Bear hunting in Saskatchewan offers far more than the chance to tag a mature black bear. Along the agricultural fringe, nutrient-rich farmland meets expansive forests and river valleys, creating exceptional habitat for large boars and striking color-phase bears. During this spring hunt with Saskatchewan Goose Company, our group experienced close encounters, nonstop rutting activity, successful hunts, and the kind of unforgettable stories that can only come from bear camp.
Saskatchewan
Spring Black Bear
Farmland Fringe
June Rut
BEAR CAMP
A Bear Beneath the Blind
It always seems to happen to the hunters most worried about bears. You can sit around camp talking about bear encounters, hear stories about close calls, and convince yourself that none of it will happen to you. Then a black bear decides to make its own plans. One of the hunters in camp had a healthy respect for bears. Some might even call it a concern. We all understand that feeling. Black bears are generally predictable, but they are still powerful predators that deserve respect and can be completely unpredictable.
Settled into an elevated stand overlooking a bait site, he expected an evening watching bears from a safe distance. Instead, one of the bruins decided to sneak in behind him. The first indication that something was wrong came when the entire blind began to move. The bear was rubbing against the support posts. Imagine sitting alone in a stand, hearing the structure creak and sway as you realize a bear is directly beneath you. It was enough to make anyone uncomfortable. We do not know exactly what happened next, but we suspect the hunter attempted to make his presence known. Once the bear realized something or someone was inside the blind, the encounter became even more intense. The curious bruin lingered, investigating the source of the disturbance before eventually losing interest and wandering away.
Fortunately, the hunter remained on high alert for the rest of the evening. Every bear that approached afterward was spotted at long distances. The gentleman was sharing camp with us for a spring hunt, but was not part of our party, and the story quickly became camp entertainment.
“Then a black bear decides to make its own plans.”
From bear camp
CAMP STORY
Sleep Well While Bear Hunting
The tale of interaction with the bear reminded me of the best way to get a good night’s sleep when camping remotely. I was on a sheep hunt with a friend, and the area around the meadow where we pitched our tent was littered with bear scat. We just settled into our sleeping bags when I bolted upright and asked aloud, “Did you hear that?” I then fell into a deep sleep, while my buddy stayed bug-eyed and alert for the rest of the night. There are always stories from bear or sheep camp.
THE OUTFITTER
Saskatchewan Goose Company and Black Bear Hunting
When I joined Tyler Mann and his right-hand man, Andy Digout, with the Saskatchewan Goose Company for a spring black bear hunt in Saskatchewan, I expected good hunting and great company. I was not disappointed.
The previous spring, I had hunted with my longtime friend T.J. Schwanky and filmed him taking a beautiful, mature color-phase bear that carried a unique brown coat. It was one of the most memorable bears I have seen. The weather that evening was rainy and miserable, so we opted for an enclosed, elevated blind. The decision paid off.
The bear appeared early, giving us plenty of time to watch. For nearly 300 yards, it followed a tree line as if it were on a mission. We enjoyed every second of the show from our elevated perch, high on a hill, before Schwanky made a perfect shot.
Tracking was short and straightforward. Before darkness settled in, we were back in camp, tackling skinning duties and reliving the hunt.
THE HABITAT
Farmland Fringe Bear Hunting
That experience introduced me to one of the most unique bear hunting opportunities in Saskatchewan. Most bear hunters picture remote wilderness, endless timber, and rugged country deep within the boreal forest or Canadian Shield.
Saskatchewan Goose Company’s hunting area is different. His permits cover the agricultural fringe where farmland meets large forest blocks. It creates ideal conditions for growing big bears. The forest provides security and cover that is vast enough to hide a secretive bruin. The surrounding agricultural land provides an abundance of high-protein foods, including cereal grains and other crops. The bears have adapted to take advantage of the fringe area, blending forest and farmland.
“The bears grow large. The bears grow old. And the bears thrive.”
Nearly every landowner we spoke with welcomed bear hunters. Most had stories of bears raiding grain bins, damaging property, harassing livestock, or simply becoming unwelcome neighbors. Problem wildlife management is one reason outfitted bear hunting remains an important tool in these areas.
Food
Agricultural Nutrition
Cereal grains and surrounding crops provide abundant, high-protein food along the forest edge.
Cover
Large Timber Blocks
Expansive forests and river valleys give mature, secretive bears the security they need.
Pressure
Limited Road Access
Reduced access into many timbered areas allows bears to grow older and reach impressive size.
THE HUNT
A New Spring for Bear Hunting
This year’s camp brought together a great mix of hunters from Arkansas, Mexico, and Canada. Several had limited bear hunting experience, which always adds excitement. Everything is new. Every sighting becomes memorable. And the stories from afield might get slightly embellished.
On our first evening, Brad Webb wasted little time starting and ending his hunt. A huge bear that had regularly appeared on trail cameras made an appearance. Tyler had shown Brad pictures of several big bears, and it didn’t take long for them to show up. Webb calmly took pictures and videos like he had all the time in the world.
June bear hunting means the rut is in full swing. Webb enjoyed a front-row seat to a wildlife documentary featuring bears chasing each other. Boars searched for receptive sows. Dominance displays unfolded throughout the evening. Big sows brought bigger boars. The hunt ended quickly, but there was no smile missing on Webb’s face.
Eric Coward was equally excited about exploring new country and seeing bear behavior up close. His stand offered an incredible view into the breeding season. Bears came and went constantly. Boars followed sows. Rivals challenged each other. Several encounters looked more like reality television than hunting. Eric filled his phone with photos and videos documenting the action.
At one point, a massive boar and sow appeared together. Distinguishing one from the other proved difficult because both animals were enormous. Excellent habitat and abundant food had clearly done their job. When the opportunity finally presented itself, Coward tagged an impressive Saskatchewan black bear. It proved beyond a doubt that finishing your hunt early was a first-world problem.
Sergio Cavazos had traveled from Mexico for his first bear hunt. Like many first-time bear hunters, he spent much of the first evening simply enjoying the experience. The bears put on a show.
FIRST BEAR
A Cinnamon Color Phase Bear Makes His Entrance
The second night changed everything. Tyler and Andy had a unique bear show up on a trail camera, and they decided to move Sergio to the prime location. A beautiful cinnamon-colored bear appeared at the bait. Not only was it unique in color, but the boar was big and dominant.
The bear played a frustrating game of peek-a-boo, constantly moving in and out of cover. Eventually, it presented a clear shot opportunity. The hunter remained cool and collected, waiting for his opportunity. Tyler had stressed the importance of waiting for the right shot and not rushing it. The bears will eventually make a mistake, even if they are cautious. Moments later, Sergio had his first bear on the ground.
The celebration began immediately as everyone who had tagged out gathered for photos before helping with skinning chores. Justin Biddle and I were still holding out for a bear of our own.
By this point, every bait site seemed alive with activity. Big boars cruised constantly in search of sows. The rut was providing action at nearly every stand. The stand I sat in was perfect, with shots to the bait and on active game trails under 30 yards.
Big boars were cruising constantly in search of sows, creating activity at nearly every bait site and giving hunters repeated opportunities to observe behavior before making a shot.
THE AUTHOR’S HUNT
Making a Change in My Bear Hunt
After two nights, Tyler suggested a change. The big bear I was hoping for had vacated, likely checking for hot sows somewhere close by, or had one that he was already courting. A new location adjacent to a river valley had been producing consistent camera activity, including a particularly large bear.
I decided to make the move. Rather than carrying the crossbow, I opted for a Traditions NitroFire .50-caliber muzzleloader. The new stand sat roughly 75 yards from the bait, a perfect setup for the NitroFire. The crossbow could certainly shoot that distance, but I’d consider anything over 50 yards too far.
The evening unfolded exactly as a spring bear hunter hopes. Bears appeared steadily throughout the evening. Sows visited. Their short, narrow faces and pointed front feet were good indications that I had the best bait around for black bear ladies.
Young bears checked the bait but continually looked nervous. Then two sows began arguing over territory, and the woods came alive with ruckus and activity. It did not take long for the boss of the neighborhood to arrive. The black fur shimmered in the evening sun.
The muzzleloader found its way to my shoulder and settled into the shooting sticks. I watched carefully. When the bear finally turned broadside, my crosshairs settled, and I squeezed the trigger.
The impact knocked the bear backward before it spun and ran for cover. The crash came quickly. My hands and knees shook slightly with the post-shot excitement. My hunt was over.
When Tyler arrived, we spent the remainder of the evening taking photos, enjoying the wildlife around us, and reflecting on another successful spring bear hunt. The area is diverse, and wildlife seemed to appear wherever one looked. The ducks and geese that Tyler had based his original business on covered every wetland, and small flights jumped between fields and came off the river. Ruffed grouse drummed steadily in the background, and coyotes howled from distant hills.
“The crash came quickly. My hands and knees shook slightly with the post-shot excitement. My hunt was over.”
BETWEEN SITS
Gopher Hunting While Bear Hunting?
The warm weather had brought the gophers, or Richardson’s ground squirrels, out in force. A local landowner expressed interest in having us shoot some of the varmints, as his pastures were getting riddled with holes. His problem was our opportunity, so how could we not say yes?
Brad, Eric, and Justin work for Umarex USA, and with an assortment of air rifles at our disposal, we gathered with an arsenal of two Komplete .22-caliber PCP-style air rifles, a Zelos .22-caliber PCP, and a Gauntlet 30-caliber. We shot over 1,500 pellets, and Justin left from the gopher field to the bear stand, feeling motivated and excited after lots of trigger time.
THE FINAL TAG
One Bear to Go
Justin Biddle was the last hunter in our party with an open tag. He had watched bears nearly every evening but remained committed to harvesting a mature boar. I’ve often said, “The best way to ruin a bear hunt is to shoot a bear.” Justin took my words to heart and simply enjoyed the opportunity, waiting for a bear that tickled his fancy.
There were still two days left to hunt. Biddle might have been the smartest in our group, as he was still enjoying sitting in a stand, while the rest of us were back at the lodge. Patience eventually paid off. On the second-to-last evening, multiple bears arrived at his bait site.
Chasing, posturing, and breeding behavior dominated the evening. The benefits of hunting in June were becoming more obvious as the rut advanced. Biddle was determined to take a nice boar, and as his story unfolded back at camp, he said that one bear made a critical mistake.
As the bears interacted, one rolled onto its back, making it unmistakably obvious that it was a boar. The identification question was answered. Justin made a perfect shot, and the final tag in our group was filled.
The week delivered everything a bear hunter could ask for. Plenty of bears, memorable encounters, great friends, and enough stories to keep camp conversations alive for years.
Hunting black bears in Saskatchewan farmland may look different from traditional wilderness bear hunts, but it offers its own unique excitement. The combination of agriculture, river valleys, timber, and healthy bear populations creates an experience unlike any other.
TRIP PLANNING
Plan Your Saskatchewan Bear Hunt
Saskatchewan remains one of North America’s premier destinations for hunters and anglers. Whether your interests include giant black bears, trophy whitetails, waterfowl, northern pike, walleye, or remote wilderness adventures, the province offers incredible opportunities.
Tourism Saskatchewan has created an excellent online resource that allows visitors to research destinations, find outfitters, explore regional opportunities, and plan complete outdoor adventures. The website includes hunting and fishing information, travel resources, accommodation, and trip-planning tools designed to help visitors make the most of their experience.
For information on hunting and fishing opportunities in Saskatchewan, visit: www.huntfishsask.com
Official Planning Resource
Explore Hunting and Fishing in Saskatchewan
Research destinations, outfitters, accommodations, hunting opportunities, fishing trips, and complete outdoor adventures.
Whether you are planning your first bear hunt or your tenth, Saskatchewan offers an unforgettable combination of wildlife, hospitality, and outdoor adventure.
FIELD-TESTED GEAR
Gear That Got It Done on Our Bear Hunt
When I moved to the river valley stand, I switched from my TenPoint TRX 26 crossbow to a Traditions NitroFire .50-caliber muzzleloader. The setup offered excellent accuracy and confidence. The NitroFire’s Federal FireStick ignition system simplifies loading and delivers reliable performance even in the most challenging hunting conditions.
Gear Used on the Hunt
TenPoint TRX 26 Crossbow
A compact, powerful crossbow designed for premium performance in tight quarters, with the accuracy and speed needed for close-range bear setups.
Traditions NitroBolt .50 Cal Muzzleloader
The river-valley setup called for muzzleloader confidence at roughly 75 yards, where the Traditions platform offered a better fit than the author’s original crossbow setup.
Gear Used on the Hunt
SEVR Ti 2.0 Broadheads
Paired with the compact TenPoint crossbow, the SEVR Ti 2.0 provides dependable deployment, strong penetration, and a devastating wound channel for big game.
Gear Used on the Hunt
Wildlife Research Center Scent Control
Ultimate Bear Lure helped increase curiosity around bait sites, while Scent Killer Gold products helped reduce human odor near trails, stands, and active setups.
Earlier in the hunt, my primary setup had been the compact and powerful TenPoint TRX 26. Designed for hunters who demand premium performance in tight quarters, the crossbow combines exceptional accuracy, compact dimensions, and impressive speed. Paired with SEVR’s Ti 2.0 broadhead, it creates a deadly combination for black bears and other big game. The SEVR design provides excellent penetration while maintaining reliable deployment and devastating wound channels.
At several bait sites, I used Wildlife Research Center products to increase attraction and reduce human odor. Ultimate Bear Lure remains one of the most recognized bear attractants available, helping create curiosity and draw bears into the area. Scent Killer Gold products help hunters minimize human odor around bait sites, trails, and stands.
Final Takeaway
Hunting Saskatchewan’s agricultural fringe combines productive habitat, active June bear behavior, strong landowner relationships, and the unmistakable camaraderie of a successful bear camp.
