Black Bear - BC

The population of Black Bear in B.C. is at a historic high, estimating 120,000 to 160,000 Black Bear in the province. They are the most widely distributed mammal in B.C. forests.     

Black Bear are not always black, other color phases that occur include cinnamon, brown and blonde. The coat is long, shaggy and uniform in color except for a tan muzzle and a white V on the chest. A Black Bear has a short stout body, small black eyes, rounded ears, and a short tail. They have a broad head and straight facial profile. Their feet are flat soled with five toes, naked pads, and sharp curved claws. Adult size and weight vary according to sex, season, food supply, and geographic area. Weight can vary from 120 to 660 lbs,(55 to 300 kg).

A Bear's diet is very diverse. They will kill and eat small mammals as they can throughout the year. Vegetable matter forms the bulk of their diet particularly in the spring and summer. In the spring they prey on young deer, elk, moose, and caribou. In summer they feed on insects, fruits, berries ,salmon, and carrion. In Autumn, Bears forage on berries and spawning fish.

BC Outfitters works with several different outfitters that offer black bear hunts in both Spring and Fall as well as on Vancouver Island and the Mainland of BC

Mainland Hunt

Hunt in the spring to see large number of bears each day or combine in the fall as a combo with moose or goat. All our hunts are spot and stalk as baiting is not allowed in British Columbia. Hunt spot and stalk in the spring as the first green shoots are poking out of the ground. The hunts are 6 days in length and your hunt can be either 1:1 or 2:1 if you would like to hunt with a friend. Hunts can also be extended buy 1 or 2 days but must be done when booking the hunt. The area has excellent trophy quality with the average bear being 6' in length. During the spring hunters can expect to see from 8 -12 bears a day along with a wide range of other animals such as deer, moose, elk and mountain goat. Outfitter has a first class camp with cabins, showers main lodge for meals and fishing provided hunter has BC fishing license. 

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Vancouver Island Hunts

The outfitters guide area is located along the rugged, open Pacific side of Vancouver Island, British Columbia in a primeval setting of river valleys, old growth forests, fjords surrounded by mountains and open beaches pounded by surf. The outfitters concession covers roughly 3,000 square miles and contains over 50 grizzly-free salmon river valleys on the northwest side of Vancouver Island.

Black Bear hunting on the northwest half of Vancouver Island, B.C. is unsurpassed by bear hunting anywhere in North America due to superior genetics and the densest population of Black Bears per square mile. An abundant food supply, a temperate rain forest climate with a long growing season, no grizzly predation and superior genetics all contribute to the remarkable size of our Vancouver Island Black Bears.

The average square is between 6 ½' to 7 ½' with 19 " to 21" skulls, which means that most of our bears will make the SCI Record Book, as well as the Pope & Young and Mountain Hunter Record Books. SCI now recognizes our Black Bears as a separate subspecies -- Coastal Black Bears. Simply put, no other bear hunting location produces greater success rates or age of black bears harvested.

Their guides are skilled hunters and experienced outdoorsmen. Their Black Bear hunts are all spot and stalk, fair chase hunts using either rifle or bow. Their fleet of custom-designed boats and ATVs make these Black Bear hunts accessible to virtually everyone, although some walking will be required at times. These bear hunts are ideal for 2 buddies hunting together, family groups, and the mature hunter, as well as the ardent hunter who is seeking a huge Coastal Black Bear. Bear hunts may be booked on either a 1x1 or 2x1 basis. A second Coastal Black Bear may be taken for a trophy fee.

Contact BC Outfitters for more information.