Callum's 2021 bruin

There's no doubt that hunting predators particularly black bears has dwindled in interest and hunter numbers over the years. The balance or equalibrium in predator - prey numbers in some places one could say is very questionable, and now more than ever the education and promotion of predator hunting is crucial. There are several misconceptions or false assumptions in the hunting community of the value and importance of predator hunting. In our case, we understand it and in the case of black bear hunting we look forward to it every year.

I have always enjoyed and preferred a spot and stalk black bear hunt but as of late in recent years we have found several more benefits to spring black bear baiting. In particular, the success rate for the hunt is 110% and as a result our young hunters are intrigued and instantly drawn into the hunt. As a matter of fact according to Callum his favourite hunt is during the spring black bear season. At HBSD we are promoting the predator hunt and encourage the hunt in our younger hunting community for a number of reasons.

This year we had an opportunity to get a head start and baited two of our regular sites. The start of the season was off to a great start with bears showing up the last week of April. It was the earliest bear activity at these locations we had seen in some time.

In the first week of May, Callum successfully harvested his 2022 boar. He initially passed on a couple of bears but chose to pull the trigger on a larger boar that came into the site later in the day near the end of light. He was ecstatic, his patience and perseverance finally paid off - he was delighted with his bear. The task of now looking after the kill was about to get a little challenging. The bear had came to in the middle of a water bogged low area, and so our first bit of work consisted of getting it positioned up on high ground. It's back breaking work moving a bear by hand through water and holes to a dry work area. We worked into the dark properly caring for the hide and the meat. A great experience for my young hunter and some great memories for me. In the end, I was able to pack out on my back a water-logged hide, feet and head attached, while Callum had the honour of packing out all of the meat on his back. There's alot of work and time that goes into a spring black bear hunt, but it's worth it and we're looking forward to the 2023 spring black bear season.