The Dark Side of Spring

Mentioning Neil I recently ran into him, North Star Outfitting , at the 2024 DSC Convention and Outdoor Expo. Neil knows I really like hunting black bears. “You need to come to hunt bears with me again. We’re taking some really nice bears there in my part of Alberta, Ay!”

“Si!” I responded.

Neil smiled, “Haven’t changed, have you!”  I grinned and wagged my head in a negative response. “Seriously! We’re taking some huge bears, and as you know, there are a lot of color phase bears in our area.”  Before I could respond, he continued, “During the last few years, for some reason, we have seen a huge increase in the black bear population in our area. You can’t drive a road in any direction from my lodge without seeing at least one, and sometimes as many as five or six. We’re to the point where we need to take bears to reduce the population to a reasonable number.” Sounded interesting.

“Because of the high bear population and wanting to reduce it, I’m doing special deals on bear hunts this spring. If an adult brings a youngster, I’ll do an exceptional price so that youngster can hunt.” Stated Neil. “I want to get kids out hunting, and as you know, bear hunting is great fun, and with the number of bears we currently have in our area, they are going to take a bear! Doing those sorts of hunts at a special price,, I hope to help introduce kids to hunting and reduce our current bear population. If you know someone who might be interested in bringing a son(s) and/or daughter(s), tell ‘em to go to my website and get in touch with me.”

I thought about what Neil had said. Bear hunting is an adventure I have enjoyed numerous times throughout much of North America, including hunting bears with Neil in his native Alberta.

One time, while hunting with North Star Outfitting, I had a beautiful, though still young blond bear sniff the muzzle of my gun barrel while I was sitting in a ground blind. At the time, I found it amusing. I could see the curiosity in that young bear’s eye, but at the same time, I knew about the sometimes aggressive nature of younger bears, especially younger boars trying “to prove” themselves to other bears in the area. Such younger boars have charged me several times.

I had decided to take a huge bear or go home with my tag intact, even though Alberta allows taking two bears. Neil had seen a really big, as in over 350 pounds, cinnamon-colored boar in the area where he put me to hunt. From the one trail camera photo he had of the bear, I suspected he would square 7-feet and maybe a bit more. He was also a long, lanky bealso ar with what looked like a really big skull. In thre I could see his head, which showed a big crease in the middle of his forehead, indicating substantial jaw muscles. In looking at a bear, such a crease in his forehead usually indicates a mature boar.

“Larry, that bear comes in late in the evening, right at the very edge of legal shooting time.” Said Neil, who, among certain friends, is also known as “Trouble”, but in a respectable manner. “We’ve got several bears coming to bait that are as big, but thy’re  can be. I know you’ve taken some really big black colored bears in the past and you’re looking for a big color-phase. Such a bear could show up at any of our many baits, especially with boars are now roaming, looking for receptive sows. But this bear has been seen at that particular bait numerous times, and there are several sows coming to bait there as well. That being the case I think he’ll hang in the area, unless a bigger or more aggressive bear shows up.”  I nodded. “I think your best bet for a big color phase is to hunt that particular bait.”

I agreed! I really did want a big color phase bear, one that was any color other than black.

I sat on the bait every afternoon and a couple of days all day long, getting there before first light and leaving after legal shooting time. I saw some really nice bear, including a younger light brown boar and a dark chocolate sow. I also saw a couple of black bears that would have squared around six and a half feet. One of those had a huge white colored “V” on his chest. I was tempted by that one, but passed in hopes the big cinnamon would come in. Unfortunately, my hunt ended before the bear appeared.

I was at Edmonton airport about the board my plane back to Texas when I got a call from Neil. “Your bear showed up again this morning, Ay. He was on the bait at 10:15 and stayed there until after 11!” 

I simply shook my head, “Gee Thanks Trouble! You really know how to send me home to Texas feeling good.” Neil knew I was smiling as we spoke, knowing also I would be back to hunt with him again.

Spring of ‘23 was the first time I had hunted black bear in several years, something I had in the past really enjoyed and looked forward to each spring. On the hunt I realized how much I really enjoyed hunting black bear. I took a 7 ½-foot squared black bear with my Mossberg Patriot Predator in 7mm PRC topped with a Trijicon AccuPoint variable shooting Hornady’s Precision Hunter 175-grain ELD-X. I was impressed with how the ELD-X bullet performed at close range. I knew how it did at ranges from 100 to 300-yards. I killed my bear on the first shot at 12 steps, but he turned from broadside to length-wise immediately after I shot. My quick second shot entered his hindquarter and came to rest in his neck just behind his ear, perfectly mushroomed after traveling essentially through better than 6-feet of bear. Impressive to say the least!

With the approaching spring I am again getting a bad case of “spring bear fever”. And I know there really is only one sure cure…