Picture review of my 2015 bear hunt

[fnshtr]

Yes, Joe. I'll be bringing two Kwyk Styks.

[Terry Green]

Thanks for sharing    

[Duker]

Great story and pics Joe       THANKS for sharing  

[Sirius Black]

   

[joe munno]

very nice and a good job to hold out for mr big I think you scored just being in the timber with them great pics

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Great Photos!  It felt like I was right there with you.

[Matty]

Neat pics joe. Good job holding out on that big guy. You're right he'll be bigger in the next few years!

[Kip]

Great pics Joe I take 4 inch PVC pipe about 6' long and drill three or four holes about 1/2 inch the hogs roll it also to get corn like the bears.See you soon.  

[joe ashton]

It's been a few years since I've hunted spring bears... great pictures... thanks.

[huntnmuleys]

great pics!   looks like a great season

[fmscan]

Joe, enjoyed your post, I appreciate your discipline on the color phase bear.
I am going to do a bear hunt in the next year or so. I want to hunt somewhere that has larger bear(300+#'s) so Manitoba might be it... Seems Ontario has generally smaller bear. I would like your opinion....

[Joeabowhunter]

Originally posted by fmscan:
Joe, enjoyed your post, I appreciate your discipline on the color phase bear.
I am going to do a bear hunt in the next year or so. I want to hunt somewhere that has larger bear(300+#'s) so Manitoba might be it... Seems Ontario has generally smaller bear. I would like your opinion....

Thanks Frank, I'm glad you enjoyed it.  Manitoba has big bears but with the loss of the spring bear hunt in Ontario it has created a very large population and I'm sure huge bears as well.  Manitoba will also give you a much higher chance at a colour phase bear.  Colour bears are pretty rare in Ontario.  I also believe the thought that Ontario has smaller bears isn't really true.  It's common that new bear hunters shoot small bears because they really are that hard to judge.  I've done it (more than once) and by the way it was the best tasting wild game meat I ever harvested.  Like deer, you'll see many small and average ones before the big one shows up.  It's not always the hunter though.  Some outfitters are happy with their clients just tagging out.  Some, really encourage us to hold out for a chance at a big one and educate their hunters how to judge the bears.  Comparing their height to a 45 gallon drum, crease in the head etc...  One thing for sure though, when a really big bear comes in you will know it.  A 400 lb + bear is an intimidating animal.  That was my goal this year by the way.  Hunting the rut is another big factor when hunting big bears.  Just like deer in rut, big ones get caught when they are searching for a hot sow.  A hot sow hitting a bait is a magnet.  If you know you have a dry sow or one without cubs, you're in a good spot.  Something else to consider is the years an outfitter has been running his baits.  Mature baits seem to hold bigger bears.  All of this is just my opinion based on my experiences.  The short answer....Ontario has huge bears too but if you are wanting a large bear I think it's more important to find the right outfitter.

[goingoldskool]

Originally posted by Possum Head:
I read a great story yesterday for the first time. It was by Charlie Lamb about meeting Fred Bear by chance at a place called Gordon Bentley's Bear Paw Landing in Wabigoon, Ontario. Ever been there? His stories captivated me.

I'm booked to hunt there 20-26 may....  fall bears are fun, but I hear that spring bear hunting is MUCH better!!!!!

Joe, that color phase would have been in trouble if i were you!

Good luck, shoot straight and God bless,

Rodd