We are located in southern British Columbia hunting with International Sportsman, Inc. (ISIadventure.com), the new company offering time-share type hunting opportunities all over the world -- hunting big bruins with hounds.
We arrived on Wednesday afternoon meeting up with our guide, Clint. After an evening scouting for bear sign we glassed one nice bear up on top of a mountain. Our plan was to go after him in the morning. But as luck would have it our outfitter brought in a couple of additional houndsman that night who saw a huge bruin cross the road on their way into camp. It was a short night for all of us with less than 3 hours sleep.
At five AM we went down to the location where the bear had crossed the highway. As soon as we hit the spot the dogs began striking (baying up a storm) with the bear scent heavy in their noses. Our guide let the dogs go, one at a time, until four dogs where hot on the bear's trail. One houndsman took up after the dogs while we headed up the logging roads adjacent to the drainage.
Via radio, we kept in touch with the houndsman on the track. Unfortunately, the bear wouldn't tree and kept climbing higher into the drainage. We drove up into the snow line. The road was thick with deep snow and the lead truck was stuck. We all stood on top and listened for the dogs. You could hear the dogs, but they were still far down below us. After a brief radio conversation with the houndsman on the track we decided to drop down the steep ridge, through the deep snow, and attempt to head off the big bruin.
Stay tuned for Part 2 and the outcome of this hound hunt for black bears in BC.
No comments:
Post a Comment