BC Bear Hunt Report by John LaBanc

Hunter: John LaBanc
Date: 9-15 May, 2022
Trip Taken: Spring Black Bear in British Columbia
Consultant: Kyle Hanson, Outdoors International

The Batnuni Lake area of British Columbia is dense with forest and timber with many dirt logging roads. There are a few cattle ranches with lush green fields of grass. The area is the perfect habitat for bears, moose and deer. Plentiful food sources, ample timber for sanctuary and numerous lakes and streams.

The typical day begins with a hearty breakfast at 0800.

You’ll travel the logging roads at 0930 to look for bear sign and determine the location with the best chance of finding bears feeding in the evening. You eat lunch in the field and return to camp at 1600 for a hearty dinner. Back out at 1800 to survey the fields for the evening bear feeding. Once you sight bears you field judge them and decide if you want to make a stalk. In six days of hunting I saw 58 black bears and 3 grizzly bears. Most of the bears I saw were still young, but 10 of the 58 were old enough and large enough to be worthy of harvesting. In British Columbia you are not allowed to shoot grizzly bears.

One evening at 1900, we spotted an old, cautious black bear.

He was at the edge of a tree line who would emerge briefly into the lush field to eat, then retreat back into the timber for safety. This was a large bear, and my guide and I decided to make a stalk. We were 365 yards from the bear with a right to left breeze and two pieces of farm equipment between us and bear. We moved toward the bear using the farm machinery to conceal our movement. Once we got to the machinery we moved to our left into the timber. We used the trees to conceal our movement toward the bear.

At 89 yards I set up in a stable prone shooting position.

Jim confirmed there were no cubs and that the bear was a “shooter.” His words were, “you will not be disappointed if you decide to take it.” Now it was a matter of waiting and hoping for the bear to emerge from the timber into the field to feed. The bear did wander back into the field. Once he turned broadside I shot him with my Blaser R8 Professional 30-06 mounted with a VX6 HD 3-18 x 50 Leupold scope and chambered with a Barnes 180gr TTSX.

The bear bolted into the timber not knowing what just bit him and died within 20 yards of where I shot him. Jim estimated the bear weighted 250 lbs. The bear had a jaw deformity which was of particular interest to me– an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

The outfitter and his business partner are competent, professional and enjoyable company.

The memories and new friendships made will last a lifetime.

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Hunt Report

• How would you rate your trip overall? Great. The Outfitter and his business partner have over 30 years experience of hunting and guiding. They have an impeccable reputation among the ranchers in the area for their hunting ethics. The ranchers trust and respect Jim and Lyle and have given them exclusive permission to hunt on their properties. As a hunter you buy a hunt, not an animal. Jim and Lyle work hard to put the hunter in a position to have an opportunity to harvest a bear, which is all you can ask of your outfitter and guide.
• How was your guide? Great.
• How was your lodging? Great.
• How was the food? Good.
• How was your outfitters communication? Good.
• How physically demanding was your trip? Easy.
• How would you rate your Outdoors International Consultant? Great. I have used Kyle exclusively to set up all my hunting adventures of the last 3 years. He is professional, experienced and ethical. I will continue to use Kyle to recommend and arrange all my future hunting adventures.
• Would you book another trip with OUTDOORS INTERNATIONAL in the future? Yes.
• Can we use your stories and/or photos on our website? Yes.
• Can we use this in social media? Yes.

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