"The notifications are just being received in the mail by outfitters as this is written. I'm hearing that allocations are way down. In all, as many as 23 areas in BC may remain closed this year. Outfitters I talked to were scrambling to call wait-listed hunters. Others were in the bush and unable to contact clients. Many didn't know what their allocation is yet.
"My advice to Hunting Report subscribers interested in a BC grizzly hunt is to get on the phone to your favorite outfitter now. Keep trying if you don't get an answer the first time you call. The fall bear season opens October 1, so there is still time to line something up. I made a few calls myself and came up with these leads:
Dave and Gordon Jeck are two brothers who produce good grizzlies out of McBride and may have an available tag.
Ron Fleming of Love Bros. & Lee Ltd. is president of the British Columbia Guide Outfitters Association, the group that fought so hard to get bears back for the outfitters. He is in the bush now but worth giving a call because he is checking messages and may have a grizzly opening.
Leonard Ellis of Bella Coola Outfitting Co. has the highest quota in British Columbia, having amalgamated five areas of prime range. Ellis has been actively negotiating with the Ministry of Environment to increase his quota and may have an opening as a result. Ellis has monster coastal bears in his area and charges a base fee of $12,500 for his hunts, plus an $8,500 harvest fee. He will not let hunters take sows or small bears and strives to hunt only the big boars.........(continued)
