BRITISH COLUMBIA BLACK BEAR HUNTS

larry hassell, black bear hunting, bristhis columbia

British Columbia Black Bear Hunts

Larry Hassell a lifelong hunter, who, along with 40+ years pursuing the ubiquitous Texas whitetail, has often traveled to the U.S. mountain west and central plains states for pronghorn, whitetail, upland game, and mule deer.

"In addition there have been a couple of unsuccessful black bear hunts in Alaska and a most successful trip to British Columbia for black bear. In recent years I have been fortunate to have traveled to both Namibia and South Africa, for plains game and leopard. I serve as a board member of SCI Austin and frequently contribute to the Safari Club International, SCI Austin Newsletter (www.sciaustin.org)."

Bears In The Salt

I am a determined man. Twice I have struck out on black bear. The darnthings simply wouldn't cooperate. Probably about 10 years ago a friendmentioned that his brother, an Air Force non-com stationed at Eielson AFB inFairbanks, Alaska, regularly hunted black bear each spring with severalco-workers.

A phone conversation with the airman brought a quick invitationto join their hunt that year. As we were to bait the bears and shots wouldbe very short I took my Smith & Wesson .41 magnum as my only firearm.

Unfortunately, although we saw several bear during the hunt, I did not havean opportunity at a mature bear. After observing how fast a bear can run upa tree I decided my revolver might be a bit short on power! I have beenskunked more than once.

It is all part of the game, but I sure wanted abear!

Several years later I read an article by Jim Zumbo in "Outdoor Life"magazine about how great black bear hunting was on Prince of Wales Island,Alaska. One only need cruise the many logging roads, scanning clear cuts,for outsize furry bruins.

After some research two friends, my son-in-law,and I put together a trip for September 2004. Despite the heavy populationof bears, only my son-in-law, Brent Stolle, was able to take a bear. Theweek was spent battling incredibly thick brush and trees, sliding downslippery stream courses choked with dead and dying salmon, and enduring analmost continuous drizzle.

I do not think I have ever been moreuncomfortable during a hunt. Now I wanted that bear rug even more!

This spring I was given an opportunity to take over a hunt a friend hadbooked but couldn't make due to business obligations. When offered theoption to take the hunt I decided it had to be the best chance to finallyget my bear rug.

I was especially willing to schedule the hunt because theoutfitter was known to be very successful on spring bears.

SCIAustin had raffled a hunt with Nanika Guiding and Austin residents GregAllen and Gary Joeris had each taken two excellent black bears and onegrizzly during their short week of hunting.

Black bears are sonumerous in the area that a second black bear tag is available at modestcost.