Trad Gang
Main Boards => Dangerous Game => Topic started by: mtnbowhunter on January 16, 2008, 10:31:00 PM
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I have a spring grizzly hunt in BC this sping and could use some pointers from any of you that have hunted grizzlies in the spring in the past. I will mainly be hunting the avalanche chutes and spot and stalking. I need to get within 25 yards to be very confident of the shot with my recurve. Should be quite an adventure.
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I assume since the 08 draws haven't been released yet you are going through an Outfitter......or just hoping for a draw as all Grizz in BC are Limited Entry ?
That being the case I would contact the outfitter and get some recommendations from them....indeed a Grizz with a Bow is admirable, have Fun ! :cool:
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BCWILL,
Yes I am going with an outfitter and even though he has had very good luck in the past with rifle hunters he has never taken a bow hunter let alone a traditional bow hunter on a grizz hunt. He is a very good and helpfull outfitter and I was just looking for some extra advice from someone that has done it in the past. I have posted on a couple of different sites and have yet to have a response from anyone that has actually got one in BC in the spring with a trad bow.
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Well Congrats...can't beat chasing BC Bears in the Spring Time !
have yet to have a response from anyone that has actually got one in BC in the spring with a trad bow.
That would be a short list of Folks I'm sure ;)
if drawn I'll be out there chasing Grizz...if not Blackies again !
Best of Luck ! :cool:
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I have a cousin that has shot 2 with a compound . With no backup he said you have to be very pacient you need to wait for the perfect shot . If after the shot he hears or see`e you ...make sure your a$$ is clean so you can kiss it goodbye.
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Thanks sealevel,
Hopefully I can just get close enough for the shot. Did your cousin happen to say the distance on his shots, and was he hunting the avalanche chutes, or along streams or what. Any way tell him thanks for the advice I was worried that no one else had taken one with a bow in the spring, he is the only one so far that has had the experience that has offered any advice. Again thanks alot.
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I wouldn'y think there would be much difference in getting close to a spring grizzly verses a fall grizzly. Either way it seems they will need to be preoccupied on a food source in order to stalk close enough for a shot. Bryan Martin of Canadian Mountain Outfitters sent me a promotional DVD last year that had a few grizzly stalks on it with traditional bows. They were all fall hunts while the bears were feeding on berrys. You might be able to obtain a copy from him.
I also will be hunting with Beaverfoot this year but for mountain goats.
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mtnbowhunter the last one he shot was ateing grass on a slide shoot. He got to 30 yards he shot it from behind a bush. It was a passthough the arrow hit a rock .The bear beat the rock up tell it died. Very important to make sure the bear dosn`t know were the shot come`s from . good luck
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Hi Jack,
Yea I've talked to Brian and have seen his video's and he is a great outfitter with a very good area. The thing is all his hunts are fall and the bears are concentrated on the blueberry patches. I think the problem in the spring will be that the bears will be constantly on the move, with no concentrated food source to hold them in one place for very long. Hope you have a great goat hunt its a great area, about 7 hours north of our ranch, good number of goats just bring your best lungs and legs.
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Thanks sealevel,
Thats the kind of advice I'm looking for. I've shot lots of black bears on the ground here at home with my bow and never had a problem or worried about them knowing where the arrow came from. Good info. better make sure I stay still after the shot. Thanks again!
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I myself have no interrest in grizz hunting .But a lifetime of working in the bush and hunting i have seen lots of bears . You will find bears in the new grass . A spring bear will be far more ocupied with good green grass in the spring then a fall bear.
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I know it is illegal to bait but maybe you could get Troy to set up a tent to draw one in.
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=050579#000000
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sealevel, I know what you mean about the bears being very occupied on the spring grass, I just hope there are some big enough patches to hold them in one area long enough for a good stalk.
Jack, if that story of Jacobs hunt doesn't get you stoked for your upcoming hunt nothing will. Bet you cann't wait till sept., just go and run stairs every time you think you cann't bear the wait it will take your mind off of it and will help you in the end.
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Dirk,
Your right. Jacob's story is what got me thinking about goats again.
This will be my third backpack Mt goat hunt in BC since 05.I missed last year as I went sheep hunting in Alaska instead. Beleive me, I know all about running up and down stairs. I turn the thought process around though. I like to think about sheep and goat hunting while I'm doing the stair workout. Kind of takes my mind off what I'm doing and puts a purpose behind it.
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mtnbowhunter if you are hunting 7 hours north of your ranch in idaho. should put you somewhere between canel flats and golden. I travel once in a while in the spring though there to my uncles in the yalk valley montana .If its any help to you the weather is pretty much the same .I don`t think you will have touble finding a bear . We have a explodeing grizz pop.2 years ago a grizz found a blacky i shot and eat it. That was in a corn field.
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Sealevel, I'm not sure which area we will be hunting in. But its not to far from Golden. Good to hear your grizzly pop. is doing well at least for me who is hunting them. I also am going to be carrying a black bear tag so maybe the answer is to shoot the black bear first and see what comes to the left over entrails. Is it legal to hunt grizz over a wild game kill in BC?
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illegal especaly a guided hunt.But you will not have trouble seeing bears .As long as its may or early june .
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Good luck on your hunt Dirk. Grizzlies are one of my dream hunts. I wish you the best. Stay safe and have a great time. Matt
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thanks again for the info. sealevel, are the bugs and ticks bad in May up your way, does one need a head net?
mmgrode, thanks for the thoughts, the Packers game today should be about as tough as my grizz hunt, also cann't wait to watch it.
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Depends on the weather nomaly no-- not where you will be hunting . But if its really warm it could be brutal . But be prepared and get a bottle of juice called Ben`s comes in a orange bottle .
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Hi Jack, hope you body is treating you well so far..
Mtnbowhunter, I hope you have a great hunt,
Be sure to let us all knoww how it goes. I would be very interested in hearing about how many bears you see, as grizz is on my to do list too !
Just beware of Troy if you get a grizz up close and personal...if he pick up a big rock......its for you and not the grizz..!.. :knothead: :help:
Good luck and dont forget to bring back pics
Jacob
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Thanks for the heads up on the bug juice sealevel, will definitely get a bottle. Jacob that was a great story on your goat hunt, I will try and get some pictures and give everyone here the details on my hunt once I get back. Jacob did you see many bears (other than the one that supprised you and Troy} and any stalkable mule deer on your goat hunt?
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mtn,yes we saw a grizz sow with two cubs and a couple of black bears.
Lots of younger muledeer but not any stalkable 4x4´s wich was minimum legal points at that time
J
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Best of luck. I'll be heading to AK in May for my spring grizz. I too am interested in any pointers for bowhunting grizz. My hunt will run the last 12 days of May. I just need this arctic like weather to move out so I can get outside and do some shooting!
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talltines, I hear you on the weather, its been in the minus teens here the last couple of days, I try and get out and shoot in the early morning and then a few arrows in the evening before dark if I have time but it is sure tough to shoot in these temps. What outfitter are you going with in Alaska and what area? Whats your set up going to be for your hunt. I think we will both be hunting about the same time. Be sure to let me know how your hunt goes when you get back. Good luck!
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I'll be hunting with Stan Parkerson of Denali Hunts. I fly into Fairbanks and he picks me up from there. I will either be shooting a homemade recurve or my Dalaa around 58#'s with axis 400's and 2 blade stingers.
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mtmbowhunter,
If you are hunting the East Kootenays, in spring, ticks are hit and miss. Some years they are everywhere, other years hardly any.
If you are hunting high mountain slides (avalanche chutes) bugs won't be too bad, unless you hit very warm weather. Stays colder higher up, so bugs emerge later in spring, up there.
There ain't no shortage of grizzlies in the Kootenays, though "Bearwatch" would have us believe that they are extinct.
Who is your outfitter? I spent 38 years in the Kootenay's.
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talltines, I've heard really good things about Stan Parkerson, I'll be interested to hear about your hunt when you get back. Did you book your hunt directly with Stan or did you go thru a booking agent. My set up is the same as I hunt elk here at home with, 66lb Schaffer Silvertip recurve and 720 grn goldtip carbons including 190 grn grizzly broadhead.
R.W., the outfitter I'm going with is Beaverfoot Outfitting (Troy Wolfenden). Sounds like the bugs and ticks are similiar to here at home only it seems like we always find more ticks in the chutes and shale slide areas. I hope there will be lots of gizzlies so that one or two will be in a position to be stalked.
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I booked the hunt through BSC after talking with Mark Buerer. I am not sure where you are hunting, but in 2003 I hunted moose a couple hours from Prince George, B.C. That place was covered in grizz. A timber cruiser got mauled while we were hunting in the area. We had several run ins with grizz. I didn't have the money for the tag or trophy fee at the time, but if I had there were a couple different opportunities at atalking grizz. We will see if we have what it takes in a few months! : )
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I got a grizzley with my recurve bow in BC. Was hunting northern BC (Atlin) right on the Yukon border. Found the bear up on the tundra - no trees and no rocks to hide behind. I belly crawled 100 yds. to within 25 yds. When I jumped up and was a full draw the bear saw me. I had to hold a long time and was shaking ( 70# bow) finally the bear turned and I shot it broadside behind the shoulder. It ran back on me to about 10 yds. and dropped. One arrow through the heart. My wife filmed it. My guide was 100 yds up the hill behind me watching. Was really exciting. Think my wife was counting the life insurance check before I shot. Ha
I hunted with Indian River Guides and Outfitters out of Atlin BC. 10 days on horseback - the only way to travel a lot of country is on horse back.
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mtnbowhunter,
I doubt you will have any problem with finding grizz around that area.
The stalking may be good, question is, whom will stalk whom? :goldtooth:
And up here, no handguns allowed. And during bow seasons, I "think" you are not allowed to carry firearms. Check with your guide on that one.
Get yourself in shape, if you are not already, cause you will certainly not want to "tucker out" after a couple of days.
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it will not be bow season when he is hunting. even if it was in bc you can pack a fire arm for protection
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I was under the impression that in B.C. the seasons were "any weapon" meaning bow or gun.
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general season you can hunt with anything legal. bow season is archery including crossbows only. You can pack backup in archery season.
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talltines, I just got back from the national SCI convention and talked to Mark with BSC for quite a while. We were disussing a moose hunt with Stan Parkerson for 2009. Sounds like he is an excellent bow hunting guide, hope you do well, want to hear the details when you get back.
R.W. thanks for the thoughts, I live in similar terain and elevation as we will be hunting but, you are right about staying in shape, I trade hunts with folks for elk hunting here and usually the biggest limiting factor of getting a bull is the shape their in, so I've already started to step up my daily hikes to get ready for the grizz hunt. I also wish I was consitent with my recurve out to 40 yards but after 40 years 25 to 30 yards is still my comfort zone, just hope to get the shot oppurtunity. As everyone can see I'm really looking forward to this hunt.