Hello everyone, I am newish to hunting, have shot small game and the odd deer. However I have set my sights on the mightiest creatures in BC, the moose and the Grizzly bear! I dont know why I want to hunt one, I just have this small voice inside saying, to achieve your status of being a mighty hunter, you must hunt something mightier. I love the outdoors and camping and everything to do with that. But I have heard the call of the wild, and grizzly bear is on the list of things to check off. Now, I am a BC resident so I can hunt a Grizzly bear with an LEH tag. I figure they will cancel the hunt in a few years, from public outcry, so I have to get on this. Any experience will help. Here come the questions. 1. what areas do I apply for? 2. Will my 300 win mag SAKO do the trick? 3. Does anyone want to go on a trip? 4. What kind of equipment other than basic camping stuff will i need? 5. Boat/quad/bear proof camper? 6. How do I find them in the woods? 7. Are they plentiful? 8. How long a hunt should I plan? 9. Has anyone seen bears in this area before? 10. Are there any ways to increase my odds of getting an LEH tag? 11. What do I do with it after its shot? 12. How to I save the pelt? 13. Do I have to use the meat? 14. How much would a fair guided service cost, by a liceneced guide? 15. Has anyone used any specific guiding companies? 16. Maybe in the Yukon too? 17. Is it worth paying a guide? 18. Does anyone love it so much they would just love to come and show me how to do it, or do it with me? I have a lot of good skills in the woods, I cook a mean steak, I have experience on other game, though the game I shot had not nearly as pointed of teeth.
Any experience in BC Grizzly hunting? Anyone need someone to go with?
- Thread starter bigbore14
- Start date
There's a lot to be said for hiring a guide, and i've heard tell you can get guides for about 5000 bucks for a griz hunt these days. There's a lot more tags out there than there used to be.
Shy of that, i think it's definately wise to talk to people who've hunted them a fair bit... one thing everyone who's got experience seems to agree on is that you REALLY want to know what you're doing.
BTW, have you ever hunted black bear? It's not the same thing, but it IS probably good if you've at least shot a few bears before, it will give you some idea of the difference between a bear and a deer for example.
Shy of that, i think it's definately wise to talk to people who've hunted them a fair bit... one thing everyone who's got experience seems to agree on is that you REALLY want to know what you're doing.
BTW, have you ever hunted black bear? It's not the same thing, but it IS probably good if you've at least shot a few bears before, it will give you some idea of the difference between a bear and a deer for example.
Anyone know any guides who charge $5000? I could afford that. What is the cheapest guide anyone has actually got a Grizz with? No, I have never hunted blacks, but am out looking this weekend hopefully, near Cashe Creek.
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Grizzly hunts are a HELL of a lot more than $5,000
..ALL the questions you ask are legitimate ones...i know a LOT of the grizzly guides and areas that hold good bears and no one wins by taking a small imature animal..
My personal opinion is we should be limited to ONE grizzly in our hunting carreer that way we ensure its a goody...
I will help you , as I said in my PM..shoot me off a ph. # and I will give you whatever help you ask or need .
I got your Pm..and will answer these questions..
And if all else fails..I will go with you..although there are PLENTY of exellent experienced hunters here willingto just go along on a grizzly hunt.
Steven
..ALL the questions you ask are legitimate ones...i know a LOT of the grizzly guides and areas that hold good bears and no one wins by taking a small imature animal..My personal opinion is we should be limited to ONE grizzly in our hunting carreer that way we ensure its a goody...
I will help you , as I said in my PM..shoot me off a ph. # and I will give you whatever help you ask or need .
I got your Pm..and will answer these questions..
And if all else fails..I will go with you..although there are PLENTY of exellent experienced hunters here willingto just go along on a grizzly hunt.
Steven
- Location
- Lakes District BC
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GOOD guides cost more and with royalty fees are a hell of a lot more than $5K
its STILL costs...by the time you are finished its closer to $10-12K..
there is a Saskatewan Grizzly hunt..on 3rd and main thats running $5k.. bone collector why dont YOU go check that one out...
quickly tiring of your petty attacks...theres a Greyhound leaving for Sask. PLEASE be UNDER IT...
Steven
its STILL costs...by the time you are finished its closer to $10-12K..
there is a Saskatewan Grizzly hunt..on 3rd and main thats running $5k.. bone collector why dont YOU go check that one out...
quickly tiring of your petty attacks...theres a Greyhound leaving for Sask. PLEASE be UNDER IT...
Steven
- Location
- Lakes District BC
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Bones, the outfitter you linked to charges $5000 for the 10 day grizzly hunt, and $5500 for a trophy fee. So if you were to go on a grizz hunt and kill a grixzzly, it would be $10500.00 before any other fees.
Those are listed in US dollars, for 2006.
I think there was only one grizzly in thier photo gallery. (Nice grizz, though)
Those are listed in US dollars, for 2006.
I think there was only one grizzly in thier photo gallery. (Nice grizz, though)
That is like pricing out a hooker and taking the cheapest one.
references from past customers and feedback are a good way to get the info you need. then follow it up on CGN by asking about the particular outfitter you chose. Yes $$$ is always a concern, but there is no use p*ssing $$$ away and getting substandard guiding. any guide will take your money, a few will produce results. hunting is hunting, no guide will guarantee you a bear. but at the end of the hunt, you will decide if it was worth it.
nothing worse than spending thousands for some guide to show up with a new tent and a bag of hotdogs.
]
Areas with low odds, that you can access. No point in getting a tag for an area that you can't get to.
Since you are pretty inexperienced, I'd reccomnd getting the LEH synopsis, and a BC mapbook and seeing where you can drive to, and hunt on foot/quad afterwards.
Yes, use good bullets like TSX, Nosler PArtition.
Only stuff specific to where you are, and your hunting gear. Sharp knives, etc.
I'd stick to the easier access areas. Most bears will leave your camper alone.
Glass clearings, openings, slide shutes, look for food sources. Drive roads and look for bear scat. Follow up on foot.
About 25 000 is the latest estimate I saw. Black bears are about 150 000
Longer you can go, more chance of success. More time in the field= more opportunity.
They don't give out grizz LEH for grizzless areas
Apply to low odds areas.
Approach wiht caution, make damn sure it's dead.Approach from behind if possible. I liek to keep rifle trained at "dead" bear while I boot it's butt a few times. You can chuck some rocks at it, too.
If in doubt, shoot again. A wise man once told me "holes in grizzly hides are easier to fizx than holes in YOUR hide"
Check a diagram for skinning, remove all flesh/fat form pelt. Salt or freeze ASAP. There are quite a few websites detailing fur care, google them.
You are not required to recover the meat of a grizzly in BC.
The earliest you can get a grizz tag is this fall. I'd suggest applying for one in a low odds area that you can access, and taking tags for whatever else is open. Hunt everythign you can. You may get lucky and get a grizz, or get lucky and get a moose...
I'd also suggest you "warm up" with a spring black bear hunt. Black bear season is open now in most of BC. You *are* required to recover black bear meat.
Areas with low odds, that you can access. No point in getting a tag for an area that you can't get to.
Since you are pretty inexperienced, I'd reccomnd getting the LEH synopsis, and a BC mapbook and seeing where you can drive to, and hunt on foot/quad afterwards.
Yes, use good bullets like TSX, Nosler PArtition.
Only stuff specific to where you are, and your hunting gear. Sharp knives, etc.
I'd stick to the easier access areas. Most bears will leave your camper alone.
Glass clearings, openings, slide shutes, look for food sources. Drive roads and look for bear scat. Follow up on foot.
About 25 000 is the latest estimate I saw. Black bears are about 150 000
Longer you can go, more chance of success. More time in the field= more opportunity.
They don't give out grizz LEH for grizzless areas
Apply to low odds areas.
Approach wiht caution, make damn sure it's dead.Approach from behind if possible. I liek to keep rifle trained at "dead" bear while I boot it's butt a few times. You can chuck some rocks at it, too.
If in doubt, shoot again. A wise man once told me "holes in grizzly hides are easier to fizx than holes in YOUR hide"
Check a diagram for skinning, remove all flesh/fat form pelt. Salt or freeze ASAP. There are quite a few websites detailing fur care, google them.
You are not required to recover the meat of a grizzly in BC.
The earliest you can get a grizz tag is this fall. I'd suggest applying for one in a low odds area that you can access, and taking tags for whatever else is open. Hunt everythign you can. You may get lucky and get a grizz, or get lucky and get a moose...
I'd also suggest you "warm up" with a spring black bear hunt. Black bear season is open now in most of BC. You *are* required to recover black bear meat.
Randy is right.
I know lots of guides here that are fine YOUNG men, great fellas, work their arse off to get you your bear/boo, take good care of you too.
But none of them are 20, I can't imagine spending big coin and having a teenager take me out.
I know lots of guides here that are fine YOUNG men, great fellas, work their arse off to get you your bear/boo, take good care of you too.
But none of them are 20, I can't imagine spending big coin and having a teenager take me out.
I would talk to the taxidermist you're planning on using as well. There is sometimes differences in how they like to get their pelts and what they're willing to do on them.
I have to ask tho, and I really don't want you to take any offense to this - but have you hunted much big game before in bc? Like deer or moose? Grizzly is really not one of those hunts you want to do unless you've got a bit of experience, if you're relatively new to the game i'd DEFINATELY look at guides closely.
Often guide prices can be negotiated or you might be able to get in on a cancellation or who knows. Plus as a resident of bc some of the posted fees may not be as high or may not apply to you. It costs a lot less for you to buy a bear tag than it would for someone from out of province.
Grizzlies are not the easiest animal in the world to find, especially a good one, and at the end of the day they are one of the more dangerous animals to hunt. If you're new at the game, you need to offset that with some experience from SOME source.
I spent lots of time in the Nass valley and Meziadin country last year. Seemed to be lots of bears around especially blacks, but the grizz were there too. Look at areas that have access to salmon runs. Find the fish and usually you'll find the bears. You'll have to check what your draw odds are for that area, I don't know.
At the risk of getting shot down again..grizzlies are fairly easy to find come spring...look for SOUTH facing slopes..STEEP south facing slopes...in high remote locations..these tend to warm up and slide...once the snow has slid...the "slide" greens up fast and first..an draws grizzlies...and blacks in like magnets...its the GRUB.....
The GREAT thing is these slide areas can be observed on GOOGLE earth..
For coastal areas they love the tidal flat greens and grasses and SEDGES...COME SPRING...fall its the salmon..
Gate has some great point by point help he has given...
Of course experience helps I know slides that can be guaranteed to produce grizzlies every year..I know many that I have seen G bears on for decades...every spring..
Steven
..The GREAT thing is these slide areas can be observed on GOOGLE earth..
For coastal areas they love the tidal flat greens and grasses and SEDGES...COME SPRING...fall its the salmon..
Gate has some great point by point help he has given...
Of course experience helps I know slides that can be guaranteed to produce grizzlies every year..I know many that I have seen G bears on for decades...every spring..
Steven
