By John A. Hofert
Editor Note: In early June, 2012, subscriber John A. Hofert took his son John C. on a Vancouver Island, British Columbia bear hunt with North Island Guide Outfitters (250-850-1501). This was the elder Hofert's fifth successful hunt with NIGO (see report 7818 on his 2010 hunt), and he filed this account. Enjoy! My son, JC, and I flew to Campbell River, BC, where we were met by Irene Fyfe who, with her husband Dave and sons Josh and Chris (who was to be our guide), runs North Island Guide Outfitters. This was my fifth trip with NIGO, and I was looking for my fifth fair-chase bear. Two and a half hours later we were at Woss Lodge 110 miles north of Campbell River. There we met fellow hunters Andy and Sonia from Ohio and enjoyed a good and much-appreciated dinner.
The next morning, after breakfast, we sighted in our rifles and were in the bush by 9 am. These black bears are free spirits - they often sleep late, even after their long hibernation. Our plan was to troll the logging roads in the area looking for bear sign (the broken saplings and bark scrapes on larger trees that feeding bears use to mark their territory) or, better yet, bears. Chris, our guide, has "the knack" for spotting bears before they spot you - a useful and rare skill.....
