on the 15th.
 
Thanks Max. The house we looked at is in town. A friend owns rights to a cabin near cheminis road, NW of Kirkland Lake near the Quebec border. We will be hunting bush and cuts in the area. Liskeard is an odd sight, coming over the hill on 11 and coming out of rocks, trees, rocks, trees into a perfectly flat farmland that looks like southern ontario.

We are excited to take some grouse for bush dinners. Good to hear about the deer population too. Trouble for farmers makes for easier permission to hunt!
 
You can certainly spot-n-stalk bears... we have taken a few in berries and cherries... and also grain fields. Two of my bears were taken by calling them in with a calf squawler... they were both adult males... but I made dozens of stands over the span of years for those two archery bears... I did call in two more that I could have taken had I been rifle hunting.
 
Cheminis Rd is straight south of where I hunt in the same WMU. We hunt near the corner of hwy 672 and hwy 101. Try to find the natural food sources and you'll find the bears, I set up my cam on a carcass the farmer dumped and I have tons of pics of them walking right by to get to the oats, not one bear even stopped for a scond. When there's berries and grain the only way I can get them to eat meat is to cook it first and i'm surely not doing that.

Anywhere from that camp headed north should put you in prime moose country as well.
 
Thats the hope! Bear in September and moose in October. I suppose October could be a second shot at bears if we dont fill tags on the first trip.
 
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