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Start Your Retriever Off Right
Here are a few helpful tips to help you do it right and get your retriever pup off to a good start:
WATER
Taking your retriever pup out in a boat to the middle of a lake and throwing her overboard is not a proper water introduction. Ideally, you want the experience to be pleasant and fun.
Find a small pond with a shore that drops gradually from shallow to deep water. The weather should be mild, and the water temperature 60 degrees or warmer. Wading into the water with the pup will help alleviate any fear she may have. Bumpers and water retrieves can come later.
GUNFIRE
The worst thing you can do is to take a puppy to an open field and fire a 12-gauge over her head. That’s almost guaranteed to cause gun-shyness. Instead, recruit a friend or family member to help with this part of your pup’s training. While you handle the dog, have your training partner move a good distance away. Each time you toss a bumper, your partner should fire a shot with a starter pistol or cap gun. Be careful not to overdo it. A few shots each outing will suffice. Each day, decrease the distance between the dog and the gunfire and repeat the same drill. Keep in mind that introducing a dog to gunfire is a gradual process that shouldn’t be rushed.
DECOYS
Don’t wait until hunting season to familiarize your dog with decoys. Incorporate them into their training exercises. Place a dozen or more decoys around a field when you’re tossing bumpers. This will help teach the dog that decoys are just part of the setup and not her main focus. Once he/she learns that, they can move on to retrieving bumpers around a decoy spread set in shallow water. This will help them learn how to swim through the decoys without getting tangled in the lines. If you hunt with motion decoys, incorporate them into your training spread as well.
BOATS The best way to acclimate a pup to watercraft is on dry land, where the boat won’t rock or tip over. Place your retriever in the boat and let her explore this unfamiliar setting. Do this several times over a period of a few days, and when the dog is comfortable in her new surroundings, launch the boat and take your pup on a cruise around the lake. Be sure to go slow and avoid rough waters. Keep the outing as pleasant as possible, with the dog sitting calmly beside you. Allowing them to run around while the boat is under way can be extremely dangerous.
BLINDS
Whether you hunt out of a permanent blind or a layout blind, your retriever should have a place of her own. Set up a dog stand or platform during your training sessions. Begin by teaching the dog to sit still on the stand. The younger the dog, the less patience they will have. But after several training sessions, they should learn to be patient and sit on the stand for extended periods of time.
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Field Judging Black Bear
Here is an excerpt from a fantastic article written by Carl of BCHuntingBlog. This is always a popular question we are asked and this article gives the same advice (with photos) as we have given for many decades 🙂
Field judging Black Bears can sometimes be difficult even for the most experienced of bear hunters. The animal you are judging is usually completely black aside from color phase bears, they have thick fur and the shadows they create can be deceiving. With that said there are a few methods you can have at your disposal to help you determine if the bear is a shooter or not.
So how can you improve your skills at judging trophy black bear size in the field?
Let’s Get Started.
Check Out The Bears Head:
Big Bears: Will have a very large, blocky looking head. Their ears will look small, and almost off to the side of their skull a little. On really big boars you might even see a crease down the center of their forehead, if that’s the case, it’s a good bear. Other features to look for on a bears head would be scarring around the face, boars have ferocious fights, so it’s not uncommon for them to have plenty of battle scars around their muzzle, eyes and ears and these are helpful clues.
Small Bears: Will have a small, narrow head, almost dog like. Their ears will appear to be much larger and defined. Almost like “Mickey Mouse” is a common description among many experienced bear hunters.
Check Out The Bears Behavior:
Big Bears: Big dominant boars, behave like big dominant boars. And they usually won’t be in much of a hurry unless they know you’re there and you’ve spooked him. When big boars walk they will sometimes have a big swagger to their stride, much more so then a bear who’s on the submissive end of the spectrum. When I shot my first Island Black Bear we watched him stand up on two legs and scratch his back on a tree for a couple minutes, without a care in the world. When big boars decide to move they move deliberately, there is no indecision in their movements which can be noticed in younger, startled and confused bears. Because they are dominant, the big boars will usually have a bit of a schedule and will often be caught feeding in the same places, at the same times of day. They can do this because they are the boss!
Small Bears: Are very cautious, they will get out of your way quickly (so will a big old boar too if he’s spooked). They will usually always be more alert then a dominant bear because they have to be, or they could become dinner. Smaller bears will often seek the safety of a tree when in trouble or they just won’t stop running until they hit the coast. When small bears run, they will appear much more agile then a larger bear. They will will look more like a big dog running, then a lumbering old boar.
*Tip – When you’re observing a bear, and he/she doesn’t appear to be spooked, sit there and watch them for 1/2 hour or so. Bears are pretty fascinating creatures when you watch them do their thing, and by observing you’ll learn more about them and that makes the hunt more fun.
Check Out The Bears Body:
Big Bears: Sometimes the big boys are called “belly draggers” for a reason, and it’s possible for our bears to get this big. Big Boars may appear to be so big, you can’t see underneath their body when they are moving around. That’s a big bear! If the bear you’re looking at appears to have long legs, it’s probably because he has a smaller body in proportion. Big bears will have very muscular looking arms and legs, especially their front shoulders/neck area.
Small Bears: Can you picture the size of a really large breed dog? OK. That’s about the size of an “average” Island Black Bear. An average Island Bear will weigh 150-250lbs. An large 6′+ boar could likely weigh 300+ and the big bears do look much different as you can see in the photos.
What Are Some Additional Signs Of A Big Bear?
If it’s a big bear you’re after then you need to pay attention to the sign you see around you. Tracks and Scat are very good indicators as to the potential size of a bear, and will let you know if a particular bear is frequenting an area.
Judging Bear Size From Tracks:
This method was shown to me by my Father who was a big game guide for nearly 30 years. It has since been shown to me by several taxidermists and many more experienced bear hunters than I so I believe in this method.
If you can find fresh bear tracks in an area, maybe mud or soft sand (common where we hunt spring bear on the Island) measure the distance across the front pad and simply add 1. This will give you a rough “square” of the bear. So if you measure the bear track and it came out at 5″inches across, you would add 1 and could guesstimate that bear was roughly a 6′ foot bear.
I have tried this method on many of our harvested black bears and I have to say it’s pretty damn close! The only problem with this method is you need to find the bear that left the track!
Judging Bear Size From Scat:
Spend a couple days bear hunting and you’ll observe several dozen or so piles of bear scat scattered across the road. Not only can they help you see what the bears are eating but they can give you a pretty good indicator as to the size of the bear that left it. Here’s a tip for you. It’s not necessarily the size of the pile… It’s the diameter of the nuggets! A really BIG bear has a really big butt and it’s not uncommon for them to leave scat the diameter of a beer can behind! If you look at 10 piles of bear scat and then come across the one left by the big kahuna trust me… You’ll Know!
If you discover an area that has BIG tracks and some BIG (large diameter) scat, then it might be worth hunting that area a little harder. Big Island Black Bears don’t have enormous ranges and unless you’ve spooked them heavily they will keep coming back to the same places to feed.
Hopefully you found article helpful and through experience you’ll become a much better bear hunter. Because of their abundance it’s pretty easy to rack up experience if you’ve got the time to put a couple weekends in every year and then the patience to watch and observe what goes on around you. Pay attention to the sign, and have a good time out there!
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Moose – FYI
Moose are the largest of all the deer species. Males are immediately recognizable by their huge antlers, which can spread 6 feet (1.8 meters) from end to end. Moose have long faces and muzzles that dangle over their chins. A flap of skin known as a bell sways beneath each moose’s throat.
Moose are so tall that they prefer to browse higher grasses and shrubs because lowering their heads to ground level can be difficult. In winter they eat shrubs and pinecones, but they also scrape snow with their large hooves to clear areas for browsing on mosses and lichens. These hooves also act as snowshoes to support the heavy animals in soft snow and in muddy or marshy ground.
In summer, food is far more plentiful in the northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. When the ice melts, moose are often seen in lakes, rivers, or wetlands, feeding on aquatic plants both at and below the surface. Moose are at home in the water and, despite their staggering bulk, are good swimmers. They have been seen paddling several miles at a time, and will even submerge completely, staying under for 30 seconds or more.
Moose are similarly nimble on land. They can run up to 35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour over short distances, and trot steadily at 20 miles (32 kilometers) an hour.
Males, called bulls, bellow loudly to attract mates each September and October. The usually solitary bulls may come together at this time to battle with their antlers for mating supremacy. After mating, the two sexes go their separate ways until the following year. Though they may occasionally feed in the same grounds, they tend to ignore each other.
Females give birth to one or two calves in the spring—each weighing some 30 pounds (14 kilograms). These calves grow quickly and can outrun a person by the time they are just five days old. Young moose stay with their mothers until the following mating season.
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Country-Style Fried Bear Steak
This recipe will bring out the southern drawl in anyone. It’s great for any game meat but extra special with bear. It uses a blended creole seasoning mix recipe, which are also included.
![bear-steak-620x338[1]](https://wawanghunting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/bear-steak-620x3381.jpg)
Creole Seasoning
- 2 tbsp. onion powder
- garlic powder
- dried oregano leaves
- dried sweet basil 1 tbsp.
- dried thyme leaves
- black pepper
- white pepper
- cayenne pepper
- salt 3 tbsp.
- sweet paprika
Blend together in a food processor. Store in an airtight container.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. bear steak, cut into 4 equal portions
- 3 tbsp. creole seasoning,
- divided ½ lb. bacon, chopped
- 11⁄4 cups all-purpose flour,
- divided 1 large egg
- 2½ cups milk,
- divided 1 cup bread crumbs
- ½ cup yellow onion, minced
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
Instructions
Place the bear steak on a piece of plastic wrap and cover with another piece of plastic wrap. Pound steak with a meat mallet until it’s ¼ inch thick. Season both sides of meat with 1 tsp. of creole seasoning.
Fry the bacon in a large, heavy skillet until just crisp. Remove and drain. Set pan with the bacon grease aside.
Prepare 3 bowls to dredge the meat.
Into the first bowl, add 1 cup flour and 1 tbsp. creole seasoning.
To the second bowl, add egg whisked with ½ cup milk and ½ tsp. creole seasoning.
Into the third bowl, add bread crumbs mixed with all but ½ tsp of remaining creole seasoning.
Dredge the meat in the first bowl, shake off any excess, then dip in second bowl and again shake off excess, then roll in crumb mixture. Repeat with all steaks.
Reheat the bacon fat in skillet until hot, but not smoking. Carefully add 1 piece of meat and fry until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towel to drain, repeat with other pieces of meat.
Add ¼ cup flour and ½ tsp. of creole seasoning to drippings in pan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Add onion and cook, stirring until onions soften, about 4 minutes. Whisk in remaining milk and salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in bacon. Serve with steaks.
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Tips for Spot-Stalk Black Bear Hunting
The most underrated hunt is for trophy-class fall black bears. There’s this misconception out there that hunters can just walk up on them. That’s just false. They’re one of the toughest trophy animals to spot and stalk in North America. Get on the record-book bruins with this killer nine-step plan.
1. Find Mature Timber
You have to locate three ingredients to get into big bears, Werner says. First, old-growth timber for denning, then food and water. Look for 10- to 50-acre parcels with these three features.
2. Scout it for Sign
Look for big branches broken off trees, claw marks in bark, and rubbed-out bark stubbled with bear hair. Ideally, you’ll also find fresh tracks on the ground measuring 6 inches wide or better.
3. Check for Scat
It comes out green but oxidizes very quickly, turning black almost immediately. The greener it is inside, the fresher.
4. Focus on Blueberries and Rose Hips
Bears go into a feeding frenzy in early October. Climb a nearby ridge and monitor the food source with binocs or a spotting scope.
5. Trust your Eyes
Bears feeding heavily will eat for about a third of the day and sleep the rest. The bears you glassed will show.
6. Judge the Bear
When you see a bear, determine if it’s worth going after. If one ear width separates the ears, it’s small; two ear widths, medium. Three means it’s a shooter. READ: How to Size a Black Bear
7. Note the Wind
Bears don’t see or hear well, but their nose is 50 times better than a bloodhound’s. There is no earthly way to beat their nose. The wind must be perfect.
8. Start the Stalk
Follow a route that plays the wind and approaches the bear from behind. If the bear alerts in your direction, stop and wait. Only move forward when the bear goes back to feeding and looks relaxed.
9. Make a Clean Kill
Never take a long shot, because anything less than a double-lung hit makes recovery a coin toss. Because of the nature of hunting large predators, guys get very excited. So you have to practice enough so the shot is second nature. But when it all finally comes together, there’s nothing better.
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Wildlife Encounter – FYI
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The Mentality of The Wolf Pack
There’s nothing more exciting than calling in wolves and here’s some tips on how to get in on the action.
1. Find Them
Wolves have large territories—50 square miles or more—so you can’t just wander out into the woods and start calling. Locate a pack’s core area by wolf howling or coyote howling from roads and ridges, but don’t expect to draw them in that way since wolves are territorial, so they’ll respond to howls, but unless you’re already in their core area, they won’t come in to investigate.
Wolf howls should be loud, long, and guttural—almost mournful, but, you don’t need to get fancy. A two-tone voice call (hands cupped around your mouth) going from high to low will work. Howl three times at most and then wait and listen.
Because wolves generally live in denser cover than coyotes, you need to call louder than you would on a coyote hunt. Start with an electronic fox or coyote distress call on low volume and then gradually turns it up to maximum volume for a few minutes. Use coyote challenge howls, barks, and yips to simulate coyotes fighting over a kill, and, simulate a fight for 20 to 30 seconds, then waits about 20 minutes before challenge howling again. If you’re in elk country, bugles and cow chirps will also draw in wolves.
There’s nothing run-and-gun about wolf hunting. Setup a ground blind and wait all day. Wolves will come to a call from a long distance. They’ll circle your position, or they’ll just sit, wait, and watch. It can take hours before they decide to commit to a call. But when they do, they’ll usually come in quickly.
3. Stay Ready
When you see a wolf coming in to your setup, it sends chills down your back. You’re going to be nervous, so you need to be ready to shoot. Shooting sticks provide a steady rest when your heart is pounding, and they also make sure your gun is always in shooting position. Any movement will get you busted. Set up in an area where you can see at least 100 yards so you’ll have time get on an incoming wolf.
If you’re not sitting in a blind, hunt with a buddy positioned about 10 yards downwind of you. Predators, especially wolves, always seem to know where your back is, and you don’t want a big wolf sneaking up behind you.
Tip:
Use Enough Gun When it comes to choosing a caliber, wolves should be regarded as big game, not varmints. Experienced wolf hunters recommend using a .30-caliber rifle and up. Wolves are solid animals with heavy, matted fur, and commonly weigh 150 pounds or more—about the size of a young whitetail buck.
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The Right Caliber
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FIELD JUDGING MOOSE
Of all the living members of the deer family, moose have the greatest amount of antler material. They also show great variation in size, with the smallest racks coming from Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and the largest from Alaska, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. A records book sized Shiras moose would not be even a desirable trophy in Alaska.
Although the widest spread antlers are sought in all categories for the records, strong development of antler palmation in both length and width is even more desirable. Many Shiras moose show only a single spike brow point on each antler, rather than a well-developed brow palm. This is undesirable since the length-of-palm is measured to a notch between brow points. The single spike brow dictates that the length of palm measurement must be ended at the edge of the main palm, obviously losing some potential that would have been fulfilled if the brow were palmate or even forked. High-scoring Canada or Alaska-Yukon moose have three or more brow points, on broad, well-developed brow palms that increase the length-of-palm measurement. This feature, along with broad main palms, markedly improves the score potential.
Although an Alaska-Yukon moose may have 15 or more points on each antler, not all projections count as points, especially if they are blunt in shape. One cannot accurately count the antler points on most trophy moose when the animal is in the field, so evaluation must generally be made on the basis of the amount of palm material present and the greatest spread.
Big trophy moose of all three classes tend to have the main palms lying flat to produce a wide spread, whereas smaller antlers are more apt to show cup-shaped palms and a narrow spread. The ear tips of a mature bull when laid flat are roughly 30 inches wide, with ears themselves being 9 – 10 inches. A bull with an extra ear length on either side would, then be approximately a bull with a 50 inch spread.
Even though moose can often be studied carefully in the field, and an experienced guide may make reasonable estimate of the greatest spread, it is very difficult to estimate the scores accurately at a distance. This is because the length, width, and symmetry of the palms are all hard to judge when seen from the side. A frontal view, with the animal’s head down and antlers nearly vertical, gives a much better chance for accurate evaluation, but may not be available under field conditions.
Typically, younger bulls will feature long and disguisable points, but with narrower spreads and shorter palms. As bulls age they tend to add in number of points that will be shorter and less recognizable having given way to wider and taller palms. As a rule, palm width and length pile up B&C points.
BREAKDOWN OF SCORING COMPONENTS – CANADA MOOSE
MAXIMUM VS. MINIMUM – A COMPARISON OF TWO RECORDS-BOOK CANADA MOOSE
TOP – World’s Record Canada moose scoring 242 points
- 15 x 16 point frame
- Spread over 63 inches
- Witdth of Palms averaging 22 inches
- Length of Palms averaging nearly 45 inches
Bottom – Canada moose scoring 187-2/8 points
- 11 x 11 point frame
- Spread over 54 inches
- Witdth of Palms averaging 12 inches
- Length of Palms both over 36 inches
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ON TARGET in CANADA 
