1999 Spring Bear

Spring came late to the Yukon this year!! We (Joel and I)  planned to be on the river building a cabin by the third of May but after talking with Donn and Robbie who told us not to rush, we delayed until the eighth.

Eight to twelve inches of snow stop the 4 wheelers but the old trusty Dodge goes through - no problem. Fortunately when we get to the burn the snow is almost gone so we are able to switch to 4 wheelers. A few creeks and a submerged bridge later and we are at the river only to find it still froze over. We can see open water below so launch the boat, bust through 300 yards of ice and its smooth sailing except we are loaded too heavy and can’t get the boat to plane.  We drift for 5 hours, camp out on the bank and drift another four hours, arriving at the proposed cabin site that afternoon.

Two days later, we have the walls up and ridge poles peeled but have to head for town to pick up the first grizzly hunter.  Steve Dennis, Robbie and Joel head back out on the 14th while I go to Whitehorse to negotiate a caribou contract. I am lucky and get the four I want and help my outfitter neighbor Doug get seven.  I return to camp on the 15th  in time to hear good news. Steve has already turned down a small grizzly  and they have a big one working the area. Next day they hike up Joel Creek to check for sign and  return for a late lunch. About 5:30 they get all bundled up and hit the river only to run into Mr. Grizz  300 yards from camp. Of course they are in rough water so Robbie is unable to keep the boat straight and smooth. The first shot is high and the bear keeps on eating. The second shot cuts a few hair of the hump and the bear runs off. After a thorough examination of the area and Robbie tracking him for a couple of miles with no blood showing they decide the bear just passed “hunter education 101”.

We decide to try  the Rock. Joel and I work on the cabin while Robbie and Steve explore. They find lots of bear and moose sign and  a way through the second canyon but our fuel is running low.  Next that I know we can make the canyon we can plan  to hunt the upper Rock where nobody has ever hunted.  That’s for next year.

On day seven we head back to Joel  Creek so Robbie can go in for his cousins funeral. Steve and I head up river, stopping to glass at a cut bank. Nothing seems to be moving so we head  for another. As we come around a bend, we see a grizzly feeding on the bank. We idle back , pull into a channel where we leave the boat,  ease up the gravel bar and get all ready. I figure 225 yards so Steve shoots. The bear burns off so we go back to the boat and jump in. Just as we pull away I look back and the grizzly is back feeding so we start all over. We get to the place, only now I have my range finder and its 275 yards so I get an old root for a rest. The bear now moves behind a small  island. We move up and get  set. I tell Steve to relax as it is going to take awhile. He is unable to do this so the 20 minutes seemed like hours and his heart probably wasted several thousand beats; however the bear finally shows.  We zero in the range finder - 175 yards. He steps on a log and  turns broadside. Crack!  He runs up the bank and disappears but I’ve seen the bullet hit and know he won’t get far.

We get back to the boat cross the river and ease in. There he lays, shot perfectly, taking out both  lungs. A beautiful male with exceptional white claws, smaller than the missed one but a well earned trophy.

The next two hunters had to cancel so the spring season is over. Joel and I went back and finished the cabin getting back in time to meet 

Ruth who flew up for the Watson Lake grad (would have been Joel’s class) so Joel and Ruth got to watch his friends graduate. We then returned to Three Hills where Joel will graduate on the 26th complete with his private pilots license. 

For 2000 I am offering three spring bear hunts with a forth planned if I can get a hovercraft. The three ten day hunts will be taken in areas I know to be home to an eight foot plus grizzly. 

April 22nd  - May 1st  Hunt by hovercraft on the mid Coal. This area has a huge boar, discovered on one of my late spring snowmobile trips. We need a hovercraft to access this area as there will be a combination of ice and open water on the river. Room for only one.

May 3rd to 12th  Hunt by jet boat on the Coal and Rock Rivers. The Joel Creek boar ‘s home is here plus you get to explore the upper Rock.  Room for two.

May 23rd to June 1st Hunt by jet boat and back pack on upper Hyland.  This goes after the South Camp boar. Possibly the largest grizzly. Have only seen his tracks which indicate a 9 foot bear. Room for two.

Cost: 10 days for $4,000.00 US plus $3,500.00 when grizzly is taken.

May 15th to 21st  Hunt by ATV near the La Biche River. This area has cut lines which have been reseeded to grass and have lots of black bear.

Don’t know about grizzly but there are some in the area.  Room for two.

Cost:  7 days for $2,500.00 US plus $3,500.00 when grizzly is taken.

If you want one of these great hunts please call.