Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Hunting Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-28-2017, 06:40 PM
bigwolf bigwolf is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 132
Default Has anyone had success opening week of bear season?

I don't normally start untill late April. Just wondering if anyone has had success earlier?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-28-2017, 07:06 PM
Norwest Alta Norwest Alta is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,666
Default

Got a pic of grizz bear tracks in the snow today. They're out.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-28-2017, 07:21 PM
Grizzly Adams's Avatar
Grizzly Adams Grizzly Adams is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 21,399
Default

I'm sure it happens, but the bears don't start moving till things green up. Still fun trying.

Grizz
__________________
"Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal."
John E. Pfeiffer The Emergence of Man
written in 1969
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-28-2017, 07:39 PM
ResidentSpokesman ResidentSpokesman is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 275
Default

I shot one April 1 in 2010. Otherwise never before May 1
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-28-2017, 07:59 PM
nube nube is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: In a house
Posts: 7,778
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Norwest Alta View Post
Got a pic of grizz bear tracks in the snow today. They're out.
Grizz are always out way before Blacks and they go to bed later as well. I had them eating my wolf bait on my cabin porch the first week of Decemeber this year.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-28-2017, 08:31 PM
Norwest Alta Norwest Alta is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,666
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by nube View Post
Grizz are always out way before Blacks and they go to bed later as well. I had them eating my wolf bait on my cabin porch the first week of Decemeber this year.
Just saying the blacks should be along shortly.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-29-2017, 07:14 AM
st99 st99 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,573
Default

last year I shot my bear april 14, that's my earliest so far
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-29-2017, 09:38 AM
Suzukisam Suzukisam is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 564
Default

I find the blacks are more vegetarian so until the first dandelion appears they like to sleep and come out when salad is ready. Grizz will run around all year they just go into dens in really cold weather but come out to crab a snack on warmer days even in January
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-29-2017, 09:10 PM
AspenCreekOutdoors AspenCreekOutdoors is offline
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 134
Default

Bears never truly hibernate. There's multiple videos of trail cams by dens online showing that black bears will poke there heads out of their den take a **** and go back in if the weather really warms up they will roam a bit then back to the den the one poster saying they are not really out till things green up is correct

Every year is the same guys the real action happens in may

Edges of lease roads are the first to green up in may good spot to catch bears
Open Meadows getting sun exposure
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-29-2017, 09:39 PM
Twobucks Twobucks is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Calgary
Posts: 701
Default

Haven't been out yet, but Parks Canada had it's first confirmed grizzly sighting on March 22 near Castle Junction. They said it was a late year - in 2016 it was March 5.

I'm waiting until the grass is growing a little before I head out.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 03-30-2017, 01:54 PM
csnow csnow is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 19
Default

I'm wondering if it's going to be an early season this year with the lack of snow and warm weather in the forecast.

Last year was my first crack at this and we were out around May long in a no bait WMU. Didn't see a thing. It was unbelievably dry though which might have had something to do with it. Saw tons of dried tracks and sign so the area was good but nothing moving at all. Felt like we were late the whole time out there.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-30-2017, 02:51 PM
Rio56's Avatar
Rio56 Rio56 is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,754
Default

don't confuse grizzly sightings as to when the blacks will be out , 10th of may on is when you will regularly see the blacks on bait or not .. yes some before but that's the hot time .....
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-30-2017, 05:01 PM
jgupnorth jgupnorth is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 114
Default Grizzly

Saw a huge grizzly in the back of a F&W truck turning off HWY 66 coming from the west and heading into Bragg Creek on March 17th. Anyone have any knowledge of this bear?
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-30-2017, 05:20 PM
Coiloil37's Avatar
Coiloil37 Coiloil37 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Oz
Posts: 2,109
Default

I've never had any luck before the beginning of May. Even last year I only had two little bears on my baits before May and they only showed up the last few days of April.
May 20th seems to be my best day but the week leading up to May long is usually pretty hot.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 03-30-2017, 06:34 PM
Glenn D Glenn D is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Sturgeon county
Posts: 156
Default

Not usually in hurry to set my baits untill 2nd
To3rd week of april. Not a lot of consistant bear action until
second week of may,especially the big boys.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 03-30-2017, 06:47 PM
Sask Bearman's Avatar
Sask Bearman Sask Bearman is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: West Central Saskatchewan
Posts: 257
Default

The earliest I've ever shot one is about May 8 or 10. Although, it looks like spring is coming early this year.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 03-30-2017, 07:40 PM
Bushleague Bushleague is online now
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,556
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sask Bearman View Post
The earliest I've ever shot one is about May 8 or 10. Although, it looks like spring is coming early this year.
Now you've gone and done it. On a service rig that level of blatant optimisim rarely goes unpunished!
__________________
If the good lord didnt want me to ride a four wheeler with no shirt on, then how come my nipples grow back after every wipeout?
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 03-30-2017, 07:53 PM
Torkdiesel's Avatar
Torkdiesel Torkdiesel is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: North of the Kakwa
Posts: 3,973
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bushleague View Post
Now you've gone and done it. On a service rig that level of blatant optimisim rarely goes unpunished!
EARLY BREAKUP !!! Ahhhhhhh

Lmfao 😳
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 03-30-2017, 10:30 PM
300magman's Avatar
300magman 300magman is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,886
Default

As said by others, May is when the real action starts. We've learned to not even bother setting baits until the last week of April, and usually don't hunt them until a few days into May. The effort just isn't worth the reward until then. The odd guy gets lucky with a cranker in mid April, but I would say 80+% of truly big bears are shot after May 15.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 03-31-2017, 01:03 AM
Rio56's Avatar
Rio56 Rio56 is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,754
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jgupnorth View Post
Saw a huge grizzly in the back of a F&W truck turning off HWY 66 coming from the west and heading into Bragg Creek on March 17th. Anyone have any knowledge of this bear?
is very interesting...try to get some more info on this ....
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 03-31-2017, 06:53 AM
csnow csnow is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 19
Default

Does timing change at all for best chances at spot and stalk vs baits?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 03-31-2017, 07:14 AM
elkhunter11 elkhunter11 is online now
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Camrose
Posts: 44,838
Default

The earliest that we ever killed a bear on our bait was the first week of May, and normally the baits don't get going good until the second week of May in that area.
__________________
Only accurate guns are interesting.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 03-31-2017, 07:46 AM
Grizzly Adams's Avatar
Grizzly Adams Grizzly Adams is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 21,399
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sask Bearman View Post
The earliest I've ever shot one is about May 8 or 10. Although, it looks like spring is coming early this year.
May 8 has always been a good day for me.

Grizz
__________________
"Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal."
John E. Pfeiffer The Emergence of Man
written in 1969
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 03-31-2017, 11:08 AM
muzzy muzzy is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: St. Albert, AB
Posts: 1,178
Default

Soon as the poplar leaf buds break open is when I have found the blacks really start to hit the baits. Thats usually around May 6-10, Some are always out and about before that but after having nothing thru their digestive systems for 6 months it takes a couple weeks to get all the plumbing in working order again.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 03-31-2017, 08:45 PM
bigwolf bigwolf is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 132
Default

I saw F&W moving 2 bear traps down the highway near Calgary today. Might be some problem bears poking around.
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 03-31-2017, 09:00 PM
AlbertaBuck's Avatar
AlbertaBuck AlbertaBuck is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: wmu 250
Posts: 90
Default

I have them at baits April 3rd religiously for the last 4 yrs

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 03-31-2017, 11:06 PM
bigwolf bigwolf is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 132
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlbertaBuck View Post
I have them at baits April 3rd religiously for the last 4 yrs

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk
Is this in southern AB?
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 03-31-2017, 11:07 PM
AlbertaBuck's Avatar
AlbertaBuck AlbertaBuck is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: wmu 250
Posts: 90
Default

No sir..laclabiche area

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 04-01-2017, 12:47 AM
bigwolf bigwolf is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 132
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlbertaBuck View Post
No sir..laclabiche area

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk
That's good to know!
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 04-01-2017, 01:13 AM
AlbertaBuck's Avatar
AlbertaBuck AlbertaBuck is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: wmu 250
Posts: 90
Default

They don't eat a whole lot until things green up, but they're out cruising.

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:43 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.