So you decided to try hunting something different than a deer, something that sounds more exciting and adventurous, something that will give you more “cred” on the “street”. Bear. Which bear? Well, if you live in Canada (outside of Yukon), the only bear you are able to go after is a black bear. I call those bears “gummy bears”. You’ll find out why in a bit. The next question you’re probably asking yourself is how do I do cheap bear hunting in Canada. If you don’t already have camping gear, trailer, RV, truck tent or some other expensive accommodation the simplest answer to your question is: camping out in your car.
In this post I will give you some tips on how to get your bear on the cheap
Plan Ahead
You need to decide if you just want a day trip, or if you want an overnight trip. This will determine what you will need to “make it” in the bush.
Keep in mind that even if you’re not planning an overnight trip, you still should have emergency supplies in case you get stuck, literally, in the bush.
Basics required
The minimum you need for a cheap bear hunt:
- vehicle,
- bear tag(s),
- rifle,
- food / drink
- supplies (other)
- entertainment
Vehicle
This sounds like a no brainer, but.. Make sure your car is in good working condition. Have a full tank of gas and pack an additional jerry can. It will come in handy. And even if it doesn’t it’s always better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Bear Tag(s)
Always, always, always remember to bring your tags! You can’t hunt without them! And you can get in a lot of trouble if you shoot a bear and don’t have the tags with you. And “with you” means literally “in your pocket” not in your vehicle 3 km away if you decided to hike in.
Rifle
Make sure your rifle is in good condition, sighted in properly. Trust me, there is nothing more frustrating that not getting the animal you should have gotten because of the incorrectly sighted rifle. Or because you take too long to zoom in on the animal due to the scope mounted in the incorrect spot. Long story short, just make sure that if you miss, it’s not because of something that was easily fixable.
Food
Well, if you are planning an overnight trip you want to pack something that won’t spoil. Tuna sandwich or sushi should not be your number one choice. As much as I’m not a fan of instant soups, I have to admit that I was very glad we packed them on our last trip. For ease, make sure you get the ones in a cup, not the ones you need a pot for. Having something hot to warm you up is definitely a bonus in the bush! If you have a propane fueled portable camp stove you’re in luck. You can have as much hot water as you want. Remember to actually pack bottled water. You most likely don’t want to be looking for streams to get your water. If you don’t have a camp stove, boil water at home and pour into a thermos. Depending on the type you have, it should hold the water hot for many hours. Camp stove is still the better choice, though. So far we have instant soups and water. I guess if college students can live on that for months, hunters should be able to survive a night or two. However, other things we usually pack are beef jerky, chips and granola bars/nutri bars. Scott could live on those for weeks. I’m a bit more sophisticated, I want some real food! Most of the time we do bring sandwiches (the triangle ones from the grocery store, that’s my decadent treat), however, we have a cooler with ice packs so nothing spoils. Our cooler is big. We use it to bring food for the trip and take the bear out. Double duty!
Supplies
Remember, it can get cold overnight so make sure you have sleeping bag(s). These can be rated to different temperatures so do your research before you buy, keeping in mind night temperatures. Additional source of heat for us is a propane heater. We used Mr. Buddy many times before in a tent. Be careful to position it properly in your car, though, or you might end up melting the ceiling liner of your car.. Whoops. You can do a bit of a DIY and attach something to act as a deflector. We will do that on our next trip and let you know how it worked out. 
Both, the camp stove and Mr. Buddy will need propane to work so a 20 pound propane bottle with an adapter will work great. If you don’t have a big bottle, both devices will work with a 1 pound bottle as well. Pack a few of those as Mr. Buddy will probably go through one of them overnight. Pack a pot / kettle, flashlights, battery back up. We have one that can charge our phones and jump start the car. Pretty handy. We bring our hunting knives, for cutting our food and skinning the bear. We also ensure we have our multi-tools, bear spray (for the “No-No Bear” aka Grizzly), and supplies that can help us with car recovery. Click here for tips on how to get a car out of the mud, or snow.
Entertainment
Depending on the time of year you are hunting your bear you may have a lot of time on your hands after the hunting closes for the day. Unless you’re planning on going to sleep right after you are done your hunt plan on having some entertainment; download a movie onto your phone, bring a book, cards. This will keep your mind occupied, especially during the fall hunt when you will have a few hours to kill. Bush at night is definitely less inviting than during the day.
Conclusion
Bear hunting is definitely an adventurous activity. Remember, if you hunt in Canada (except Yukon) you are only allowed to hunt the “gummy bears”. Why do I use this term? It’s because black bears are super cute looking and we eat them. Hence, gummy bears.
Being over-prepared is better than under-prepared. Make a list of things you want to take with you and keep adding to it every trip. On your first trip you will most likely wish you had something with you, add it to your list for next time.
Keep Smart and Hunt On – Good luck!
Karolina