Is it possible to over hunt area for bear?

broadfieldpoint · 11-05-2006, 09:32 AM

Going on a guided hunt next spring in Alberta for bear. In the last year or 2, nobody has been shooting monster bear in their area...I have been wondering of late if they have over hunted their area. With the thousands of bears in the area, is it possible to over hunt the 'big' ones?

Elkcrazy8 · 11-05-2006, 09:36 AM

If they are hunting over bait, and the big ones have had too many encounters in the light, they may be waiting until after dark to feed. I know as the season rolls on here, that later it gets in the evening, the bigger the bears get.

broadfieldpoint · 11-06-2006, 07:52 AM

Anyone else?

stubblejumper · 11-06-2006, 09:02 AM

It certainly is possible to overhunt an area for black bear.If too many of the larger and older bears are killed off,the age of the bear population becomes younger,and the average size of the bears drops.

broadfieldpoint · 11-06-2006, 01:32 PM

Dont larger boars move around every year giving a outfitters new bears to shoot every year?

Elkcrazy8 · 11-06-2006, 09:11 PM

I would imagine that the outfitters would move around a little too. I do know for a fact also, that when hound hunters start using your bait site as a strike bait, the bigger bears aren't seen any more. It could be alot of things. Then again, maybe the hunters were not as picky last year. If the outfitter is reputable, he should give you some references so you can check it out for yourself.

broadfieldpoint · 11-06-2006, 09:23 PM

I did check the references...everything looks good. However...no one has shot anything over a 19" bear there in the last couple of years. i am looking for something in the 20" range. Someone suggested that the particular area where the outfitters has been hunting (for years) is over hunted of big boars. the other possibility is that they are nocturnal. Someone said that the larger bears go nocturnal after the 2-3rd. week after coming out of hibernation...what do y'all think?