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Monthly Archives: September 2015
Bear Facts to Success
Simple Fact: The more effort you put into masking your scent, the bigger the Black Bears coming into your target zone will be.
All experienced Black Bear Outfitters have their little tricks to make their bear hunters hunt more enjoyable and also help with their success. If you are new to bear hunting you should know what you are up against. Every hunter wants a big trophy bear and this article should bring you a little closer to that goal, but remember, to thoroughly follow the advice of your outfitter, if you’ve chosen one, and, above all else: DO NOT DEVIATE from the routine they have already established.
Black Bear hunting to the outfitter is about luring bears to a target zone for their hunting guests by baiting with food the bears like such as high-carbohydrate foods. Bread, pasta and other high starch content foods are rare in nature but it’s what the bears want most so they can quickly store fat for the winter. It’s also about setting up stands at strategic spots where big bears have been scouted. Black Bear hunting for the hunter is all about stealth, with the two biggest factors being sound and most of all, smell.
Black Bear’s Sense of Smell: Olfactory Receptors
The Black Bear has the best sense on smell of any land walking mammal on Earth. It’s really hard for a human to comprehend how well a bear can smell as we basically have to stick our nose in the pot to smell the sauce. Comparing the amount of Olfactory Receptors between a human and a Black Bear is mind boggling.
Olfactory Receptors are microscopic bulbs on the end of nerves in a mammal’s nose. The more you have the better your sense of smell is.
- Humans:
6,000,000 Olfactory Receptors (6 million) - Blood Hounds:
1,800,000,000 Olfactory Receptors (1.8 billion) - Black Bear:
12,600,000,000,000 Olfactory Receptors (12.6 Trillion)
A Black Bear can smell 2100 times better than a human. In addition the Jacobson’s organ in their mouth can taste the air, adding to their brains perception. A mature Black Bear can smell your breakfast from 20 miles away if the wind is right. Big mature bears can smell better than smaller younger bears as their noses are larger and more developed. Bears also know what unnatural smells are and associate them with a human presence. This can explain why Black Bear hunters that are not fanatical about the way they smell rarely see big trophy bears. There are procedures you can do to minimize unnatural smells to keep the bears concentrating on the bait that the outfitter has put out for them. It is wise to check with your outfitter before applying anything new to the bait station that they normally don’t use.
1) Before your bear hunting trip; pick a couple of sets of clothes that you will only wear at the tree stand while hunting. Wash your clothes with scent-free detergent and when done, run them though the wash twice again with no detergent so they are well rinsed. This will ensure your clothes are scent free. If you live in the city and have chlorinated city water then go to a pet store and buy a small bottle of Aquarium Water Conditioner and add ½ oz. to the last rinse cycle you do with your clothes. The water conditioner will neutralize the chlorine in the water and keep the chlorine smell out of your clothes. Remember, they can smell 2100 times better than you so don’t feel silly getting fanatical. Then pack the clothes in a plastic bag to keep them scent free. If you consistently use fabric softener in your clothes dryer it’s best to hang your clothes up to dry because residual clothes softener might go on your clothes. If you are a smoker, do not smoke while wearing your hunting clothes.
Before we go to the next points you should be aware that Black Bears love the smell of mint. If you go on a camping trip in any of Ontario’s provincial parks the wardens will tell you not to keep mint toothpaste or mint gum in your tent because the bears will smell it and go after it. The bears craving for mint can be used to your advantage.
2) Think Mint: Go to one of those hippy tree-hugger heath stores and buy mint soap. The morning before the hunt take a shower using the mint soap. Brush your teeth with mint toothpaste. Chew mint gum while in the tree stand and if you really want to go all the way, have a glass of mint tea before the hunt and even keep a few bags of mint tea in your pockets. This will help cover up any scent.
3) Smoking: If you are a smoker and you smoke in the tree stand you are basically wasting your time if you expect a big trophy bear to come within sight. Wind direction can give you a little luck but it’s not something you should count on. It’s best to wear a nicotine patch while in the tree stand and if you need to; chew mint gum to keep your mind off smoking. Remember to brush your teeth and wash your hands and stop smoking before you put your scent free hunting clothes on. This would also apply to cigars and chewing tobacco as well.
Black Bear Hearing:
The shape of Black Bear’s ears is mainly responsible for their great hearing. When detecting sound based on volume a bear’s hearing is about four times that of a human. However, a bear can hear a much broader frequency range; both higher and lower frequencies. Rubbing of cloth or twisting of your tree stand can produce sounds that the bear can hear and the hunter cannot. Big old male bears develop a crowned head and their ears move out to the sides giving them stereoscopic hearing, which allows them to pinpoint the origin of the sounds they hear. This is another reason why big old bears are harder to get.
With this in mind try to stay absolutely still. If you have to move; move very slowly. Take some nose drops before the hunt and if you have a cold or allergies. If your throat is dry and itchy bring some mint flavored lozenges with you. You can also oil the joints of your tree stand to make them a little quieter.
Black Bear Sight:
During the day a Black Bear basically has the same site as a human but older bears tend to be near sighted. As a result they cannot focus on things from a long distance. When one of an animal’s senses becomes diminished their brain rewires itself to compensate by making other senses more acute. This is known as neural placidity. As a bear gets older they become near sighted so the brain compensates by being more sensitive to color differentiation. If the bear sees colors it thinks are unnatural and he sees those colors move the game is up. Bears cannot see the same range of colors as a human. Hunter orange looks gray to them. But they can see dull reds and yellows as well into the blue/green cool color spectrum. This is why there are many different forms of camouflage clothing.
Picking the right Camouflage:
You need to talk to the outfitter when you book your hunt and ask what kind of plants will be at the tree stands. If the hunt is taking place in the southern range of Ontario’s bear hunting country during the fall you may have a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees, thus you will need a camouflage that represents pine needles, pine bark and colored fall foliage. If you are father north in an area with only pine trees you will need a camouflage that represents pine bark and pine needles, which means dark brown and green. You need to blend into the scenery so their bear cannot see any unnatural color pattern.
Black Bears are nocturnal. They have a reflective layer in the back of the eye called the tarpetum lucidum. Just because you can’t see them does not mean they cannot see you. Since dusk is the hottest bear hunting time it’s also when you should concentrate the most on being quiet and motionless.
Bear Size:
In most cases, big ears mean a smaller bear. A small ear is usually a bigger bear. Once a bear reaches three years old (approx. 100 lbs.), the bear starts to grow into its ears. The ears and eyes don’t grow as much as they do in the first three years. Sometimes if a bear has a hard year with food, the ears will look bigger because the bear is thinner. Read our article: How to Size a Black Bear
Cubs:
When a sow is with cubs, 90% of the time the cubs are in the lead. The cubs will make more noise than a single bear. Most of the time, adult bears make little or no noise.
Sow:
You can’t shoot a sow with cubs in the Ontario spring hunt, and in the fall we continue this policy on our BMA – DO NOT SHOOT SOWS with cubs.. So make 100% sure you know what you are shooting at. Take a really good look around to make sure there are no cubs. A sow’s ears are usually closer together, as a male bear’s cranium grows wider on top and the ears look farther apart. They also look smaller, which is really an illusion.
These tips and techniques are just a guide line for some things to consider and think about. Ultimately the outfitter is the person you need to discuss the different factors with. Bear hunting can be quite different in different regions.
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Wawang Lake – Black Bear Outfitters
Andy’s 475lb (dressed)
Black Bear are known predators and Ontario has the largest population of black bear than anywhere in the world. Furthermore, north-western Ontario leads in the concentration of these animals than elsewhere in Ontario, and, rates highest in population concentration for all of Ontario that also allows for bating practices.
Many deem baiting unfair, giving the hunter a considerable advantage. But contrary to what some would have us believe, it’s far from easy and holds no guarantees! Bear can sneak in undetected, grab a morsel of food and disappear as fast as they arrived. Bear can also skulk around the bait for hours, never showing themselves. As experienced outfitters we’ve learned that many of our bear will move in cautiously to inspect the provisions. The advantage of hunting in the fall is bear are eager to fatten up for the winter. The biggest advantage to baiting is that, if and when a bruin finally commits to the bait, it allows the hunter a an opportunity to assess size, stature and time for shot placement.
About Bear
Black bear habitant range can span from two to 10 miles and resident populations often hold a variety of boars, sows and cubs, so it’s not uncommon to have multiple bears visiting the baited site. Ontario only offers a FALL BEAR HUNT therefore the chance for the large TROPHY bear is increased dramatically. Most hunters fear poor coats or hides due to the fall hunt but our area does not suffer that fate. With little to no burrs or ticks, our bear don’t succumb to ticks causing ‘rub’ or dry patchy fur. We also are known for our high number of white chevrons (patches) to make your trophy even more unique. Black bear
Jon Hanson – Tiffin, IA 440 lb. black bear
Black bear have relatively poor eyesight, but outstanding hearing and acute sense of smell. Once they get a taste of your bait, and, as long as it is replenished regularly, they will be reluctant to leave the area. In fact, once a site is established properly, you can and will see the same bruin day after day.
Location is Critical
Our bait stations have been established for many years (since 1972) and placed along the bear’s natural movement corridor. Heavily timbered forests near cutovers and waterways often sustain good bear densities. With berry crops like wild blueberries and raspberries nearby, black bear favor the accessibility and abundance of such forage and most often reside in the proximity.
Claw marks on deciduous trees and there may even be fresh markings, these lasting scars unveil a historical presence. Nomadic creatures, bear commonly travel traditional trails along waterways and natural movement corridors like valleys and ridges. Finding fresh scat can instill further confidence that bear have frequented the bait. Keep in mind that well established bait stations offer much more success than new stations since bear follow these game trails year after year.
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HUNT the HUNTER
The best timber wolf habitat in all of Ontario CANADA is located in the Boreal Forest
around………. Wawang Lake Resort
HUNT the HUNTER – Ontario’s Timber Wolf
Hunting a top predator is a challenge you will never forget. A timber wolf hunt is not for the novice hunter though. In fact hunting for wolf will require more determination and patience than any other type of hunt. If you’re the kind of hunter that can pride themselves with this type of stamina then wolf hunting is definitely something you’ll want to experience.
Remaining aloof is what wolves do best and they are also extremely cautious and above all prefer not to be seen. They hunt small game, moose and bear for a living, so they are extremely resourceful. They
are shrewd, cautious, and have finely tuned senses. With this said remember that the wolf is the hunter’s top opponent when hunting in NW Ontario and up for any challenge man will present.
Our region of the Boreal Forest remains to be one of the most populated areas for the timber wolf with pack sizes reaching 30 or more and this is due mainly because of our small game, moose and bear population that are at its peak annually.
Wolves are nocturnal hunters, so getting a crack at one during legal daylight hours can be difficult, but, by precisely following the strategic technique of our expert guides it can be done.
Wolves are territorial and each pack occupies, hunts, and protects a specific area. Once we know where a pack lives, we can learn more about them and that is the groundwork for our hunts. We know of many different packs, in this vast area, and each year we gather information of each packs hunting patterns. A pack seems to hunt a particular route and often return to the same areas with unbelievable regularity.
Calling is helpful if the wolves are within earshot. Distressed small game calls such as rabbits (snowshoe hares) works well, as this and other small game are the wolves’ primary food source along with moose and bear. Also, howling can be effective. A wolf will almost always answer to a howl regardless of their distance from the person howling.
Hunting down live large prey like moose or bear takes a lot of energy so wolves are also opportunists. They can smell blood from many miles away and frequently visit our baiting stands for an easy meal so we know where they are, but, the wolf hunt is much more interesting than that. Outsmarting wolves means having an outfitter that knows their strategy and scouts out what game trails they are using. Placing baits sites in proper places can mean the difference between success or not!
A Typical Natural Hunt Blind
We hunt from natural ground blinds made from deadfall, but, because temperatures can be extreme we advise our hunters to bring along their own commercial ground blinds (aired out for at least two months in advance of the hunt) in order to be more comfortable, however, this can be risky and best to avoid this type of blind if at all possible as the wolves can be skittish of them and of course can reduce the hunter’s chances of success. It is always best to dress for the extreme outdoor conditions and hunt from the natural ground blinds we provide.
The color phases of the wolves seen in our area are varied, from the most common gray tones to blacks and whites, to medium tones of cream, gray, brown and orange. The specs of our wolves are as follows:
- Length: 4.9 ft – 6.7 ft.
- Weight: up to 175 lb
- Height: between 26” to 33”
There are very few guarantees in hunting, but we do offer you this . . . . .
That you will find the wolf hunt a challenging and enjoyable experience in some of the most beautiful terrain you’ve seen.
Your guides are passionate hunters and strive to provide the same hunting experience for you that
they would want for themselves.
Our resort is a comfortable with a homey environment to relax in after an enjoyable day in the field…..and we feed our Meal Plan guests very well!
So while the outcome of the hunt is never a guarantee, the quality of the hunt experience is. And when you hear that first ghostly howl in the distance you will know you are in timber wolf country and from that moment on you will be hooked!
For further information, or, to book your next bear hunt please contact us at:
1-888-534-9217 or EMAIL
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Moose Hunting at Wawang Lake
Deeply imbedded in the Canadian Boreal Forest we offer the very finest in Moose habitat for our hunters. Look no farther than Wawang Lake for accommodations for your next BIG game hunt!
BOOK Your Accommodations HERE!
Our hunts accommodations ONLY for Ontario Resident Moose Hunters.
If your looking for a great hunting area that has a high population of moose then look no farther than Wawang Lake Resort as we’re in the middle of the best moose hunting area in all of NW Ontario.
At Wawang Lake we offer comfortable accommodations to Resident Ontario Moose Hunters only. Presently we don’t have any tags available and unable to take any non-resident hunters during the Moose Hunt season.
Things Moose Hunters Should Consider:
Crossbows
• Draw length must be al least (11.8 in.)
• Draw weight must be at least (119 lbs.)
• Bolt head must be at least (0.9 in.) at the widest point, and there must be at least two cutting edges of straight, sharp, un-serrated, barbless steel.
Longbows
• Draw weight must be at least (48.5 lbs.) at draw length of (27.6 in.) or less.
• Arrow length must be at least (23.6 in.).
• Broad head must be at least (0.9 in.) at the widest point, and there must be at
least two cutting edges of straight, sharp, un-serrated, barbless steel.
Rifle
We suggest using at the minimum one of the following:
300 Magnum
30-06
7MM Magnum with bullet weights in the 180 grain range
A rim-fire rifle, a shotgun smaller than 20 gauge when loaded with shot, or any shotgun loaded with shot smaller than SG or No. 1 buck cannot be used for hunting Moose.
Clothing requirements
During the rifle season hunts, a minimum of 400 square inches of uninterrupted Hunter Orange must be worn at all times. Camouflage or open mesh orange does not meet these requirements. An orange jacket or vest as well as an orange hat do meet these requirements.
Hunters should also have a compass or hand held G.P.S., as well as a good pair of binoculars, thermos, flashlight, lighter, warm clothing, good quality rain gear, waterproof insulated boots, gloves/mitts, long underwear. Two-way portable radios are also recommended. Fall hunting weather can be warm & dry to cold, wet and snowy within a few hours; so it is best to be prepared for all variables.
BOOK Your Accommodations HERE!
We trust that this information will prove to be useful in planning your next Big Game Hunt in beautiful, exciting NW Ontario. We invite you to enjoy our ‘True Wilderness Hospitality’ while participating in a remote hunting experience.
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What is Solunar and why is it helpful?
The solunar theory is a hypothesis that animals and fishes move according to the location of the moon in comparison to their bodies. The theory was laid out in 1926 by John Alden Knight, but was said to be used by hunters and fishermen long before the time it was published.
History
In May 1926, John Aldenn Knight put together some fishing folklore and other fishing factors such as the sun and the moon, hence the name Solunar (Sol for sun and Lunar for moon) to form a theory on the patterns of animal movement. Knight compiled a list of factors which control or influence the day-to-day behavior of many freshwater and saltwater fish. Each one of the 33 different factors were considered. All but 3 were rejected.
The three factors retained were the sun, the moon and the tide. For salt water fishing, tides have long been known as a factor which control fishes’ behavior. As Knight’s research progressed, he found that rather than just tides themselves, the relationship of the moon and sun’s positions relative to each other may be the determining factor.
Ruffed Grouse
In addition to the time of moon up (moonrise) – moon down, his research determined that there were intermediate times of the day that occurred in between the two major periods. From that he establishes that there were major periods (moon up – moon down) and minor periods. Knight published the first Solunar table in 1936.[3]
Tables
Solunar tables are tables that fishermen and hunters use to determine the best days of the month and times of the day for catching fish and hunting game. For fishermen, the tides, sunrise and sunset are helpful times of the day to know when the fish are going to bite. For hunters, the tides are not a factor.
Hunters use the sun and the moon to determine when the game will be moving the most.”Other conditions not being unfavorable, fish will feed, animals will move about, birds will sing and fly from place to place, in fact, all living things will become more active, more alive, during Solunar periods than at other times of apparent equal value. …anglers have found that it is a guide to the best fishing of each day, and the quality of their sport has improved…”
Using these tables, a fishermen and a hunter can tell when the moon is directly underfoot and overhead. The strongest activity occurs when there is a full moon or a new moon and is weakest when there is a quarter moon and a three quarter moon. This is because the moon and the sun’s gravitation force is strongest when directly above or directly below our head. The lunar data humans receive is better now because of the newer technology the US Naval Observatory and GPS technology.
This new technology has allowed the Solunar Theory to generate hunting and fishing times with much greater precision It is important to note that data in tables found on various websites should be reverified periodically with US Naval Observatory available data as well as compared against other reputable solunar data providers. Inconsistencies abound due to the complex nature of the Astrophysics computations and overlooked associated anomalies checking that are required to produce useful results. Moon Transits which do not occur for more than a day or associated times being off more than a few minutes are indications of a fundamental issue for a given position and should be suspect. All data providers should be verified before assuming data presented is authoritative or accurate.
Go to http://www.solunarforecast.com/ to create your own solunar calendar 🙂
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10 Reasons Hunting Should be a Woman’s Sport of Choice
Article Written By: Ammoland.com,
http://www.ammoland.com/
1. Coming face-to-face with a bear could add that necessary element of danger your day job is lacking – because avoiding Steve from accounting has become too easy.
2. It’s a much cheaper way to get organic meat than Whole Foods.
3. All of your friends think that you’re a real-life Katniss, which reminds them why it’s in their best interest to stay on your good side.
4. It opens a whole new realm of possible comebacks to “make me a sandwich.”
5. That sunrise pic from your deer stand doesn’t even need a filter #nofilter #camoselfie
6. Hunting boots are a nice break from those blister-inducing stilettos.
7. When asking for extra vacation days to go on your guided Alaskan grizzly hunt, there is freedom to interpret your boss’ shocked silence as a “yes.”
8. Puppies. Brand-new bundles of furry joy that will someday be your partner-in-crime in the duck blind.
9. There are few better ways to blow off steam than at the shooting range.
10. Last but not least, you did most of the work bringing the “groceries” home, so asking your significant other to do the cooking is completely valid.
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