2022 GUIDED ONTARIO BLACK BEAR HUNT REPORT
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2022 Spring BEAR HUNT
After two years of COVID-19 travel restrictions, it was exciting to finally welcome hunters back to camp for another Ontario spring black bear hunting season. The woods felt alive again, camp was full of laughter, and it was great to reconnect with returning guests while meeting new hunters experiencing their first black bear hunt.
A Dry Spring and Great Bear Activity
The spring of 2022 was unusually dry. One unexpected benefit was the lack of blackflies and mosquitoes that typically accompany spring bear season in Ontario, making for much more comfortable evenings in the woods.
Our trail cameras showed excellent daytime bear activity leading into the season, and expectations were high as our first group of hunters arrived.
Week One
We hosted eight hunters during the opening week, and the action started immediately.
Opening day produced two harvested bears and plenty of excitement.
First-time bear hunter Bobby experienced an unforgettable evening. Not only did he harvest his first black bear, but he also had several other bears continue visiting the bait afterward. Throughout the week, hunters were also treated to sightings of moose and even a wolf, adding to an already memorable experience in the Ontario wilderness.
Day Two was even busier, with four more bears harvested.
One hunter unfortunately wounded a bear late that evening. After searching for a short time in the dark, we made the decision to return the following morning. Safety always comes first, and allowing the woods to settle overnight often provides the best chance of recovering a wounded animal.
The next morning, everyone pitched in to help with the search. We followed an impressive blood trail for a long distance before it eventually disappeared. Despite several hours of searching and covering a large area, the bear was never recovered.
While disappointing, every effort was made to locate the animal.
Jason's Memorable Bow Hunt
One of the week's most memorable stories belonged to Jason.
On his first evening, a mature boar approached his stand unnoticed. As Jason reached up to adjust his bow, he suddenly locked eyes with the bear only a short distance away. The startled bear made a quick sound before turning and disappearing into the bush.
The following day we decided to move Jason to a different stand.
That evening, a smaller bear cautiously approached the bait while Jason patiently watched. Moments later, he caught another flash of black moving through the trees.
The mature boar from the previous evening had returned.
The smaller bear quickly cleared out, allowing the big boar to move comfortably onto the bait. Jason remained calm, waited for the perfect broadside opportunity, and made an excellent shot with his bow.
The bear didn't travel far before expiring, making for an unforgettable conclusion to an exciting hunt.
By the end of the week, camp was filled with great stories, successful hunts, first-time bear harvests, fishing adventures, and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Week Two
Week Two began with only two hunters arriving in camp, and expectations couldn't have been higher. Trail cameras continued showing excellent bear activity, and we felt confident it would be another outstanding week.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans.
The beautiful weather quickly disappeared, replaced by several days of cold, steady rain.
With bears becoming increasingly nocturnal during the wet conditions, our hunting strategy had to change. We focused on hunting only those bait sites equipped with fully enclosed ground blinds, allowing hunters to remain comfortable and dry despite the weather.
One hunter watched a bear on the very first evening but decided to pass, hoping for a larger boar later in the week.
Unfortunately, that would be the only bear sighting during the hunt.
Trail cameras continued capturing plenty of bears throughout the week, but almost all of their movement occurred after dark. Sometimes the bears simply refuse to cooperate, regardless of how much preparation goes into the season.
That's why they call it hunting.
Looking Ahead
Although the second week didn't produce the results we had hoped for, the season as a whole reminded us why we love what we do.
The excitement of welcoming hunters back after two years, sharing stories around the dinner table, watching first-time hunters harvest their first black bears, and creating lifelong friendships made the season a tremendous success.
We'd like to thank everyone who joined us during our 2022 Ontario spring black bear hunts and trusted Wild North Outfitters with their adventure.
Now it's time to prepare for another exciting season.
We can't wait to do it all again this fall.
Wild North Outfitters — Come as a customer. Leave as a friend.
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2022 FALL BEAR HUNT
After two long years of waiting because of COVID-19 travel restrictions, we were finally back hosting our 2022 Ontario fall black bear hunts. It felt great to see camp full again, reconnect with returning hunters, and welcome new guests to experience the excitement of hunting black bears in Ontario.
Many of our hunters had originally booked their trips back in 2019, expecting to hunt in 2020. After patiently waiting through the border closures, the excitement around camp was something special.
Strong Bear Activity Leading into the Season
Preparation for a successful fall hunt began weeks before opening day.
Throughout August, our bait sites were extremely active, with trail cameras showing consistent daytime visits from numerous bears. Everything pointed toward an excellent season, and expectations were high as our first hunters arrived.
Week One
We welcomed seven hunters during the first week, and the action started immediately.
Opening afternoon produced four harvested black bears, setting the tone for an incredible week.
The success continued over the following days as every remaining hunter in camp filled their tag. Watching each guest experience a successful hunt after years of anticipation made all of the hard work leading up to the season worthwhile.
Week Two
If the first week was exciting, the second week started even stronger.
On opening afternoon, five of the six hunters harvested bears on their very first sit. It made for a busy evening recovering bears, loading them onto the UTVs, and getting everyone back to camp.
A few days later, Kenny completed the perfect week by harvesting a beautiful bear of his own, giving our original group a clean sweep.
Partway through the week, another hunter arrived after having to postpone his trip due to personal circumstances. Unfortunately, the weather changed shortly after he arrived, bringing much tougher hunting conditions.
He caught only a brief glimpse of a bear during his hunt before it disappeared back into the thick bush and never offered another opportunity.
Sometimes that's simply the reality of hunting wild black bears.
A Healthy Black Bear Population
One of the highlights of the season was the outstanding number of healthy bears we observed throughout our Bear Management Area.
Our trail cameras captured numerous sows raising twins and triplets, and we even photographed one sow with four cubs, something you don't often see.
Just as importantly, we were able to harvest predominantly mature boars while allowing sows with cubs to continue contributing to the area's healthy black bear population.
Responsible wildlife management has always been one of our top priorities, and seeing strong reproduction each year is a great sign for the future of black bear hunting in our area.
Honest Hunting. Honest Photos.
One thing you'll notice when looking through our harvest photos is that we don't use trick photography.
You won't see exaggerated camera angles, hunters sitting far behind their bears, or pictures taken to make animals appear larger than they really are.
Our philosophy has always been simple:
Honesty comes first.
We take pride in presenting every harvested bear exactly as it is because we believe our hunters deserve authentic memories they can be proud of.
While many hunters dream of harvesting a mature boar whose back reaches the height of a standing 55-gallon drum, we're equally excited for every guest who chooses to harvest the bear that's right for them.
Whether it's your first black bear or the biggest of your lifetime, every successful hunt is worth celebrating.
Looking Ahead to 2023
The 2022 Ontario fall bear season reminded us why we love what we do.
Months of preparation, successful hunts, great meals, plenty of laughter around camp, and friendships that continue to grow year after year made this one of our most rewarding seasons yet.
We'd like to sincerely thank everyone who hunted with us and trusted Wild North Outfitters with their adventure.
Now it's time to begin preparing for another season.
We can't wait to welcome everyone back for our 2023 Ontario spring black bear hunts.
If you've been thinking about booking a guided Ontario black bear hunt, we'd love the opportunity to show you what makes Wild North Outfitters special.