I just got back from my first hunting trip to Canada. I went with Northern Saskatchewan Wilderness Hunts Inc, run by Keith Heisler and his 2 sons Ryan and Mike. It was a first class operation that was well managed with nice accomadations, good food and 100% success hunting (for our group anyways). I took my 375 H&H. All of the shots were over bait and less than 30 yards. There was a part of me that wished I had taken my bow but there were 2 people that shot bears and didn't find them so it worked out well.
The hunt was conducted being put on the treestand about 1400 hrs and the guides would put some extra cookies or whatever else they happened to have for the bruins and then the wait began. It didn't get dark until 2230 hrs so it was a pretty good little wait. I got lucky and the first day (which was really nice with the rest of the week rain forecasted) in less than 10 min a nice bear came in. Being my first bear I didn't really have a clue as what to look for. I saw that his back was as tall as the 55 gal drum. Even though his legs looked long he appeared to have little ears so I made a decision to shoot. I watched him eat some cookies, knock the barrel over then lay on the other side of it forever. He then stood up, I nailed him through the shoulders with the 375 270 RN bullet. He rolled around then took off. I shot him on the run as he took off and that put him down. I hit him in the hip on the second shot. He then let out his "death bellow" that I have heard about then that was it.
He was 65" from nose to tail and had 4 1/2" paws. They estimated he weighed between 225-250. There was some monsters spotted but mine was the biggest taken by our group. There was damn sure some big ole bruins up there.
Then the rest of the week I got to play cards, fish and drink scotch.
Dinner was late everynight becuase it didn't get dark until so late but breakfast wasn't until 930 so there wasn't any need to get up early. It was a really relaxing hunt.
I brought my hide and skull home with me frozen in a cardboard box. Getting through customs wasn't much problem at all. Getting rifles up there and back was pretty easy too. The most inconvenient part was taking my rifle below I left to get the custom form 19CFR148.1 form certified. The customs people didn't even look at it on the way back in.
It was a good trip and I will definitely do it again. I want to get more of the color phases.
Jason
The hunt was conducted being put on the treestand about 1400 hrs and the guides would put some extra cookies or whatever else they happened to have for the bruins and then the wait began. It didn't get dark until 2230 hrs so it was a pretty good little wait. I got lucky and the first day (which was really nice with the rest of the week rain forecasted) in less than 10 min a nice bear came in. Being my first bear I didn't really have a clue as what to look for. I saw that his back was as tall as the 55 gal drum. Even though his legs looked long he appeared to have little ears so I made a decision to shoot. I watched him eat some cookies, knock the barrel over then lay on the other side of it forever. He then stood up, I nailed him through the shoulders with the 375 270 RN bullet. He rolled around then took off. I shot him on the run as he took off and that put him down. I hit him in the hip on the second shot. He then let out his "death bellow" that I have heard about then that was it.
He was 65" from nose to tail and had 4 1/2" paws. They estimated he weighed between 225-250. There was some monsters spotted but mine was the biggest taken by our group. There was damn sure some big ole bruins up there.
Then the rest of the week I got to play cards, fish and drink scotch.
Dinner was late everynight becuase it didn't get dark until so late but breakfast wasn't until 930 so there wasn't any need to get up early. It was a really relaxing hunt.
I brought my hide and skull home with me frozen in a cardboard box. Getting through customs wasn't much problem at all. Getting rifles up there and back was pretty easy too. The most inconvenient part was taking my rifle below I left to get the custom form 19CFR148.1 form certified. The customs people didn't even look at it on the way back in.
It was a good trip and I will definitely do it again. I want to get more of the color phases.
Jason
