Alberta spring bear questions

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windy

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Planing my first year of black bear hunting this year in southern alberta. Our hunting regs state that the bear must be a year old and also that you may not shoot a bear with cubs. My questions are, will a sow have her cubs out of the den with her this early in the year? Will a black bear out on its own typically be over a year old and have got the boot from mom.
Thanks
Windy
 
The cubs usually stay with the sow until they're 1.5 years old or so, in other words they will spend two winters with her in the den. As an example, if cubs were born in January 2013, they would be with the sow until the summer of 2015. Sows that have cubs will generally have them by their side. It's not usual for a sow to leave the den and the cubs behind, they don't bring them food like mothers of other animals, as the cubs are still nursing.
Are you planning on baiting? This is a pretty good method for determining size and to ensure the bear your'e after is a solitary one. If you're doing spot and stalk, just watch the bear for a while to make sure he/she's alone. Sometimes cubs can be hidden in taller grass or up trees nearby.
I suppose it would be legal to shoot a yearling cub, but most would frown on that and they're still pretty small, 60-80 pounds max.
 
Don't shot the bear right away if you can help it ,watch it for a while if it has cubs they wont be far behind ,this yrs are tiny little things ,its quiet easy to tell wether its a legal bear or not
Good luck and post some pics when get one
 
Southern Alberta? Whereabouts? Are you just going for any size bear? Your average black bear is, 5' to 6'. Are you hunting for the rug, or more interested in the meat?

If you think you want to shoot a monster, black bears are really tricky to judge; the closer you get to the bear, the better you can judge their size (unless they are in that 'oh sh*t' size class).
 
I dont think Im too concerned about bear size. If the bear is too little I will let it walk. I will definetly get a rug made and I will keep the meat to try. Last fall I watched a monster eating berrys, unfortunatly the bear was grizzly brown but had black bear traites,so too close to call.
windy
 
Just had my bear alarm go off, got a text from a field operator in Fox Creek AB... He spotted a blackie rooting around a fresh berm on a new pad... I bought a tag Friday because work is slow, not in a hurry to fill it tho.
 
Boars tend to come out and wander about earlier, can't shoot a sow accompanied by cubs either. Cubs, one of those judgement calls, if they are alone, may or may not have parted company with mom. Size would be a good indicator. Who wants a tiny bear anyway ? :confused:

Grizz
 
I'm looking to do my first bear hunt with some friends this year, does anyone have some recommendations as to where, what to bait with and all that? I'm in northern ab by the way :)
 
Popcorn, used deep fryer oil, beaver, a dead cow or horse... If it's stinky and provides an easy meal chances are it will bring in a hungry and curious bear... Make sure you read the rules on baiting, follow em... Running a bait takes some dedication and time it's not just a weekend affair.

I see lots of bears over the course of a year but I work in the oilfield and put on 6000-10,000km per month, my best advice is if you want to hunt a bear then find a good pair of boots, study the habitat and feeding habits, get some good binoculars and take a hike! Whitecourt and Hinton/Edson are great areas and have access to lots of public land... Ask questions if you stumble onto an oilfield operator, you'll find that a can of pop and a brief conversation with the rite guy can put you on a fresh set of tracks pretty quick if the guy is tired of dealing with a curious bear....
 
I am buying a tag tomorrow, I will be hunting by whitecourt and then also by Lodgepole. I got a bear last fall by Whitecourt off of the Groat Creek road where all the old cut blocks are. Saw lots of other bears as well, took an old sow with a bad limp. When we skinned her out, she had a improperly healed broken leg. Definitely a good one to harvest.
Bear meat is delicious.
 
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