Hello Canadians. I'll be heading up to Donnelly, Alberta, near Peace River, for my spring bear hunt. As I understand it, there is still a couple of feet of snow on the ground.

I looked at weather.com and saw that temps were reasonable for snow to melt....appeared to be a fair amount of rain in the last week or so.

So, how will this affect the spring bear hunting if there's still quite a bit of snow on the ground? We do not head up there until May 26th.

Some of my hunting party are a bit worried that it will slow the hunting down. I see it as a plus for better pelts. May see fewer bears but probably less risk of rubs.

Your thoughts?

(I'll put this in Am. Big game as well).

No problem-just go it will be fine.

Oh yea, we're going no matter what. I went last year the last week in May and it was great. Went 2 years ago in mid May and it was fine too.

The outfitter and I spoke on the phone last weekend and he was commenting on the weather and how there was still snow. His tone led me to believe that it was a bit more unusual than normal.

It will be fine, snow never lasts that long even in the north. I have never seen it yet when the last 2 weeks of May arn't good bear hunting. When i was guiding even if it was wet and cold the baits got hit pretty hard then. The bears should be looking pretty good still with the cold spring, although some aways rub early, if not come out of the den in poor shape.
Around Whitecourt things are greening up where there is no snow, and it tends to melt off real fast once the temp stays up, especially at night
The end of may is the best time to be in the woods, let us know how well you do, I am sure you'll lots of bears.

Your timing is perfect. I hunt bears annually 2 hours northwest of Peace River. We goe the week after Victoria Day (I beleieve you call it Memorial Day). Have fun!

Doc - I went thru there on the weekend, the snow was pretty much all gone. It may still be a little wet at that time but I think your timing is pretty much right on.

Eh!

Doc,

I think by that time you should hit it perfect. I was out with my brotherinlaw on April 22 setting out bearbaits and there was 2-3 feet of snow in areas in the brush where the sun does not get at. I got stuck once with tthe quad and tubtrailer/bait. This is in the Peace River area. By now there should be less snow, and alot more green grasses out by end of May.

We seen 1 set of tracks at one of the sites. Its been a bit cool also. Yesterday a buddy of mine seen a bear up a tree eating the fresh buds.

The bro-in-law hads some hits yesterday as he went to check the baits. He has some clients coming in on the 10th. He tried to get them to come later, but one of the guy's - his daughter's grad is in late May and other committments so this was the only time they could make it.

Thats 8 days from now, and its sunny and warm, so hopefully more bears will be out.

I leave on the May longweekend (May 20-23) to the cabin with my huinting buddies to cruise the cutlines/pipeline ROW/cutblocks -calling and looking for bears. Cant bait in this area due to grizzlies but it good just to get out and be in the bush. A couple a years ago, my buddy & I seen a grizz and did a spot and stalk along a pipeline ROW just to get close for pics as we did not have a tag for the grizz. Got to under 60 yrds before we stepped on a branch under the grass and the bear turned/ seen us and took off running down the line a bit before it stopped. We went back to the quads and let the grizz be. WHAT A RUSH!

Anyhow, good luck on your bear hunt in the Peace country DOC.

It's 4 May. The temperature in Peace River today was 17 C. The snow's gone.
This might be of use to you.
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/forecast/canada/index_e.html?id=AB

Doc - A friend of mine got serious about bears last weekend. He saw 16 in 4 days. Nothing real big but one pretty blonde. Supposed to be warm for the next few days. I think you might need some insect repellant. Good hunting.

Don't know where you're at Bedrock, but it can't be the same place, as me The wife and I headed for Jasper on Wednesday and turned around at the David Thompson resort, because the road was so bad that I didn't dare try the Icefields Parkway, at some REAL elevations. Here, in the Olds Sundre area we got about 4 to 5 in. wet heavy snow, the last two days. Now, it's melting, but they are talking about rain again for monday. I think it's a perfect time to hunt bears, as long as you can handle the mud.
Grizz

Grizzly - I'm up in the Peace Country. I saw the weather Red Deer was getting yesterday. I was at the bench yesterday with a couple cold beer. A little wind but not bad. Today was +23 and no wind. Moquitos are starting to show up. Believe me after living in the Okanagan I know a nice day in Northern Alberta.

Doc,

Tell us how your hunt went.