Which area is better for taking a real whopper black bear? Which place will a hunter see more bears?

Vancouver Island has some good bears, but I understand that the Queen Charlotte Islands have some very large bears. ( skull measurements at least) The Charlottes are harder to get to(poorer airline connections, and more expensive) and within sight of Alaska, on a clear day. I believe most hunts there are via boat to the more remote clearcuts, etc. Also, I have never heard of the treehuggers bothering spring bearhunters on the Charlottes, but there have been some incidents on the west coast of Vancouver Island a few years ago. There is a two black bear limit for BC and populations are very healthy. We also have more restrictive gun laws which would be a minor irritation to you, and your $ goes a long way here.

I hunted with Jim Shockey on Vancouver Island
this past April and it was beyond incredible.

We saw numerous large bears and my partner and I each took bears over 7' square. The
skull on mine was 19-3 and my partner's was
20-4.

I suggest you check out www.jimshockey.com
for details.

Our 5 day hunt wrapped in 21/2 days (and we
were fussy) with 57 different bears spotted
and 10 stalks undertaken.

Ross

I can't believe there could be anyplace on earth that has more bears than southeast alaska.

I can't believe there could be anyplace on earth that has more bears than southeast alaska. i've seen 23 bears in one outing before.

If you go to S.E. Alaska, Kuiu Island is the spot for big skulled blackies. This is based on my Alaskan Big Game trophy records. this is a remote islands that has been logged quite a bit. Beach cruising and glassing clear cuts would be the methods used. My brother did a bunch of fish stream surveys for ADF&G and says there are LOTS of bears on this island.

Nothing wrong with Canada, eh? 20-4 sounds like damn good bear to me. A seven footer is respectible. Are you after hide size or skull size?

Getting a rifle into Canada is no easy task, but the exchange rate is good.

Lars you pay your $50.00 and Canada will let you in.
What is so hard about that.

Vancouver Island,can NOT match SE's average skull size,let alone SE's exceptional specimens.

Shockey brags up his huge Bears and their numbers. I see but one Book bear on his site. That does not back up his brag.

If you want a truly big Bear,SE is impossible to beat. Of course,everybody's idea of "big" is different. Big to me,is 21" plus,Net skull size...............

Hi Lars,

I see you have 77 posts here at Saeeds place, but for some reason I must of missed most of them. Nice to read your inputs here!

I have a related question, that I've been asking on a diferent site...

When do you guys think will be the best time to go Black Bear hunting in S.E. Alaska, or Queen Charlotte/Vancouver Islands, this Spring?

Thanks!

P.S. Hello Stick!

------------------
Brian
The 416 Taylor WebPage!

BW,

I'm out of this one.

You want to Hunt with Shockey,he may let you touch his scarf,as he puts you on an 18 incher!

I'm thinking late June is best(grins,all around)..........

With a skull average well over 19 the
Shockey camp is superb. However it is
in fact true that very few 21+ bears come
from the Island but IMHO the very high
net average makes this an attractive hunt.

Not only did I get to touch Jim's scarf
but he let me wear it.

Regards,
Ross

It's hard to beat SE Alaska for lots of BIG black bears!

Been there twice and can't wait to go again!

------------------
Good Hunting & Hunt Safe,
David

Hey Brian - yeah I hang out here too.

In the Juneau area, the month of May is the best IMO. This is mostly because I am out in the woods grouse hunting anyway. Also, the first beach grasses and skunk cabbage start popping up by mid-May and this when the bears come out of hibernation and start looking for food.

They can start getting rubbed out in a week or two, so the hides are best early on IMO. Not sure why Big Stick likes it at the very end of the season.

Lars,

Thanks for the timing info in Juneau! If things don't work out down south, I'll use that opportunity to hunt up north.

About Big Stick... He's just joking around with me. We talk all the time, and I know what he means.

I have no clue about the other Guides mentioned. Naturally I'm going "un-Guided".

------------------
Brian
The 416 Taylor WebPage!

Lars
Is there grouse hunting in Alaska in May? That's great...

Cohoyo
I was in Haines last spring- We had some good fish & Chips at a little diner, and I talked for awhile with the fellow at the sporting goods store, and basically had a very nice visit. We also bought some good beer from a guy up at a little brewery.
Nice place!

Vancouver Island has a high population of bear, though it's definitely not proven they are the biggest.

99% of the time a very large bear will have a very large skull. A 2 year old, 150lb. boar will never make B&C, whether he's on a salmon diet or not.