Canada or Africa? Suggestions welcome!

[Covert]

No personal experience regarding Africa.
Re Black bear, I would strongly recommend a fall hunt over a spring hunt.
If at all possible do your research and find an area where you can a have a couple of tags and maybe combine with Whitetail as well.
Lot of people tag out early and are twiddling there thumbs for the rest of the stay.
Bears are in better condition in the fall in preparation for hibernation , a big consideration if you are looking for a trophy. Much heavier and the skins are far superior to a spring bear
Also less bugs in the fall, hunting Spring bears is not for the faint hearted.

 

[devon deer stalker]

I would do it in a heartbeat but it seems totally daunting. Huge areas. Montana gets a lot of hunters? Unless you go miles out which I’m not averse to. But then I’ve got to factor in how I’d pack something out if going solo and so on.

Some of the “gritty” hunts on YouTube look amazing but they’re taking lamas in to carry water, heaps of camping equipment , rafts to get across rivers. It’s way more full on than our hunting here which seems quite soft by comparison but I’d love to do it.



The scenery does look spectacular to be fair!

You DO need to hike back in there, you DO need to get yourself strong and fit, but you can do it on day hunts, unless you want the real adventure and camp out, but just do what I/we did, lightweight tent and equipment.
I don't believe spring bear hunting is as popular as the deer/elk hunting season, but get off the trails, and walk back 3 miles and you won't find many hunters.
Packing out, I have only packed out Elk and Deer, but others on here living across the pond can give you more idea of weight, take it from me, it won't be anywhere near an Elk!
I have left Randy Newberg forum, but the members have a wealth of knowledge and could help you out.
I have a contact over there who hunts bear, I will contact him if you want me to?
He can also arrange accommodation.

 

[Lloyd90]

Please do let us know what you end up booking and who with

I only visited Canada briefly but also did a big tour across North America and dream of going back for a hunt

 

[old 30-06]

I have not been to Canada. I have been to Africa. I have been twice to South Africa, once in April and once in October. It was the best time of my life. Bar none. It is hot. It is not too expensive. The variety of plains game animals that can be shot is mind bogling. If you really want to live on the edge, then go after a buffalo. I saw them, lots of them. I left them well alone. I am still alive. However, I came within two feet of an angry charging rhino, and was nearly bitten by a hyena. That was more than enough for me. Wildebeest are magnificent, and what I like to hunt. They can be very nasty, but thats what the old 30-06 is for. If you hanker for dangerous game and want to go after buffalo, please leave me something in your will.

 

[Grannysmith]

Done both and 30 trips to Africa later would take Africa everyday time!

 

[dogone]

Northern Saskatchewan: a six day bear hunt for 3-4000$ C . Lots of outfitters are on a lake with good fishing and is included. Most are remote but lodge can be driven to. To many bears and not enough hunters. They predate moose calves heavily. The only issue is getting to Regina , Saskatchewan. A long way from England.

 

[tusker]

Most of Namibia is Malaria free.
Tusker

 

[dobber]

The only issue is getting to Regina , Saskatchewan. A long way from England.

And even in Regina you would still think a long way from civilization lol, but at least its not Winnipeg

 

[Yukonmountainhunter]

Bears are in better condition in the fall in preparation for hibernation , a big consideration if you are looking for a trophy. Much heavier and the skins are far superior to a spring bear
Also less bugs in the fall, hunting Spring bears is not for the faint hearted.

Depends where you're hunting. Bears will be heavier in the fall but the coats aren't necessarily better. A spring bear is very good eating as well. Bug-wise, hunting BC or Yukon in the spring is not overly insect ridden and all bear hunting is spot and stalk as dedicated baiting is illegal. Now, sitting a baited stand in Northern Saskatchewan... bring your head net and gloves.

The pic below is an early June bear (boar) my wife and I stalked and she shot him with her muzzle loader at around 20 metres. Beautiful hide and best bear I've ever eaten. He was aged at 20 yrs old by the Game bio. BTW, she's originally from Yorkshire.

 

[Sol]

they’re also on cites which may or may not get banned in the near future. The cites side did lean me more to the Canada option if the ban doesn’t go through.

Cites is hard to navigate and Brexit and the Trophy ban basically made it impossible however... that Is for a commercial sense (taxidermy)
As far as I'm aware there's two companies that handle cites here in the UK starting from £900 so for a trophy or two Its not completely unreasonable, I would expect probably £2000 after everything is processed though.

Pre-brexit you could buy a taxidermy quality wolf pelt from russia and have at your door for £2000 now the only logical way to acquire wolves in the UK is through captive animal skulls are already £2000-£3000 with cite documentation pelts probably upwards of £15000 because there completely banned now too my understanding.

Poor wording I think? there all Grey wolf so that Includes europe wolves, and sustainably hunted wolves in NA. :[

 

[dobber]

A spring bear is very good eating as well.

Would agree, there may not be much fat to render down for some awesome lard rendering (@Yukonmountainhunter tell the missus bear lard is great for making Yorkshire puddin's)
There is something to be said for a fall bear that's been feeding on blue berries though for a while, certainly better than a coastal fish eating bear

 

[Yukonmountainhunter]

Too true about berry fed bears! Most of our bear hunting is spring as it sort of fills the urge between trapping season a dthe regular big game season in August.

She is well versed regarding Yorkshire puddings! lol Her specialty is a handed down family recipe that is made with sage and onions. Can't go back to regular after that!

 

[wildfowler.250]

Cites is hard to navigate and Brexit and the Trophy ban basically made it impossible however... that Is for a commercial sense (taxidermy)
As far as I'm aware there's two companies that handle cites here in the UK starting from £900 so for a trophy or two Its not completely unreasonable, I would expect probably £2000 after everything is processed though.

Pre-brexit you could buy a taxidermy quality wolf pelt from russia and have at your door for £2000 now the only logical way to acquire wolves in the UK is through captive animal skulls are already £2000-£3000 with cite documentation pelts probably upwards of £15000 because there completely banned now too my understanding.

Poor wording I think? there all Grey wolf so that Includes europe wolves, and sustainably hunted wolves in NA. :[

Thanks folks! I really appreciate all the feedback. Africa sounds like the ‘sensible’ option given the CITES situ but there is still a big appeal to see Canada and hunt there,(plus one mount is easier to sneak past herself than 4-5).

Sol, I honestly had no idea you would be £900 quid. £2k door to door is also a bit of a thought. I’d far rather plan for that now than get an “oh shoot”when the bill comes in.
Certainly in some of these outfitters suggest you can add a wolf tag on if desired but again, that’s another permit and maybe another couple of thousand.


Makes uk hunting seem cheap..

 

[arron]

I went to Africa on a package, the place is stunning, but for me the hunting or should I say shooting ! was too easy , infact I ended up refusing to shoot some as it was literally shooting for the sake of it , I would much rather have spent a week hunting a difficult species and not got it than shooting your impala , blesbuck, springbok, glad I went , but would be a different experience next time , so be mindful when booking with a guide , maybe that's your thing or maybe not

 

[dobber]

but for me the hunting or should I say shooting ! was too easy

Have experienced this myself on my first trip, but my second and third trip was all but easy, while a game rich environment was there, we stalked for hours and an average day put 10-15km on foot.
The days always started with a plan, and with the amount of animals that plan changed multiple times in the morning. Start for Kudu, see a warthog, on the way to that a Blesbok, then a Kudu and end up with a jackal lol Never a dull moment though that's for sure if you have the right PH with you

 

[bowji john]

I went to Africa on a package, the place is stunning, but for me the hunting or should I say shooting ! was too easy , infact I ended up refusing to shoot some as it was literally shooting for the sake of it , I would much rather have spent a week hunting a difficult species and not got it than shooting your impala , blesbuck, springbok, glad I went , but would be a different experience next time , so be mindful when booking with a guide , maybe that's your thing or maybe not

This is why I set up the conversation courses in Moz

I believe that a lot of people desire authentic experiences of the bush rather than the tourist Disney(ist) world available to most

They take a hunting trip in order to access that authenticity - Not just to kill something

Mozambique offers the experience of the life that I, and some on here, grew up with

J

 

[Sol]

Thanks folks! I really appreciate all the feedback. Africa sounds like the ‘sensible’ option given the CITES situ but there is still a big appeal to see Canada and hunt there,(plus one mount is easier to sneak past herself than 4-5).

Sol, I honestly had no idea you would be £900 quid. £2k door to door is also a bit of a thought. I’d far rather plan for that now than get an “oh shoot”when the bill comes in.
Certainly in some of these outfitters suggest you can add a wolf tag on if desired but again, that’s another permit and maybe another couple of thousand.


Makes uk hunting seem cheap..

Its for sure cheap even if we dont think it!
I would say Africa is a better choice but keep In mind we have zero clue how long these importation business will be around for, 1 5 10? 20? so If you do want to do that bear hunt sooner the better.

£2000 Is a estimate, It could be that flat £900 + shipping.

While not advocating it you could probably get a pelt across the borders without any hassle, I've talked to someone that got a bloody mountain lion and bobcat into the uk without any cites...

 

[dobber]

While not advocating it you could probably get a pelt across the borders without any hassle

At this point they are called natural blankets

 

[Stalker62]

I believe that a lot of people desire authentic experiences of the bush rather than the tourist Disney(ist) world available to most

They take a hunting trip in order to access that authenticity - Not just to kill something

 

[NoIDeer]

Bear in mind (pun intended) that an African trip will create an itch not scratch it. You will need to go back.