Black Bears Gateway to the Backcountry

AN ADULT-ONSET HUNTER SHARES TIPS FOR NEW HUNTERS GETTING INTO THE BACKCOUNTRY

- Johnny Mack

There is little else that challenges a person’s soul quite like setting off into the great unknown of the backcountry in search of adventure and ultimately a black bear. When you do, it will be more addicting than you ever thought possible, and you will find yourself craving it more and more. The challenges along with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed come down to one’s courage and determination to overcome. It is in our DNA as humans to set off in search of something greater. Manifest Destiny is our calling, and for hunters, the backcountry is our frontier.

Year after year, hunters continue to head into the mountains in search of a mature bull elk or even an old, salty mule deer. But if you want to get familiar and acquainted with backcountry hunting, nothing is going to get you hooked more than packing into the mountains in the months of August and September. The wildflowers are in bloom, the weather is great and nothing beats the heat quicker than a plunge in an alpine lake or stream. To top it all off, you can gather a collection of huckleberries to bring home for baking.

It is also during these months that one is more likely to encounter non-hunters, which should be considered as an opportunity to be an ambassador for hunting. Through talking to fellow outdoor enthusiasts, we are able to help educate, promote a positive image of hunters and attest to the many benefits of black bear hunting. Some native tribes preferred bears over other game animals for all of the resources they provided. This is often forgotten and lost within mainstream culture.