Guided Spring Grizzly Bear Hunt – 2009
February 19th, 2010 at 10:38 pm (Bear Hunting Blog)
If we spend enough time hunting most of us will develop strong feelings for certain game species. The grizzly bear demands many of these deep feelings. Envy for his strength and freedom. Respect for his cunning, aggression and independence. Fear toward his short temper and his random unpredictable personality. Awe in his isolation, and choice of habitat and beauty of the same.
The first days of the Lewis and Clark expedition found their crew watching for and fearing this beast. The developed respect for the grizzly in a hurry. President Theodore Roosevelt’s trips to the west did the same and this president started the 1st national park, Yellowstone, partially due to the grizzly bear.
The grizzly is almost always referred to as a male, likely due to his aggression potential. He is a killing maching with massive muscles, speed, teeth and claws. I think the temperment is his greatest weapon but also his downfall. Few have ever met him and felt sorry for him.
Enough about his traits. I wanted to harvest a grizzly bad and about 15 years ago I started the quest. I had exposure to him on several sheep hunts in northern Canada but never had a tag or time to put it all together.
Harry Leuenberger’s area, just north of Glacier National Park, in BC, I thought provided as good an opportunity as any to get grizzly, and I know Harry well. With almost a yearly visit to Harry’s area for a variety of species, I had seen the grizzly on random occasions, often closer than was comfortable.
