Awesome Black Bear Hunting Opportunities Await in Al-Bear-Ta

I’m not going to lie. Having never hunted outside of the States, I had some trepidation when traveling to Alberta, Canada, for a black bear hunt. I had my passport for almost a year but hadn’t “tested the waters” traveling to a foreign country. Luckily, traveling with bowhunting gear — not a crossbow, which is regulated like a firearm in Canada — is much easier than transporting a firearm. Before the hunt, I researched, asked for friends’ advice, and used the ArriveCAN app to prepare for my first border crossing.

As prepared as I was, as I left the plane and headed toward Canadian Customs, I still had some anxiety. Of course, I had an issue trying to scan my passport at the kiosk. An agent offered her assistance. Scan completed; I took my position in line and awaited my turn with a border agent. Once called, I made my way to the agent as calmly as possible. I had already made my claims known, including my bow, within the ArriveCAN app. After a few questions, I was on my way to pick up my luggage and gear. Shortly after that, bags in hand, I was in Canada.

That evening, I stayed in a motel adjacent to the Edmonton, Alberta airport. After a short breakfast with friends the following day, we drove three hours to bear camp. By early afternoon, we were settled in camp, enjoying a meal with new and old friends, and receiving the safety briefing from outfitter Clayton Royer of Grand Slam Hunting Adventures. By 5 PM, I was on stand, having already ensured my Hoyt VTM 31 had made the trip in one piece. As I settled into the stand, I took comfort in the familiarity of a ladder stand. I was at ease. Finally, I was hunting black bears in Alberta!

Sizing ‘Em Up

Most of my bear hunting experience has come during the fall when boars and sows are at their heaviest, having had months to feast on banner crops to pack on the pounds for the upcoming winter. Fresh out of their winter den, spring bears have a different build. My objective for the first night’s sit was to look over a few bears to ensure a selective harvest of a mature boar or cub-less sow based on body size and features.

Without expectations, I remained motionless, patiently waiting for my first Alberta black bear sighting. Finally, after an hour, I caught the movement of a black figure off to my left. Soon, the bear showed itself. It was strolling down a trail directly in front of me. Still 30 yards from the bait, without hesitation, the bear turned 180 degrees and faded back into the dense forest. I was heartbroken. For the rest of the night, I had a different bear at the bait approximately every half-hour. One looked big, mature, and I was tempted to shoot. Instead, I took videos and pictures with my phone to share with the outfitter and discuss the size, sex, and maturity of the five or six bears I saw. I learned the bear that had tempted me to shoot was a “shooter.”

Now, I knew.

What Could Go Wrong

Typically, for several reasons, bear hunting occurs only in the evening. Primarily, sitting on a stand extends late into the night. After returning to camp near midnight, grabbing a quick bite to eat, and sharing fellowship – telling lies – with other campmates, the wee morning hours come quickly. Therefore, ample time for rest is provided, followed by one or two good meals before returning to a stand mid-afternoon. However, on the second day of my visit, a few of us climbed into separate stands for an additional approximate 4-hour midday sit.

I climbed into my stand at 10:20 AM. Like the evening before, it took almost an hour before a bear meandered into sight and approached the bait site. Don’t be fooled; a bear on the bait does not equal an immediate ethical shot opportunity. Bears will lie down and shovel food into their mouths for what seems like an eternity, shifting only slightly as they eat. It’s a dreadful dance, and the hunter is not in the lead.

After waiting at least 30 minutes for a shot opportunity, the mature boar presented me with a broadside shot. While seated, I drew. As I neared full draw, the arrow inched forward and fell off the string. Dumbfounded, I let up on my draw. I re-nocked the arrow, stood up, and tried again. Again, as I approached full draw, the arrow came off the string with a ting, ting, ting as it pinballed off the ladder stand, falling to the ground. Meanwhile, the boar was none-the-wiser and continued feasting on the bait.

I was confused. It was a cold, rainy, and windy day; the only reason I could conjure was that my many layers of outerwear were causing me to draw differently than usual, affecting the arrow’s connection to the string. I reached for another arrow held in my quiver hanging from my bow hanger. I nocked the arrow and tried to control my breathing and my wits. The boar was lying on the ground, and I didn’t have a shot, so again, I waited. After several minutes, the boar stood and turned broadside. Carefully, I drew only to have the arrow fall from the string again. Honestly, I am unsure how many attempts I made to draw with the same outcome. I was now at wit's end! Shortly after, the guide pulled up to the stand to pick me up, running the bear off as he did.

On the drive back to camp, I explained my experience and frustration. Back at camp, I shared my story with the other hunters and guide staff. I’m sure they all thought I was a buffoon, and rightfully so. After a short nap and early dinner, I prepared my gear, and my guide returned me to the same stand for the evening. If nothing else, the wind had died, and I was warmer now.

To the Rescue

It was only a few minutes back in the stand until the same boar from earlier was at the bait. Once again, it took some time for the boar to get into position for me to attempt a shot. Confidently, I drew. Again, the arrow came off the string. Flustered, I let up my draw. I re-nocked the arrow and drew again. Deja vu; the arrow fell off the string and to the ground. Persistent, I reached for another arrow, nocked it, and drew. The arrow once again came off the string, but this time, I realized what was happening, and it was all my doing.

As I was reaching full draw, the affixed blades of the swept-wing broadhead, which extended a ½ inch over the arrow shaft – beyond the insert – were hitting the two prongs of the QAD UltraRestrest, pulling the arrow off the string. Now, you can say I cut the arrow too short, say I didn’t do my due diligence to ensure proper setup, and call me derogatory names like an idiot, buffoon, or other, and I must accept it; however, I am not a quitter.

The bear remained at the bait during my meltdown, self-shaming, and now newfound resolve. Quickly, I worked on a solution(s) to my problem. I turned the nock so the blades of the broadhead were vertical instead of horizontal. When a shot opportunity presented, I drew. Again, the arrow came off the string. I unscrewed the broadhead by a few threads and tried again with the same result. I released the blades and pushed them forward, hoping this would do the trick. The blades hit the riser instead of hitting the rest, causing the same result. At this point, I understood I didn’t have the gear for a solution. I did know that others in camp had forward-facing broadheads that would eliminate my poor preparation and current situation.

I texted my guide and the outfitter. Willing to assist in any way they could, my guide drove the hour and a half to bring me three SEVR broadheads. The bear finally ran off as the guide pulled up to my stand. Minutes later, SEVR’s installed, I was back in business. My guide hadn’t been gone for two minutes when the boar casually strolled back to the bait. Several minutes later, a shot opportunity was presented. I drew, aimed, and released a fatal shot, taking my first bear with a bow.

Hindsight is 20/20

In my defense, I am a short-draw archer, and I have always cut my arrows as short as possible. I carried a Hoyt VTM 31 for this hunt, equipped with a QAD UltraRest Integrate MX. Set at the 27.5-inch draw length, I flung 26-inch Easton 6.5 arrows. Approximately ¼ inch of arrow extends beyond the front of the rest at full draw by design. Until recently, I shot fixed blade broadheads, but recently, I switched to mechanicals. I had not selected a broadhead when I initially set up the bow.

Obviously, I didn’t check off every item on my checklist after selecting a broadhead, a bonehead blunder. If there’s a takeaway here — other than planning an Alberta bear adventure soon — it’s learn from my mistake(s). Before you go, ensure your bow and arrow are correctly equipped and you have all the necessary gear for a successful trip.

Short Arrow Advantages

Using the Easton Arrow Shaft Selector as a guide, consider the following. An archer with a 27.5-inch draw can shoot an arrow length of approximately 25 ½ inches, with the proper rest, to 27 ½ or more, with the arrow extending in front of the riser. Depending on the draw weight, a shorter, stiffer arrow allows a drop in the spine, shaving weight twofold. For example, a 27 ½ inch 340-spine arrow, at 9.3 grains per inch, weighs 256 grains (bare shaft). Conversely, a 25 ½ inch 400-spine arrow, at 8.4 grains per inch, weighs 214 grains (bare shaft), a difference of 42 grains. At 27.5 inches of draw length and 60 pounds of draw weight, the difference in weight can lead to a gain of 15 fps.

There are other factors and variables to consider before simply cutting an arrow as short as possible, including the speed rating of the bow, the weight of the insert, and, of course, safety. If you are unfamiliar with arrow spine and how it’s affected by these variables, consult your local pro shop to optimize an efficient arrow for your setup.

For more information, visit eastonarchery.com.

Pick a Spot

Aiming at a black bear requires thoughtful deliberation. Although bears are big, their long hair can sometimes confuse a bowhunter. This is especially true of spring bears fresh out of their winter dens and much leaner than fall bears. Before taking a shot, ensure your pin placement is precise. Practice is the best method to achieve perfect pin placement. Practicing shots at a bear-sized and bear-looking target, such as the GlenDel Bear, is best practice.

The GlenDel Bear features an industry-first, 3-D target with a replaceable 4-sided core. Constructed of ultra-durable self-healing polyfoam, the 4-sided core measures 12” x 12” x 12” and provides easy arrow removal and extended target life. Best of all, it features an anatomically accurate archery target that mimics the silhouette of a 250-pound bear (51″long x 29″ high x 12.5″) wide.

For more information, visit www.feradyne.com/brands/glendel-3d-targets.

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