Wanna hunt black bear this fall.

[LandlockedIslander]

Hello all this is my first post here, Im looking for any advice on black bear hunting in the fall here in alberta. I don't really want to bait and I'm hoping for a mountain black bear. hoping to make some bacon sausage and smoked hams from it. but i suppose I'm thinking a little too far ahead. Never hunted bear before but been hunting since i was a kid. Anything you wish someone would have told you? good piece of advice? general areas that may be good without private land access needed? i live an hour or so from the mountains but not afraid of a little drive and maybe a base camp hike i. thanks for all your thoughts.

[BackPackHunter]

If your hunting mountains , let your glass walk for you

[LandlockedIslander]

Ya that makes a lot of sense. thanks

[newhunterjp]

....Sam from Panhandle Precision once told me...find the food...find the bears. ..I listen
..and got a nice black bear

[300magman]

Originally Posted by BackPackHunter

If your hunting mountains , let your glass walk for you

X2. Spend time glassing clear cuts and slopes and you'll find some bears darn near everywhere in the mountains here. Post pics once you get one!

[LandlockedIslander]

great thanks guys, any opinions on how early in the year i could start scouting? any wmu's that have a lot of crown land with mountains?

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by LandlockedIslander

great thanks guys, any opinions on how early in the year i could start scouting? any wmu's that have a lot of crown land with mountains?

I wouldn't get too hung up on mountains, mostly Grizz there. Lots of god forest habitat lower down with a better chance.

Grizz

[Norwest Alta]

Find a nice oat field. Ask for permission and have at'er. Bears seem to love oats when they are ripe.

[husky7mm]

Hunt for deer, elk and moose, you will find bears. Black bear is totally under hunted in the fall. There are lots of black bears, newer cut blocks and newer pipelines. Anywhere the feed has been disturbed or delayed. New clover. Fresh berries.

[Jcbargholz]

Agreed on the don't go to far west, not to many black bears. But aim for cut block and logged out areas. You can catch em exposed and visible there. put miles on a truck and hours through the binos. Had good luck north west of Sundre, Swan Hills, and Fox Creek areas

[albertabighorn]

You got alot of good advice here. Take it all and put it together and you should be able to get on a few bears.

[newguy]

Lots of bears down in the crowsnest pass. Haven't seen any myself yet but that will change soon because I'm going to try for another sheep this year. With all the rains and the explosion of berries, you won't go long without seeing some bears in the mountains. Hike, hike, sit and glass and repeat. You'll find a bruiser.

Talked to the chief chicken fish cop and he said they are monitoring more bears than ever before.

[CF8889]

Bring a good pair of binos and glass lots.

Do your research on bullet placement on a bear. Those bastards are tough especially when full of adrenaline and their fur soaks up a lot of the blood trail. A poorly placed shot and you are in for a tough recovery.

What caliber/bullet grain are you shooting?

[buckman]

Once you find one make sure its a good size.Lots of Blacks get shot that are not much bigger than a Black lab.

The belly should be low compared to the legs,round like a barrel, and most important the ears should look small .

Good luck

[CF8889]

Originally Posted by buckman

Once you find one make sure its a good size.Lots of Blacks get shot that are not much bigger than a Black lab.

The belly should be low compared to the legs,round like a barrel, and most important the ears should look small .

Good luck

x2

Patients is important with black bear hunting. Spot it. Then sit and watch it. It can be tough to tell the sex, so make sure there are no cubs around.