Big bears during the rut in Saskatchewan

[Green Chile]

Here we go again and I'm as excited as ever to be getting out of town and back into the field. I'm going back to Saskatchewan and decided to take a little different approach to this hunt report. I will try to upload each day of the trip and keep everyone updated as we go. The flights into Canada are tomorrow and today is the final day of packing and preparing to leave. This will be a 5 day hunt starting on Monday and ending Friday with about a day of travel on each end.

On this trip, I will be taking a Blaser R8 in 300 win mag with a Swaro Z8i 1-8x scope with 180 gr TTSX ammo. The most critical detail of that gun is the illuminated reticle. Last year on this same hunt, I wrote of using a Bighorn Armory lever gun in 500 S&W with iron sights. It worked out but I could have shot the same bear days earlier if I had been using a scope with illuminated reticle. That is going to be a game changer for sure. Caliber was less critical and I had considered taking a 375 H&H, 338 win mag or this 300 win mag that is going with me. Any of those calibers will punch 2 holes in any black bear from any angle. One thing about bear baiting is you might get the angle you want...or he might hang up behind the barrel or tree and give you a less than perfect angle. I like to remove any excuses that I can and definitely want 2 holes in any bear that I shoot, no matter the angle.

 

[Green Chile]

Each hunt location is different on packing but I wanted to share a basic list of what I take into Canada.

Canada packing list

Passport
Tip $
Thermacell and mats (fuel is bought in Canada)
Knife
Wipes
Daypack
Cushion
Rain gear
Hunting clothes (layers)
Rubber boots
Crocs for camp use
Gloves
Hat
Face mask/bug net
Rechargeable battery
Headlamp
Charge cords
Duffel bag
Trash bags
Rifle in hard case
Soft gun case for truck and ATV use
Gun sling
Ammo in hard case (not with rifle)
TSA locks
Binos
Permethrin
Toiletry bag
4457 for re-entry
Canada non-resident firearms declaration form

 

[Green Chile]

We are going with Spirit Creek Outfitters out of Saskatchewan again this year. They have had some fantastic bear activity for a number of years now and they are really dialed in on the bears. Here are some taken in the last 2 weeks from our camp...

 

[Green Chile]

The rut is in effect and I'm looking forward to what is hopefully a lot of activity in the evenings at the bait stations. Here is the bear I took last year from this camp...

 

[Green Chile]

One thing you will need as a non-resident gun hunter in Canada is their Declaration form. Do NOT sign it in advance as you have to do that in front of them upon entry.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Good travels.

 

[davidg8480]

Have a great time and enjoy the show!
Becarful of the sows and cubs.

 

[Green Chile]

The sows with cubs try to keep some distance from the boars during the rut as the boars can kill the cubs to get the sow back into heat again. Last year, while focusing on an old boar, I didn't even see sows and cubs while other hunters saw them almost every day.

 

[davidg8480]

Augh yes the boars will dominate the bait sights ...
"why go downtown looking for trouble".

 

[Green Chile]

Our travel begins...we are starting in DFW on Delta...flying to Minneapolis...then to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Layover in Minneapolis is long enough (7 hours) that we will probably go see a movie and get some food. The Mall of America is just 4 miles from the airport. All of the travel today is really just 2 flights of 2.5 hours each but we won't get to Canada until about 12 hours after we leave. We are scheduled to be in bear camp Sunday afternoon and the best way of doing that is by flying in the day before and overnighting. The airport has rental cars and hotels right there so that's easy. It's simple logistics on this trip.

There is a Sportsman's Warehouse and Wal-Mart next to each other in Saskatoon that is really convenient for last minute items like butane fuel canisters for the Thermacells. It's also ideal for getting a cooler or duffel bag for flying frozen bear hides back home. The bear camp has a walk in freezer, which helps tremendously.

The drive to bear camp tomorrow is about 3.5 hours to get up into the boreal forests where the bears are located. Once we leave Saskatoon, there are no large towns for supplies so we will get anything needed before leaving town.

 

[Fatback]

Safe travels and looking forward to your report.

 

[davidg8480]

Are we there yet! What hotel in Saskatoon?

 

[Green Chile]

Just landed in MSP. There are several hotels next to YXE airport. We are using Days Inn.