baiting or stalking

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cz1997

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Hello
I am a guy new to big game hunting, I have only hunted small games before. I got a break from April 19th to 25th this year. So, I am planning to find a guide to try black bear hunting. I found I can only hunt in British Columbia and New Brunswick in April. Guides in British Columbia only offer stalking hunting and guides in New Brunswick only offer baiting hunting. So i just want to know could anyone give me any suggestions which one is easier to get a black bear and more fun? Thanks for helping!
 
To me, the spot and stalk sounds like the more interesting way to go. In Ontario, and likely NB too, baiting is the only realistic way of getting a bear. The cover is generally too thick for spot and stalk.
 
Spot and stalk is decidedly more interesting, and fun, but baited stands will allow you to see more bears on average IMO. I've done both in Ontario. It is possible, but you are working at close quarters due to the visibility in the thick brush. You need to pick your spot and stalk area carefully if you want to get more open country. Still hunting is a technique that works, but it's not for everyone.
 
Op, two important questions: How fit are you? How accurate are you when you’re heartrate’s north of 120bpm?

Bait hunting is way easier physically, and your shots will be inside 50 yards.

Spot and stock typically means a harrowing uphill hike for several miles, sitting motionless for hours while glassing, (repeat for several days), find a decent bear, then put a stalk on it, which could take hours of zig zagging and back tracking to keep the wind and cover in your favor. Depending on the cover, your shot will typically be in the 100-300 yard range, and you’ll likely be out of breath when the shot presents itself.

... I guess there’s a third question: What kind of story are you hoping to tell after the hunt? :)
 
Depends on what your jam is.
Stalking... how much are you going to enjoy getting a workout, and maybe not putting yourself in a scenario where you might have a shot? Gonna see some nice countryside though.
Bait’n’wait... how much are you going to enjoy listening to a woodpecker bang away at the tree 3 feet above your head all day, staring at the same stump, but choosing which bear you want to take a shot at?

As a side note, next year I’d see if the time off could be pushed until after May 1. Plenty of black bear a few hours north, with far less expense.
 
I much prefer sitting on a nice stand over bait. I enjoy relaxing and listening to all the sounds of the forest and watching all the critters move around. We see on average 4-5 bears a night on the bait and they are fun to watch move around and interact with each other. Spot and stalk is the easier and cheaper way of hunting bear.
 
Both methods work and are appropriate for the different environments where they are practised. You have to determine what type of hunting you prefer and are physically suited for. I wouldn't worry too much though about extreme hiking for BC bears. Bear numbers are so high in much of BC that you will see several a day, and can pick the one that fits your ambition and stalking skills. In Saskatchewan we hunt over bait because otherwise you won't get a chance. I hunted bears spot and stalk for 5 years without seeing one in Sask. Gave up and went to bait, and have had constant success since. I suspect conditions are similar in NB.
 
scott_r said:
I much prefer sitting on a nice stand over bait. I enjoy relaxing and listening to all the sounds of the forest and watching all the critters move around. We see on average 4-5 bears a night on the bait and they are fun to watch move around and interact with each other. Spot and stalk is the easier and cheaper way of hunting bear.
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Ummm... no.
 
kodiakjack said:
Ummm... no.
Click to expand...

I shouldnt make such generalized statements but for for me it sure as heck is. For spot and stock I can drive up north, park truck and grab rifle and bino's and go for a walk. Heck most guys around here drive their truck and spot them from it and shoot them in the field.

When I bait bears I trap beavers all winter, skin flesh and save the carcass. Multiple trips all spring asking business owners for fryer fat and donuts. Then get a 30 foot trailer full of bait, barrels ATV trailers and tree stands. Then its multiple trips up north setting up numerous bait sites,setting up stands, cutting trees, making bridges ect... Multiple weekends rebaiting the sites and making sure the barrels are good. The only break you get is for a few hours sitting on the stand.

And cost...well figure it out buying a big 4x4 truck, numerous trailers, a good ATV....it aint cheap.

Spot and stock...much easier and cheaper in my books.
 
I'm in BC. Shot my first black bear here in November 1976.

"Stalking" black bears in BC is generally done in a Ford F250. You drive around until you see bear poop on the road, then slow down until you see one run across the road up into a logging cut, then get out and "stalk" along the road until you get a shot.

Even the world's most famous black bear guide here does that. Well, actually, his assistant guides do.

My favourite method is to do something similar, but park the truck (I'm a rebel, I use a Tacoma) and walk along on poop-laden road until I see one.

I used to hunt salmon rivers in October when I lived on northern Vancouver Island. Many people will claim that "fish bears" are no good but I found in October that their droppings were all salal berry; they looked like giant blueberry pies without crusts, and that they had just started eating fish and were really good to eat.
 
kodiakjack said:
Op, two important questions: How fit are you? How accurate are you when you’re heartrate’s north of 120bpm?

Bait hunting is way easier physically, and your shots will be inside 50 yards.

Spot and stock typically means a harrowing uphill hike for several miles, sitting motionless for hours while glassing, (repeat for several days), find a decent bear, then put a stalk on it, which could take hours of zig zagging and back tracking to keep the wind and cover in your favor. Depending on the cover, your shot will typically be in the 100-300 yard range, and you’ll likely be out of breath when the shot presents itself.

... I guess there’s a third question: What kind of story are you hoping to tell after the hunt? :)
Click to expand...

To be honest, I think I am ok for the hiking part. But for shooting at heartrate’s north of 120bpm. I think I may not able to do well. It will be my first black bear hunting trip so I think only i can get a bear, I will get a satisified story. I am a little struggling now. I think I like hike around more than sit near the bait. But I think it would be very possible for me to miss my first shot. especially I live in south ontario. There are only 100 yards shooting range near me. I can only calculate where my bullets will go after 100 yards.
 
scott_r said:
I much prefer sitting on a nice stand over bait. I enjoy relaxing and listening to all the sounds of the forest and watching all the critters move around. We see on average 4-5 bears a night on the bait and they are fun to watch move around and interact with each other. Spot and stalk is the easier and cheaper way of hunting bear.
Click to expand...

Sorry for a maybe silly question. will you get bored when stay on a tree stand for the whole day? I never hunt big games before so I really got no idea about what it would be like. Thanks
 
Yup, the F250 Spot and Stalk is popular in BC. :)

Also walking logging roads and spurs. Basically when you see lots of poop, you get out and wander around. Most bear hunting is best in the afternoon, and the days are long in the spring. it's a great time to be out in the bush, and you usually don't run into many others. It doesn't have to be very physically challenging unless you want it to be.

Baiting seems too much like work. :)
 
Most spot & stalk shots here in BC are under 100 yards.

RugDoc above has it right.
The vast majority of those who hunt black bears do so from their trucks.
Simple reasons actually.
One - It works.
And Two, they can get damn HEAVY!

Last two I took were both well over 500 lbs.
The one in the snow closer to six hundred with a 7'6" hide (not being stretched).

5UJlgCd.jpg


This one was just a smidge smaller in body, but the skull may well score better than the one above (which was 22 1/4" btw).

qZYaghm.jpg


I shot both of these at less than 40 yards.

You will be guided of course if you wander out here.
They aren't going to suggest an over the mountain hike searching for a Big Boy.
Instead, they will put you into an area they know a good bear lives.
Nothing to overly onerous involved. Really.

Hunting these guys is relatively easy when compared to many other species.
Watch your wind, move quietly and only when he ain't looking your way, and you can / will get in as tight as you need.

I've hunted them both over bait and stalking.
Personally I greatly prefer the latter.

Good luck with your decision!
Looking forward to the tale & pictures... ;)

Cheers,
Nog
 
IronNoggin said:
Most spot & stalk shots here in BC are under 100 yards.

RugDoc above has it right.
The vast majority of those who hunt black bears do so from their trucks.
Simple reasons actually.
One - It works.
And Two, they can get damn HEAVY!

Last two I took were both well over 500 lbs.
The one in the snow closer to six hundred with a 7'6" hide (not being stretched).

5UJlgCd.jpg


This one was just a smidge smaller in body, but the skull may well score better than the one above (which was 22 1/4" btw).

qZYaghm.jpg


I shot both of these at less than 40 yards.

You will be guided of course if you wander out here.
They aren't going to suggest an over the mountain hike searching for a Big Boy.
Instead, they will put you into an area they know a good bear lives.
Nothing to overly onerous involved. Really.

Hunting these guys is relatively easy when compared to many other species.
Watch your wind, move quietly and only when he ain't looking your way, and you can / will get in as tight as you need.

I've hunted them both over bait and stalking.
Personally I greatly prefer the latter.

Good luck with your decision!
Looking forward to the tale & pictures... ;)

Cheers,
Nog
Click to expand...

Thanks! The two bears look so big. could you tell me when you got the first bear? since I only have time to hunt at the end of the April. I think the bears in ontario are still sleeping at that time.So i am not sure whether can I see bears in BC
 
Spot and stalk is way more interesting than baiting (never once fell asleep while stalking something I spotted, but over a bait .......) and baiting requires a LOT of work to keep baits fresh and working. Don't like work. Really like interesting hunting.
 
Another thought to consider is what the winter has been like in each location. Here in BC we’ve had a pretty late cold snap. By end of April the bears should be out but who knows with the crazy winter we’ve had. Not a great idea to go after bears right after they’ve come out of sleep. Might want to give them a week or two to put on a few pounds after a long winter.
No idea what the weather or timing is like on the east side of the country but it might be something to consider when making your decision.
 
cz1997 said:
Hello
I got a break from April 19th to 25th this year. So, I am planning to find a guide to try black bear hunting. I found I can only hunt in British Columbia and New Brunswick in April.
Click to expand...
Alberta 2019 spring bear season opens April 1 to May 15/31 June 15.
I'm not sure about Sask. but it probably has a similar opening date.
more options for a guided hunt.
 
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