First Time Bear Hunter! Looking for a spot in Alberta to spot and stalk

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siegehammer63

CGN Regular
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Location
Calgary, AB
So, it finally comes to this!
I didn't get any major draws, and while I love whitetail hunting, my luck the past few years has been dire at best. I also have birds, and I'm hoping to finance a trip for my dad and I for turkeys in Ontario next spring, but I want to try hunting some black bear. I'm neither around enough to bait, nor do I have a way to source bait, nor do I know how to properly use it. I was just going to see if anyone has a favourite place to spot and stalk black bears, preferably in Southern Alberta, on public land. I'd really like to tag a decent one far enough away from cities and dumps that I can try eating it without fear of the dreaded Garbage Bear.
Cheers,
Robert
PS, all advice welcome!
 
Go find some wild blueberry bushes and start your spotting and stalking form there.
Of course this has to be in bear habitat...bear scatt on the trail is a good sign ;)
Have some good binos and boots and lots of water too.
Some days are longer than others and the blueberries are tasty too.
Rob
 
Basically! I just have to try to find an area. I saw quite a few bears in my area last year, but nothing large, and I'm close enough to a couple towns and hamlets that I'd prefer to go a biiiiit farther in.
 
A ways north but commonly seen in the Grande Cache area -

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=120034

Spotted this one last week while out scouting around. Also spotted this Cow Elk the same evening -

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There is a lot of crown land in WMUs 400 and 402, which are south west of Calgary, and you can easily make a day trip out to hunt those areas. I can't promise you any bears, but both areas have decent populations and are good areas to get out and try some hunting. Rumor has it that the government may close down public access to a great deal of crown land later this week because of risk of forest fires, so this may not be an option for a while, despite the season opening up in roughly a month. Hunting in the foothills (the 300 series WMUs) can also be productive, although there is more private and less crown land.
 
Try Zone 400. Start off in the Crowsnest Pass. Head south of Hillcrest on the Adanac Road to Lynx Creek Campground. Head west of Lynx Creek Campground until you arrive at the forks of South and North Lost Creek. Take either forks, there are bears all in that country, grizzly's included.
 
Thanks lads, Im in 326 usually but Ive never hunted for them, so Im looking to find the "good" areas where bear populations are solid. Ive heard Grand Cache, Rainbow Lake, etc are great and Im willing to go (especially if I tag out on whitetail early).
 
FLHTCUI said:
Go find some wild blueberry bushes and start your spotting and stalking form there.
Of course this has to be in bear habitat...bear scatt on the trail is a good sign ;)
Have some good binos and boots and lots of water too.
Some days are longer than others and the blueberries are tasty too.
Rob
Click to expand...

If you have mountain ash (again, not sure if it's the proper English word - "cormier" in French) - they are a small tree that grows maybe 10 feet tall and has large clusters of bright orange/red fruit, bears seem to prefer them over any other fruit later in the fall.
 
siegehammer63 said:
Thanks lads, Im in 326 usually but Ive never hunted for them, so Im looking to find the "good" areas where bear populations are solid. Ive heard Grand Cache, Rainbow Lake, etc are great and Im willing to go (especially if I tag out on whitetail early).
Click to expand...

Increased chances of spotting game in morning or evening twilight. Rain can make access to areas a real beech. Last Fall was nasty, some lease roads remained in bad shape until freeze up.

The more time spent in the field and the more proficient you are with your rifle - and with a bit of luck - the greater the chances of success. ;)
 
My problem is I don't get a lot of preseason scouting in (limited land access, no ATV, 3 hour drive from home) so I'm looking for "cheats" or tactics to help make up for that lack of 2+ weeks of experience up there that year. I usually go out every weekend, and I'm a "game shot" offhand to 300 yards (more if desperate or pushed to it), and supported out to 550 depending on the rifle and cartridge I'm using. Once I find him, as long as his nose doesn't bust me I should be able to get to where I am comfortable with a little luck.
 
siegehammer63 said:
My problem is I don't get a lot of preseason scouting in (limited land access, no ATV, 3 hour drive from home) so I'm looking for "cheats" or tactics to help make up for that lack of 2+ weeks of experience up there...
Click to expand...

It's been my experience that game calls (Moose / Elk) will attract Bears (and other predators like Coyotes and Wolves). If a Grizzly is called in it's a chance to get some nice photos. :p
 
Thanks for the advice, lads! I'll work on the calls, the moose I have down but I may need an elk bugle. Yeah, I've been close enough to the Big Blonde Bast*rds (as we call them) that I'll just move locations a little if they party crash.
 
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