Author Topic: 2009 Vancouver Island Black Bear (Read 6013 times)

littlemac · « **on:** March 30, 2010, 06:34:45 PM »

My hunting buddy and I went to Vancouver Island for a six day hunt in April of 2009. we went with Sean Lingl out of Port Alberni and had a great time.

We saw bears everyday and most of the time they numbered in the double digits. There were slow days when one of us would see only a handful. We were guided one on one and would only meet up back in camp at night.

I spent the first few days glassing.

littlemac · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2010, 06:37:48 PM »

The third day we set up late on a huge boar that was at about 300 yards if he came to the near end of a clearing below us. This bear had been hunted for the past three years and was very smart, holding up in and area without any good access without him busting us.

The guides had actually named him "Goliath".

We set up on him the fourth day as well. He was rubbed off on his hind quarters but so big it would have been great to take him.

Here's the set up. The clearing in the lower right is the place he hold up.

littlemac · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2010, 06:41:12 PM »

Late on the fourth day he busted out without us seeing him until he was all the way to the valley floor.

Totally bummed us out, but taught us how smart he was.

On the way up to our set up we jumped a cougar on the road. We called in and let the camp know that we had spotted a cat and there was a hunter there with a tag.

A couple of hours later, it was hunter one kitty zero.

Not a big cat, around 100-110 lbs.

littlemac · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2010, 06:44:40 PM »

When we returned to camp my buddy Ken was still out and word got back the he had taken a big boar.

When he got into camp it was confirmed, one big bear and as it turned out the biggest of the entire season. Squared at seven feet and it was a load in the truck bed. Scored at 21"

Here's a two shots Ken's bear. The first is in the field and then one in the truck.

D-Rock425 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2010, 06:48:52 PM »

those are great pics

littlemac · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2010, 06:51:06 PM »

The next day we went back to our set up and took a look for Goliath, never to see him, saw a bunch of other bears and decided to take a look around the corner from where we had been the last two days.

Within a few minutes a bear rounded the corner about 500 yards across the hill side. We were on a plateau that really was the only unwooded are on the hillside.

We got set up and he fed his way to within 100 yards of our position. Wehn he got to around 75 yards I made the shot with my .340 Wthrby mag. It stood him up and he bolted over the edge. Not a lot of help, as it was nearly straight down.

We lucked out when he hung up on some slash. The Canadians don't clean up slash like we do down here.

The first pic may give an idea of how steep it was, as well as the angle of the slash in the second pic.

The last shot is dressed out and over a log. He was an ok bear, 6'6" and a long face that scored not bad at 19"

MuleySniper · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:03:41 PM »

Those are great bears! Sounds like you guys had a blast.
MS

ribka · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:06:18 PM »

Thanks for sharing. The first bear is a whopper
How much do they charge for that type of hunt?

cohoho · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:12:59 PM »

Right on, nice bears for sure...

SkookumHntr · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:18:52 PM »

Great pics and story! Looked like you guys had a Hoot!!

rasbo · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:19:28 PM »

cool pics and story..love that country

GoldTip · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:43:10 PM »

Great story and great bears, gotta love that forehead cleavage on your buddies bear, very nice.

Alaska316 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:51:45 PM »

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

Ray · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:54:20 PM »

Nice work littlemac. Both great bears. Ken's bear was a damn hog if I ever seen one!

It sounds like a great trip to me.

Rufous · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2010, 08:13:47 PM »

What a hunt. Those are both great bears.

littlemac · « **Reply #15 on:** March 30, 2010, 08:45:27 PM »

Thanks guys, Ken thought we were all kidding him about his bear being a hog. That was when the outfitter offered him a second tag if he wanted to trade his bear to him to mount.

Sean didn't have a full mount in the lodge and would have done it in a second.

Ken was beat and went to turn in for the night. I sat down with a glass of Crown to relax and he stated asking if Sean was serious, damn straight he's serious.....you got one heck of a bear. He decided to full mount it himself as we sat there.

Drop Sean an email for the rates, not sure what they are this year. We think we'll go back in a year or two. It really was the most fun we had on a hunt. We drove up and ferried to Vancouver Island and then on to Port Alberni.

The website is: http://canadianguideoutfitters.com/
I went back to see if I had the cost in an email and didn't find it, I want to say $4k but it could have been $5k. I try not to remember those numbers.

I did find an email with a quick shot of Goliath though, that Sean had sent me. He has it posted on his site and says it is the largest bear he knows of alive, claims they'll get him this year. Hope some lucky hunter outsmarts him, he's a hog.

bowhunterforever · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2010, 12:09:59 AM »

Sounds like you guys had an awsome hunt aned nice bears.

saylean · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2010, 10:41:05 AM »

Nice work on the bears, looks like a fun time~! Looks like great bears to me.

Austrian Hunter · « **Reply #18 on:** March 31, 2010, 10:49:22 AM »

Awesome pictures, great story, thank you for sharing!!!! Man, I love Bear Hunting

What a hog.

wadu1 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2010, 10:55:14 AM »

I was at the Guide Outfitters banquet a few weeks back. The guide service I use received a award for the largest black bear taken by members in 2009, it was 7'6' skull was 22 7/8' (I might have that wrong).

http://www.trophywest.com/index.html

Ridgerunner · « **Reply #20 on:** March 31, 2010, 11:04:37 AM »

Looks like a great hunt, I just cannot get over what they charge for bear hunts on the island.

Austrian Hunter · « **Reply #21 on:** March 31, 2010, 12:34:53 PM »

Quote from: Ridgerunner on March 31, 2010, 11:04:37 AM

Looks like a great hunt, I just cannot get over what they charge for bear hunts on the island.

I know,

But I bet its worth it. I would sell my sole for the Boat Hunt

Black Bear APR 1 - JUNE 15 5 days $ 5,800 U.S.
Black Bear APR 1 - JUNE 15 2nd bear $ 3,200 U.S.
Black Bear* adult & youth APR 1 - JUNE 15 5 days $ 9,000 U.S.
Black Bear** boat hunt APR 1 - JUNE 15 5 days $ 10,000 U.S

littlemac · « **Reply #22 on:** March 31, 2010, 12:38:35 PM »

Quote from: wadu1 on March 31, 2010, 10:55:14 AM

I was at the Guide Outfitters banquet a few weeks back. The guide service I use received a award for the largest black bear taken by members in 2009, it was 7'6' skull was 22 7/8' (I might have that wrong).

http://www.trophywest.com/index.html

there are some huge bears up there for sure. Ken's was the biggest taken in our camp. Would have loved to have gotten into the near 8' range as they do exist up there.

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Author Topic: 2009 Vancouver Island Black Bear (Read 6013 times)

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