Reader-Submitted Story
Spring Bear Hunt 2024
by Jeff Steinke of Onoway, Alberta
My son Elliot just turned legal age in the fall of 2023 to be able to start hunting big game in Alberta. He became fascinated with hunting at the age of four when he came on his first hunt with me when I went out for pheasant. Over the years he has tagged along on several hunts with me from waterfowl to upland birds, big game and predators.
When he turned ten, I got him his first single-shot 410 from Revolution Armory. We began to practice right away shooting at clays and targets and the thrill of hunting started there.
He was very successful over his first two seasons of bird hunting. He was able to harvest some geese, ducks and grouse. He is still waiting for his first pheasant, hunting over our 3-year-old springer spaniel. He turned twelve just prior to the start of rifle season, setting him up to be able to look at bigger hunting opportunities.
His love of hunting and being outdoors has grown substantially, from just being able to hunt birds to setting his sights on some big game.
We set out on Remembrance Day weekend on a deer camp up near Spirit River, Alberta. Covering several kilometres on foot, sitting on cutlines, going through bush on the side-by-side. A chance at a whitetail doe finally presented itself. He was able to make a beautiful shot with his 6.5 Creedmoor at 236 yards and was able to slap his first supplemental tag on a deer. The joy of harvesting your first big game is a memory you will never forget. The thrill of being a parent and embracing that moment with your child is what makes everything worthwhile.
His success didn’t end there. He continued to have a great season and a few days later, he was able to put his general whitetail tag on a nice 3x3 whitetail buck he shot at 75 yards. What a great way to end the 2023 hunting season—filling our freezer for the winter with a two-deer harvest.
As like most hunters, Elliot couldn’t wait to get his next opportunity to hunt and help put food in our freezer. Over the Christmas break, he wanted to make some goals for the 2024 season. He came up with three hunting goals that he has written on a board in his room. The first was to go snow goose hunting, which we were able to do mid-April and with four guys on guns, we had a great morning sit and were able to bring down 86 snows. His second goal for 2024 was to go after his first black bear. He asked me if we could go for spring bear and I was just as excited as he was. I told him we could either look at setting up a bait site or try the spot-and-stalk method. He decided he wanted to try spot-and-stalk.
We set out for another camp up north around Spirt River, staying at a beautiful hunting cabin called “The Elk Hut”. We only had two days so I told him we had to put some work in if we wanted to have a successful hunt. With legal shooting time ranging from 4:45 am to last light around 10:55 pm, we had lots of time to cover as much area as possible.
The first day we covered a lot of ground, sitting cutlines, walking cutlines, walking valleys, bowls, and waiting at water sources. We saw everything that first day except a bear! The wildlife we came across that day was a hunter’s dream. Several mule and whitetail deer, countless numbers of elk, a couple moose, coyotes and a lynx. He was a little defeated that we weren’t able to see a bear.
The second day we started bright and early, as it was our last day and he wasn’t going to let his goal of harvesting a spring black bear disappear. We spent the majority of the morning on cutblocks and ridges without any bear sightings. We were on our way back to the cabin for lunch when we spotted the first bear of the weekend crossing through a private farm field. Everyone knows that feeling when you finally spot what you’re after and you have to let it walk away—we didn’t have permission on that certain piece of land. Those moments come with valuable lessons to young hunters about respecting landowner’s rights, as well as the opportunities don’t always present themselves the way you would hope.
After some afternoon lunch, we set out for the rest of the day agreeing to sit until last legal light. We started the afternoon sitting on some pipeline cutlines. It wasn’t long before we saw our second black bear and the excitement in his eyes lit up. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get a shot, as it ran directly across the cutline without giving him an opportunity.
We then decided to change plans and head a bit west to some Crown land that was being logged. We parked the truck, geared up, and headed out walking a clearing where the forest was cut down a year or two years priors—all that was remaining were piles of brush, roots, and some small vegetation. We spotted a bit of a ridge that seemed to be a good vantage point. We worked our way up and sat at the top of a hill overlooking what once would have been a lavish forest of full-grown trees and wildlife but was now just piles of dead trees and logging roads.
As we glanced over the area with binoculars, I was able to see a nice big boar about 240 yards out. I let Elliot know there was a bear and you could tell he was ready for this moment. He got down and set up on an old stump and started to focus on his breathing. I watched the black bear slowly make his way straight to us. Elliot was looking through his scope, waiting for his opportunity. He asked me if he could take the shot. I told him to wait for the broadside opportunity.
The bear was making it easier for us; making its way closer and closer towards our location. He finally stopped and turned, giving the perfect broad side opportunity at 125 yards. I whispered to Elliot, “Whenever you’re ready.”
I don’t think I even finished saying it and the shot was off. As I looked through the binocular I could see he made the perfect shot, right behind the shoulder. The bear didn’t make it more than 15 yards before he dropped.
The thrill of being in that moment in the middle of the bush, father and son is something we will both carry for the rest of our lives. Eight months into his big game career and he had a nice mature boar down.
As we stood over him I couldn’t help but be thankful for the opportunities we have on such beautiful land right in our own backyard. This great harvest is now on its way to be made into a rug to place in our home so we can cherish this moment for years to come. We know we have this experience to look back on and learn from. I know I have a hunting partner for life.
The third goal for 2024 is a bull elk... let’s see what the fall has in store for us!
For the previous Reader Story, click here.
