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Spring Bear Packing List?

852 Views | 14 Replies | Last: 14 hrs ago by japantiger
matthewj042
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8:45a, 5/18/26
AG
Flying into Alberta then headed over to Saskatchewan for spring bear with a few buddies next week, been almost 9 years since I've hunted in Canada and I've never hunted spring bear.

For you guys that have been, anything you didn't have that you wish you would have taken? Clothing, Accessories, Footwear etc?

Are head nets and thermocells and absolute must have? Seems bugs are a problem depending on where you go.

Any help appreciated!
matthewj042@gmail.com
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Deerdude
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9:04a, 5/18/26
You have what I used that worked well but I also took some repellant with 100% DEET. They don't like DEET in Canada.
Our hunt flew us into Saskatoon then about a three hour drive north.
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Maximus Johnson
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10:07a, 5/18/26
AG
Headed to Idaho next week for a backpacking bear hunt with a few buddies. Always bring permethrin with me for the ticks. Good luck!
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matthewj042
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In reply to Maximus Johnson • 2:36p, 5/18/26
AG
Good luck sir!
matthewj042@gmail.com
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Born Maroon
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11:36a, 5/19/26
AG
Fist off, good luck.

You will be covered in mosquitos.

It's been my experience that bears associate the smell of DEET with humans and will wind you if you put it on.

Sulphur powder works good for ticks. Have had mixed results with Thermacells. They put off an odor too.

Don't have an answer for the mosquitos. Face nets are ok. Might look for a No-seeum net as those can be a problem too.

If you're super close bowhunting, I'd avoid repellent.

Get a big one.
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aggiesundevil4
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4:23p, 5/19/26
AG
I got a Canada black bear last summer. Gnats and biting flies and mosquitoes were all annoying. I pretreated all clothes with permethrin - a must. They should be washed once or twice before you go to knock the smell off. Works very well.

I used no deet because bears have great sense of smell.
I used a face net after the first day…when I had bear nearby and couldn't move to prevent them from seeing me I got nailed like 20 times by mosquitoes in the face in 15 minutes. It was bad. Looked like I had teenager acne when I got home. Face net must have.

It wasn't cold but I wore gloves for the same reason.

My style of hunt was up in a tree, so I brought my earbuds and listened to the book Extinction in one ear during my 7 hour sits. It was awesome to listen to that book while watching moose and bear and thinking about what it would be like to see extinct animals like wooly mammoths and hunt them in the wild. Really made the sits enjoyable.

Pics are after I field dressed. Only shooter I had a chance at.

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aggiesundevil4
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In reply to matthewj042 • 4:27p, 5/19/26
AG
Also - this was my first bear, they were much harder to skin than I thought they would be, especially because I wanted a full mount. Make sure you have the right skinning kit and bone saw for spine and wrists.

I ended up with a sow and the meat was amazing, I became a fan of spring bear meat!
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shalackin
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5:33p, 5/19/26
AG
Going on my first one in June too. Can't wait. I was listening to some of the old timers that are from up that way, and they think a big issue with many clients not getting one was due to thermacells. they said no matter what it all says, they think the bears can smell it and it keeps them away. I plan to just cover up with gloves and face nets. Hoping it is a cool June so I don't bake in the clothes.

One of my biggest things is trying to watch videos to help me determine male/female.
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CivilEng08
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7:45p, 5/19/26
I did mine first week of June in central Idaho a few years ago and we didn't have any issues with bugs. It was one of the years they had late April snow, so I assume that was related. So much fun. I'd go every year if I could.

Bears have great noses and are going to wind you no matter what you do. Pack a wind checker and learn the thermals and make sure you stay downwind on a stalk.
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CivilEng08
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7:50p, 5/19/26
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shalackin
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9:13a, 5/21/26
AG
Does camo matter for bears or is it all scent control?
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aggiesundevil4
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In reply to shalackin • 9:35a, 5/21/26
AG
In my limited experience, within 50-75 yards their sight was very good at catching movement. Not sure if camo helps reduce their ability to detect movement, but it certainly didn't hurt. If you are stone still and don't smell they will get really close (10 yards from my tree stand).
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matthewj042
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In reply to CivilEng08 • 9:38a, 5/21/26
AG
Nice work!
matthewj042@gmail.com
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TX_COWDOC
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10:07a, 5/21/26
AG
Good luck!! I hunted Alberta in 2012. Was still very cold so bugs were never an issue. Easiest hunt I've ever done.




Wolves everywhere.
Not mine but had to take a picture with him. Huge.


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japantiger
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In reply to TX_COWDOC • 2:38p, 5/21/26
S
Great wolf!
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