Spring Bear

josh_beeks · #1 03-23-2015, 09:14 AM

Anyone planning on getting out for some bears April 1? Anyone seeing them out and about? Trail cam pics? Im getting the itch to fill the tag!

astepanuk · #2 03-23-2015, 09:21 AM

we got our bait set up again last night we still have 2ft of snow in bush up here so it will be early may I'm sure before we get some real action.

wildwoods · #3 03-23-2015, 11:36 AM

Hoping they come out soon myself...

windsurf5522 · #4 03-23-2015, 05:29 PM

Got the tag just waiting, and scouting, havent seen any bears yet but seen some wolves.

Hydro1 · #5 03-23-2015, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by windsurf5522

Got the tag just waiting, and scouting, havent seen any bears yet but seen some wolves.

How do you have a tag?

wildwoods · #6 03-23-2015, 05:38 PM

Tags are available. I bought one already. Go online to Alberta relm and get the wildlife certificate. Then off to canadian tire...

Hydro1 · #7 03-23-2015, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildwoods

Tags are available. I bought one already. Go online to Alberta relm and get the wildlife certificate. Then off to canadian tire...

As of last week they werent.
My bad, great thanks.

arrow_baron · #8 03-23-2015, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hydro1

As of last week they werent.
My bad, great thanks.

I couldn't get mine either, last Monday at cabelas I tried. I think maybe 14 days before April 1st they were available

Jperepeletza · #9 03-23-2015, 09:35 PM

I got the wild life certificate and the tag at canadian tire friday

xterratitan · #10 03-23-2015, 10:18 PM

You can get it all online st Albertarelm
I never had to leave my house

TBark · #11 03-23-2015, 11:38 PM

Hard to shoot a bear from your house, ha.
But maybe not.

CBintheNorth · #12 03-23-2015, 11:41 PM

April 1st?!
My experience would say that's about a month early.
You may find 1 or 2 out that early but the majority of the bears, and definitely the bigger bears, will still be sound asleep.
Good luck to you this season!

Grizzly Adams · #13 03-24-2015, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBintheNorth

April 1st?!
My experience would say that's about a month early.
You may find 1 or 2 out that early but the majority of the bears, and definitely the bigger bears, will still be sound asleep.
Good luck to you this season!

Was gonna point that out, but then I'd be Maysayer.

Biological fact is that bears have to activate their digestive system with green vegetative matter before they can handle the heavy duty stuff and there just isn't any yet. Having said that, the official word is there have been a few sleepy heads out and about, so a little spot and stalk might pay off.

Grizz

arrow_baron · #14 03-24-2015, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBintheNorth

April 1st?!
My experience would say that's about a month early.
You may find 1 or 2 out that early but the majority of the bears, and definitely the bigger bears, will still be sound asleep.
Good luck to you this season!

We've had people kill bears on out baits opening day and we hunt a few hours west of Edmonton. The biggest bear killed to date on our baits was the first week and a half in season. We had one bait that my uncle said was hit, I even think that's a little early but who knows. I sure hope it isn't a grizzly. We've never seen them in the area but I imagine they are around. I was feeling pretty optimistic about an early bear season but with the weather they've been having it will set us back a week or two. I have a week off starting April 24th, so I'm not too worried if it is an early season. I'll likely be behind the camera more so than hunting myself. I was planning on holding out for a chocolate or a blonde, but not getting an elk last year I don't have any meat left so I might take the first 4 year old that walks in.

When I mentioned two weeks before April 1st I was talking about being able to purchase your tag.

josh_beeks · #15 03-24-2015, 11:30 AM

I was saying April first simply because thats season opener and Ive seen one out already, not a bad size ol black so just checking where everyone was at.

CBintheNorth · #16 03-24-2015, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arrow_baron

We've had people kill bears on out baits opening day and we hunt a few hours west of Edmonton. The biggest bear killed to date on our baits was the first week and a half in season. We had one bait that my uncle said was hit, I even think that's a little early but who knows. I sure hope it isn't a grizzly. We've never seen them in the area but I imagine they are around. I was feeling pretty optimistic about an early bear season but with the weather they've been having it will set us back a week or two. I have a week off starting April 24th, so I'm not too worried if it is an early season. I'll likely be behind the camera more so than hunting myself. I was planning on holding out for a chocolate or a blonde, but not getting an elk last year I don't have any meat left so I might take the first 4 year old that walks in.

When I mentioned two weeks before April 1st I was talking about being able to purchase your tag.

Like I said, the odd bear will be out, but not a lot

We bait north and have yet to have a year that we can even get in by April 1st, let alone 2 weeks early.
Our baits have been established for years and the earliest we've had a visitor has been April 13.

Different regions have different conditions I suppose.

arrow_baron · #17 03-24-2015, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBintheNorth

Like I said, the odd bear will be out, but not a lot

We bait north and have yet to have a year that we can even get in by April 1st, let alone 2 weeks early.
Our baits have been established for years and the earliest we've had a visitor has been April 13.

Different regions have different conditions I suppose.

It's not very often we have one hit April 1st but it has happened. I don't think we've ever had a bait hit two weeks early. Besides this possible hit my uncle found on sunday. I still find it a little odd that a bait would be hit that early. First thing I asked was if there were any new quad tracks going to the baits but he couldn't tell because it had snowed the night before. First thing I thought was maybe a grizzly or other baiters stole our bait. I know that's unlikely but we have caught people taking bait from our barrels before. There will be a cam up there by the weekend. He wanted to put one up this week but he had a few newborn calves he had to deal with. He'll be busy for the next little while.

CBintheNorth · #18 04-05-2015, 11:47 PM

Headed out Friday April 3rd, made it 400 yards down the first cutline to our first bait and gave up. The snow was over our knees and we pushed the quads more than we drove them.

2 more weeks before we can get into our baits.
What does everyone else's areas look like?

Jperepeletza · #19 04-06-2015, 06:27 AM

My area wasnt to bad I had to walk to my bait but it was like 10 inchs of snow max im out by athabasca that way.

Dale S · #20 04-06-2015, 06:45 AM

We were out for 3 days in the southwest part of the province. All we saw was 1set of tracks. We talked to a big local rancher, he said the grizzly bears are out, but he hasn't seen a black bear. We did bump a wolf up.

wildwoods · #21 04-06-2015, 07:27 AM

My bait site is now snow free for the most part with easy access. Nothing has hit it yet. Not much green out there yet aside from the willows and the odd bud.

astepanuk · #22 04-06-2015, 07:50 AM

Zero action around my bait still some snow on the ground but its going fast should be all gone by the weekend. Ive always found baits wont get hit till the grass turns green did see a set of Nice Wolf tracks around my bait just didnt come in for a picture.

craig82 · #23 04-06-2015, 08:38 AM

I'm heading out for a drive today. I'll be starting in cochrane and working my way to sundre on the trunk Rd. Not really expecting to see anything but I will post if I do

bpallen · #24 04-06-2015, 12:16 PM

Running KFC Used Oil and Oats. Just wondering with the wind we have been having - just how far does the scent travel. Been set up for about 10 days - Checking Tomorrow.

beaver hunter · #25 04-06-2015, 07:15 PM

When do the bugs start getting bad? Late May?

TBark · #26 04-06-2015, 07:46 PM

bpallen, I'm using tha same bait, im adding a bit of bread too.
If you haven't had much luck, try a short burn.
Light a hand full of BBQ coals in a pit or pot or something properly insulated from the ground.
Put a bit of that KFC grease in a small can on the coals, it will smell for many miles.
Don't leave the scene of course till the burn is done.
Have heard of guys leaving a burn unattended, don't go there.
Good luck.

TBark

Wilk0 · #27 04-08-2015, 06:40 AM

Anyone seen bears yet? Are they out now ?

wildwoods · #28 04-08-2015, 07:49 AM

Nothing has hit us so far. Gonna check again this weekend

beaver hunter · #29 04-08-2015, 07:55 AM

Buddy was lookin in the area where are baits will be set, said snow is still deep. We're setting next weekend!

bpallen · #30 04-08-2015, 08:40 AM

West of Rocky Mtn Hse - No activity yet