Species

Black Bear

Background

This exclusive guiding area encompasses 150 square miles of the very best black bear habitat in northern Saskatchewan. Better still, the territory is situated beside the huge Prince Albert National Park. This park in essence, is a 1,000-square-mile "no-hunting-allowed," game preserve. Monster black bears are always filtering out of the park into our territory.

The Saskatchewan bear hunts are significantly less expensive than our hunts on Vancouver Island, but the bears can be just as large. The top end of the bears in the Saskatchewan camp might well be higher than Vancouver Island - our largest bear to date weighed 550 pounds! The largest black bear ever taken in Canada was taken on the border of this territory in 1997 and scored nearly 23 Boone and Crockett points! Our hunters in Saskatchewan often see 10-20 bears during the course of the hunt, and success has been high.

Lodging and Food

Clients stay in comfortable log cabins set in a beautiful scenic location. Bears are often seen (and have been taken) right from the camp. Meals are the best in home cooking and are served with a smile, in the large main cabin. If there is time after your hunt, Pacific Rim has exclusive fishing rights on a nearby lake for northern pike, and when you are done hunting, guided fishing trips can be arranged on a pay-per-day basis.

Hunting Style

Virtually all bear hunts in Saskatchewan are baited hunts. Baiting begins as early in the spring as the law allows; by the time the clients show up, the bears will be there, too. These hunts are excellent choices for archery and muzzleloader.

Clothing

Weather in Saskatchewan tends to be cool in the spring when we hunt bears. Bring layered clothes that you can adjust for temperatures ranging from the mid 40’s to low 70’s. Once you send us your deposit, a complete list of gear will be sent to you.

Travel

Clients fly to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and rent vehicles and drive up to the hunting area. The trip is approximately 3 1/2 hours. If the client prefers not to drive, arrangements can be made for pick-up and drop-off. There is a charge for this service of $75 USD each way per client, minimum two clients.

Everyone entering Canada by sea or air, beginning Jan. 8, 2007, including US Citizens, will need a passport. All American hunters, planning to hunt in Canada or elsewhere in the future, should apply for a passport right away if you don’t already possess one.

Guns and Ammunition

Guns .30 caliber and larger are ideal for our big bears, although smaller hunters can get by with a .270 caliber rifle. We strongly recommend premium, bonded bullets as bear as strong, heavily muscled animals. Gun hunters should be prepared to take shots from 25 to 200 yards. Archers should use a premium fixed blade broadhead and be practice shots out to 40 yards.

Gun Importation

To bring your gun into Canada you will want to get a US 4457 form filled out in advance (this is available at any airport which has US Customs offices and can be stamped for approval by a customs agent when you bring them your rifle to verify the serial number). Once you arrive in Canada you will need to fill out a firearms declaration form and pay $25 CDN to temporarily register your firearm for your trip. Please note that handguns are not legal in Canada and cannot be brought in.

Dates

Hunting runs the last two weeks of May each year.

Getting Your Trophies Home

Your trophy will be skinned in the field, have the skull removed and the skin frozen. We can have your trophy taken care of on the island by a taxidermist we recommend and shipped to you upon completion or you can bring an extra duffle bag and take the frozen hide home with you. If you choose to take the hide home with you, all risks and additional luggage costs are your responsibility. 

Cost (all prices in CDN)

$2,900 CDN plus 5% GST (6 day hunt). Observers are welcome, cost $1500 plus 5% GST. Although we have never exercised it, we reserve to right to add a “fuel surcharge” to cover extreme rises in fuel prices between the time you book and the hunt date.

Deposit

  A $1,450 CDN deposit is required to hold dates. The remaining 50% is due January 1^st on the year of your hunt. All deposits are non-refundable and dates are not changeable once the deposit is booked unless we can find another hunter willing to take your place. Although we have never exercised it, we reserve to right to add a “fuel surcharge” to cover extreme rises in fuel prices between the time you book and the hunt date. Again, though we have never exercised it, we reserve the right to adjust the price of the hunt should the US dollar drop in value against the Canadian dollar, below the exchange it was when you booked the hunt. Please note that if you shoot at and wound an animal efforts will be made to recover the animal, but the hunt is considered to be over.

Refunds

All deposits and balances paid are completely non-refundable in whole or in part for any reason including but not limited to: illness, injury, flight delays, unforeseen loss of income, early departure, late arrival, business emergencies, family emergencies, etc. Please also be aware that any animal that is injured in any way is considered fatal and your hunt will be over.

Included

All lodging, food and beverages while hunting (including alcohol in moderation), field transportation, professional hunting guides, and field preparation of animals.

Not Included

Commercial flights to Saskatoon, hotel rooms before or after hunt (generally one night in Saskatoon on the Saturday before the hunt and one on the Saturday night at the end of the hunt), licenses, tips, trophy shipment or taxidermy.

Licenses

A non-resident license is required which costs $250 CDN plus 5% GST. This license can be purchased from us upon arrival in camp.

TO BOOK A HUNT OR FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact: Fred Lackie

Call: 306-664-3310

Email: fieldmanager@jimshockey.com