Foggy Goose Hunt and Tense Bear Encounters creating a Benelli Double Header
The truck headlights lit up a wall of dense fog as we started down the road. The field we had spotted geese was only eight miles away, but the trip was slow and steady, with a heavy blanket of moisture hanging in the air. Luckily, the farther we traveled, the more the fog lifted. The harvested barley field was huge, and after driving to find the perfect spot to set up blinds and decoys, we went to work like a colony of ants scurrying back and forth from the truck throughout the field.
Goose Hunting in Saskatchewan
Settling into the blinds, the distinct sound of big honkers waking up on the roost resonated through the brisk morning air. I love foggy mornings when the geese use their hearing more than their eyes to find breakfast. The hazy moisture was still hanging higher in the air and would hopefully work to our advantage.
The first flock was in the air shortly after legal shooting light. The deep-throated honks of a giant Canada goose seemed to create shockwaves through the fog. Our outfitter, Mark Belchamber, of Big Spruce Outfitting, worked his magic on a honker call, and we could hear the birds change direction and head towards the call. The anticipation is a good reminder of why we hunt. The excitement was almost overwhelming as a butterfly whirled in my belly, and I giggled nervously. A couple of deep breaths provided a return to calm in preparation for the shooting that was sure to come.
The honkers looked like 747 aircraft coming out of the fog and winging past our blind at breakneck speed. The tight formation banked hard and returned to the wind, trying to land in the decoys. It was a beautiful display of choreographed flying and a perfect hunt setup. When the magic words, “Take them,” were shouted, we emerged from our hide and drastically changed the birds’ flight plan. Shotguns roared as geese tumbled from the sky. The birds finished at a perfect range for open patterns with dense pellet counts. The fast-cycling Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 shotguns spit out the Fiocchi Golden Waterfowl hulls like watermelon seeds at an eating competition. The guns and ammunition never missed a beat, and we barely had time to reload before the next squadron of geese were working the decoys.
The next 45 minutes were magical, and it was what avid waterfowl hunters dream of experiencing when traveling to Saskatchewan. The hunting party was on cue, and several times, an entire flock of geese was flattened to the ground in a matter of seconds. A-frame blinds, full-body decoys, and great calling made the birds feel like it was like any other day searching out groceries. They never expected a thing, and when we emerged to shoot, they reacted as though they were completely surprised.
We finished our limits and returned to camp as the sun warmed the surroundings and burned moisture off inanimate objects. We tackled the job of cleaning birds before feasting on a giant home-cooked breakfast by Mark’s wife, Amber, and made plans for our evening black bear hunt. A snooze was in order, but nobody slept soundly, as we were anxious to find a fat, fall bruin with a thick and luxurious hide.
Mid-afternoon, we turned onto the side road and stopped at a narrowing in the trees to drop one of our crew at a strategic tree stand location. The stand had been put up weeks earlier at a narrowing spot, where a woodlot within the field jutted towards the road. The local bears had beaten a path through the standing oat field, traveling between dense forest and the productive farm field. The bear paths created a kaleidoscope of trails that dissected the crop in every direction. The farmer who planted the oats was frustrated and anxious for us to hunt, as crop insurance adjusters estimated that the field had 60 percent wildlife damage, with no end soon.
Saskatchewan Bear Hunting – close encounters with big bruins
Mark walked the first hunter to the stand while I waited in the truck to get a firsthand look at the parade of bears in the area. First, a big black bear crossed the road 400 yards down, disappearing into the oats that quickly engulfed the massive black body. A smaller bear stood in the oats to see who was coming. Mark returned to the truck, and we drove along the crop, parking at the far end. When I checked the map on a hunting app, the elk and bear paths beaten into the crop were big enough to be seen from outer space. Excitedly, we headed out to get downwind of the bears and try to intercept the big one.
I was hunting in Saskatchewan with friends from Benelli Firearms and Fiocchi Ammunition. It was a waterfowl and black bear combination that worked with morning goose hunts and evening bruin adventures. The limit of big honkers that morning was the icebreaker, and what we saw in the first five minutes of the bear hunt left little doubt that it would be an exciting week.
Trying to track the rotund black boar in the field was challenging. Luckily, the bear would stand on its hind legs, check the wind with its nose, and overlook its surroundings. It was a good sign that other big bears were using the same food source, where some would be avoided and others engaged. The black head would pop up without warning, disappear into the crop, only to reappear minutes later 100 yards away. We worked down the edge of the field, where it met dense bush and crossed heavy trails the flat-footed bears had created. The paths were astonishing and looked like they had been created from years of use. We were glassing the field to find the big bear when I looked behind us and saw a smaller bear walking directly towards us in an aggressive manner. The young sow followed our footsteps and looked annoyed by our presence. The bear moved steadily, closed the distance within seconds, lowered its head, and started drooling. What created the anxiety is unknown, but it was likely the number of bears using the field and the competition and territorial nature of the beasts. We were an intruder the sow could deal with, and she meant to prove it.
Mark has been around bears all his life and aggressively held his arms up to look intimidating, and said sternly, “Get out of here.” The posturing worked, and the bear turned and disappeared into the trees. We kept tabs on the agitated bruin as it snuck past us, only to appear in the field about 150 yards away. The bear hierarchy and jostling for position became apparent when another bear appeared upwind from the sow, sending her back into the trees before filling her belly.
The field was alive with bear activity, making me forget we had another hunter in a tree at the far end. We saw another big bear crossing the road from a large bush into the narrows. We held our breath in anticipation, watching the bruin walk into the shooting area of the tree stand. It was like counting down for a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral, and it did not take long before a rifle shot echoed across the field. Day one was in the books, and our brains switched gears to prepare for more waterfowl in the morning.
We set the blind against a large rock pile in the middle of the grain field. Sunrise brought an onslaught of big honkers, and two blue-phase snow geese attempted to land in the decoys. Two quick shots provided a harder landing than expected, as the Fiocchi Golden Waterfowl Bismuth proved valuable in expedited bird delivery. The birds were great fun, but everyone dreamed of big bruins.
On the second evening, we watched the field and hoped the wind would die and the temperatures would drop. The bears were invisible with wind gusts up to 30 miles an hour. The sun had set, and I noticed a dark blob in a tree. A second one appeared, then a third, and it didn’t take long to verify that they were bear cubs. Young bears dashing for safety meant trouble with a big boar too close for comfort, and Mark and I quickly closed the distance.
We edged through the standing oats and looked closely at the cubs from 50 yards. The sow was feeding in the oats, but she knew something was uncomfortable and alarming and ushered her cubs in the tree. We could hear walking in the trees but, with the fading light, could not make out a bear and eventually snuck out and headed for camp.
Bears overwhelmed my brain, and I opted not to hunt geese but to spend the morning after a bruin. Back at the oat field, an enormous black head popped out of the grain to watch us drive past. It was the biggest boar we had seen all week. The bear returned to feeding, and we snuck along the edge of the field. We watched the bear pop up occasionally to check its surroundings. The smart, old buin was 150 yards into the oats and a long way from the bush at the far end of the field. Shooting sticks steadied my Lupo rifle as the crosshair followed black ears ghosting through the stalks of grain. The boar was approaching a small patch of cover in the field. I clicked the safety off, anticipating the bear transitioning out of the crop and into the thin tree regrowth. Unfortunately, the bear vanished in less than a second, and although we thought we had him trapped, we never laid eyes on the ears or the bear again.
We set up along the big bush for the evening hunt where the big bear likely headed in the morning. The trails coming into the field were incredible, and it was apparent the bears had been devouring grain in the field for weeks. A rise in the field was perfect for standing in the grain and watching the bush edge for movement. We stood vigil until the sun dropped below the western horizon, and as the minutes passed, darkness started to fall. There were six minutes left of legal shooting light when a big bear appeared out of nowhere. The rifle slid to my shoulder, the safety clicked off, and the crosshair found the black blob and settled in behind the front leg. The bear turned and walked towards us, and my excitement was extinguished when three large cubs scampered out to follow what we now knew was a big sow.
The excitement soon returned when Mama Bear continued towards us and slowly sauntered within three yards. The smart bear perceived something was wrong, changed direction, collected her cubs, and bolted for safer ground. It was another close encounter to end the day, and we chuckled with excitement as we headed back to the truck. One of our hunters had taken a great bear that evening, and another got busted by a big boar when moving in the tree. I would have one last kick at the bear in the morning.
The alarm clock woke us early, and we loaded the side-by-side to access the area after heavy rains. In the pale morning light, we parked the machine and headed out on foot to return to the far corner of the field. We silently covered about half a mile before reaching our vantage point from the evening before. The rains had dampened bear activity, with no fresh sign. It was the only expedition to the field when we did not see a bear. We stood vigil for several hours, and when the sun started to warm the terrain, we decided to end the hunt. The big old boar had outsmarted or was lucky enough to avoid us.
The hunt had been extremely rewarding, with several adrenaline-thrusting encounters. Refection made it easy to realize that the adventure had been successful in many ways. I may not have harvested a bear, but the experience was one of the best bear hunts where strategy and extra time were enjoyed. The hunt’s success was measured by the experience, not by shots fired.
Fiocchi Golden Waterfowl Bismuth (purchase on Natchez Shooting and Outdoors)
Fiocchi offers premium, non-toxic shotshells using high-density 9.75g/cc bismuth in a precision-loaded, moisture-resistant, sealed hull. Golden Waterfowl Bismuth provides killing velocity paired with more substantial energy transfer, denser patterns, and extended ranges. Bismuth is available in 12-, 20-, and 28-gauge, 3-inch loads. The 12-gauge bismuth loads with # 2, #4, and #6 shot are 1 3/8-ounce loads, traveling at 1,459 fps. The 20-gauge options with #4 shot are 1 1/16, traveling at 1,250, 15/16 ounces at 1,350, and 28-gauge 15/16 ounces at 1,350 fps. For more information, go to fiocchiusa.com.
Scent Killer Gold (purchase on Amazon)
Having bears within feet of us was a testament that we remained undetected. Using Scent Killer Gold laundry and personal hygiene products means I wasn’t detected as a human. Regular sprays with Scent Killer Gold prevent the transmission of human odors from things you touch or encounter. When hunting keen-nosed creatures like black bears, every advantage makes a difference. Spray your clothing every time you head into the field, allowing the product to dry and create an odorless barrier. The planning and execution will ensure you stay undetected for close encounters with wildlife.
Tourism Saskatchewan
Tourism Saskatchewan has an excellent online resource for planning a trip, finding an outfitter, knowing the rules and regulations, and providing maps for travel. Go to their website to get started.
Big Spruce Outfitting
Big Spruce Outfitting operates in east-central Saskatchewan for black bears, white-tailed deer, and waterfowl. A northern camp provides incredible fishing and black bears. A spacious and modern lodge feels like home, especially with the on-site meals.
Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 (SBE3) (purchase on Guns.com)
The popularity of the Benelli SBE3 comes from the proven components and extra attention to detail for waterfowl aficionados. The shotgun uses the inertia system for clean and reliable cycling that never requires adjusting and cycles consistently under any conditions. The SBE3 is chambered for 3 ½-inch shotshells and works to reduce felt recoil, allowing the shooter to manage the firearm for quick follow-up shots.
Recoil management is noticeable when shooting the SBE 3. Comfort Tech is the technical term used to explain how engineers split the stock diagonally and utilize shock-absorbing chevrons, turning the entire stock into a recoil pad. A new cheek comb pad, Combtech, reduces facial impact and vibrations allowing the shooter to stay on the gun and looking down the barrel.
Benelli cryogenically treats its Crio shotgun barrels by freezing the metal to -300°F, relieving the stress from the heat and hammer forging to create it, resulting in a smooth and uniform surface for wads and shot to travel down. Cryogenically treating the barrels and chokes makes the Crio System. The choke tubes are extra long for more pellets with consistent and uniform patterns on target.
The shotgun is user friendly with a large bolt release and safety, along with an outward angled drop lever make the SBE 3 quicker and easier to operate under any conditions. The beveled loading port with grooves to align the shotshell prevent jamming and make filling the magazine effortless.
The SBE 3 has standard and optional features and the best way to decide what model is best for you is to select the options you want on its webpage to decipher the ultimate shotgun for your needs.
Benelli Lupo Rifle (purchase on Guns.com)
The LUPO is Benelli’s first bolt-action rifle. The firearm is designed for less recoil, has great aesthetics, and is guaranteed to produce sub-MOA accuracy. The rifle features advanced ergonomics and shooting comfort into this chassis-style hunting rifle that allows for personal fit and customization. Benelli holds seven exclusive patents on the LUPO that the quality and accuracy hardcore hunters’ demand. The LUPO features a precision Crio-treated, free-floating barrel system attached to a hardened steel barrel extension bedded to a steel block in the alloy receiver.
The rifle’s design suppresses recoil with a built-in Progressive Comfort system used in Benelli shotguns. A set of interlacing fingers flex and absorb recoil before it reaches the shooter. Decreased recoil reduces muzzle jump to maintain accuracy and prevent shooter flinch. Recoil is also controlled with proper fit and feel. The Lupo has adjustable drop, cast, and trigger reach with included shims. There is an incredible amount of adjustment with 36 positions, and two raised cheek pad styles, and one optional length butt pad.
An adjustable trigger can be custom set and it breaks clean and crisp. Trigger reach spaces come with the firearm, used between the receiver and the stock to position the shooter’s hand at an optimal distance from the trigger. The ambidextrous top safety is easy to access and manipulate. The Airtouch Grip surfaces provides a safe and firm hold on the rifle in any conditions. The rifle is equipped with a detachable, double-stack box magazine and five cartridges can be loaded. The cutaway bolt permits the magazine to easily insert into the receiver, sitting flush with the bottom of the firearm.
The Lupo is like a custom-built gun offering incredible adjustability, accuracy, and ease of shooting.
