Our Sasky Bear hunt 2023
Contributors to this thread:Bears
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Anticipation is the reward.
Anticipation is the reward.
Originally we booked a trip with Kent for May 2020 but Covid shot that down. Three years later with the vaccine requirement gone we made it happen. As you know Canadian Outfitters had zero US customers for two years and it was tough financially. Kent the owner of Rock Ridge made good on our deposits and survived. We were excited to be supporting our Canadian Brothers and sisters.
This photo is Chris Reed, owner of Reedy’s archery in Massachusetts and Virginia and me on our flight. This is Chris’ 30th year in business and his stores are destination experiences. Top shelf Mathews dealer every year.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
I’ve hunted with Vern twice in past years. .
I’ve hunted with Vern twice in past years. .
The week before we arrived the hunters went 6 for 6 and this picture is 80 year old Vern from Georgia who drives up every year. A beautiful Cinnamon bear.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Carrot River
Carrot River
Kent has 26 bear tags issued each year but only uses 16. He is adamant about maintaining quality bears. His log cabins are on the bank of the famous Carrot River. We hunt on quads right out of the cabins. Very comfy place.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
We cross the Carrot River to get to Kent. No one is any where near us.
We cross the Carrot River to get to Kent. No one is any where near us.
The other couple with us is Cheryl and Bob from Ohio. Four hunters, Kent and his two Guides Wade and Kurt.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Bobs boar.
Bobs boar.
The first evening hunt the 4 of us were super excited. I saw 3 bears, Chris saw 1 Chocolate, Cheryl missed and Bob shot a good boar. You can see the fire smoke in this picture.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Fire smoke was heavy.
Fire smoke was heavy.
Kent caped out Bobs bear, fleshed and salted it for their drive home at the end of the week.
There were numerous fires around us (none closer than 100 miles) but the smoke was heavy at times. Not much can be done to get these fires out. Sun was shining in this picture but we could not see it.
From: Oryx35
22-May-23
Awesome! Keep it coming!
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Biggun with white patch.
Biggun with white patch.
Day two Bob and Cheryl sat a natural ground blind Kent and his guides built. They’ve been having good success with these natural ground blinds. They saw a few bears but nothing to shoot. Chris saw his little chocolate bear again but nothing else. His trail camera was showing a giant chocolate bear and a giant blackie so he’ll keep going there. I moved to a bait where this guy showed. He’d be a good one to get
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
One of the bears I saw day three.
One of the bears I saw day three.
The third night Bob and Cheryl saw 4 or 5 bears but nothing presented a shot.
The wind came hard out of the North and brought dense fire smoke. I had two huge trees fall about 60 yards and then 70 yards.
Chris didn’t see anything until later and then a parade of 5 or six bears. The big blackie and also the big chocolate showed but didn’t come to the bait. Then at last light the big chocolate came out and Chris shot at 17 yards. Bear ran off with arrow half out and lighted nock a glow. Wade picked up Chris and they backed out until am.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Wade crossing the River with shotgun in hand.
Wade crossing the River with shotgun in hand.
We were excited but worried about the penetration. In the am the two guides Wade and Kurt, Chris and me went out to track. We found blood about 30 yards out which got heavy but then started petering out (not good). After careful tracking we finally saw the bear had crossed the Carrot River. This was not looking good at all. Wade decided the Wade across the river at what looked to be the shallowest river crossing. We stayed on the bank to see if he found any sign. He had calf high boots on but needed to got knee high so he got soaked.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Sasky giant.
Sasky giant.
After an hour on the other side of the river Wade came out and said he found Chris’ bear. I’ve tracked many animals over my years and was certain this bear was lost but some how Wade found him. Chris wanted a color phase bear but this guy was beyond his dreams. Can you imagine seeing the bear crossing the river the night before with the lighted nock showing. A miracle find.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Chris and guide Wade
Chris and guide Wade
A few more pics.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Skull
Skull
Happy (and lucky) hunter.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Crossing the River with cape and skull. Freakin epic retrieval
Crossing the River with cape and skull. Freakin epic retrieval
Because the bear was so big and on the other side of the river Wade and Kurt caped it where it lay. They also found the arrow so the grinding while moving with the Broadhead in him eventually did him in. What a loss if Wade did not persist. This pic is Wade crossing the River with the cape.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Classic bear cape photo.
Classic bear cape photo.
When we got back to camp we measured the bear at 90” wide 86” long which squared at 7’ 4”. Green skull was 20 2/16.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Happy happy
Happy happy
Left to right Kent, Wade, bear, Chris and Kurt. What a team.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Paw was a tad over 5”.
From: TREESTANDWOLF
22-May-23
Keep it coming Charlie!
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Wade’s new Mathews Phase 4.
Wade’s new Mathews Phase 4.
Wade is a serious bow hunter when not guiding and as a reward Chris gave him his brand new Mathews Phase 4 with ALL the fixings and a dozen arrows. Wade was off the charts excited as Chris knew from many past hunts most guides would have given up at the river.
From: SteveB
22-May-23
Dang....what a brute!! (the bear that is! lol)
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Beaver pond
Beaver pond
Ok two hunters tagged and Cheryl and me still to go. Here’s a few pic’s along the way. I love this bear country.
From: Bowboy
22-May-23
Super nice bear keep posting more!
From: Oryx35
22-May-23
Beautiful chocolate bear!
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Green skull score 19 8/16’s. Beautiful big boar.
Green skull score 19 8/16’s. Beautiful big boar.
Day four I stayed at the stand where the big blackie had been. I saw 5 bears this pm hunt and one good one but no big boy.
Cheryl was sitting a new blind with husband Bob and a nice big black bear came in but no shot. A bit later he came back and this time she got her shot and made good. Wade and Chris came out for the recovery and he was a really big black bear. Cheryl was so excited and got to share the experience with Bob.
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
22-May-23
Been waiting for this! What a stud of a bear for reedy! Well done on the tracking job !
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Big Chocolate
Big Chocolate
Kent’s hunts are 6 days but we will hunt five due to flights so the next day will be my last sit. Guide Kurt did his rounds in the am and found this bear on a bait we hadn’t been to yet and since the big blackie hadn’t shown in 4 days I’ll head there this pm sit. Here’s a picture of this new big boy.
From: JohnMC
22-May-23
Hope day 5 was the day!
Here in Colorado we are all smoked in. Must be some crazy fires up there.
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
22-May-23
Been waiting for this! What a stud of a bear for reedy! Well done on the tracking job !
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Kent traps and tans wolves. Amazing talent and amazing beasts.
From: midwest
22-May-23
Killing some toads up there! Hope the big boy showed up for you, C!
From: Stoneman
22-May-23
Good luck, hopefully persistence pays off!
From: WV Mountaineer
22-May-23
Great stuff so far!!!! Get’em Charlie.
From: njbuck
22-May-23
Good luck charlie, that one your after is a monster!
From: Ron Niziolek
22-May-23
Good luck Charlie!
From: Shug
22-May-23
Nice bears as well as the one you’re gonna get
From: Altitude Sickness
22-May-23
Great bears.
“ then started petering out (not good). After careful tracking we finally saw the bear had crossed the Carrot River. This was not looking good at all.“
The tracking tenacity was nice to read. It would have been easy for them to say it was poorly hit and stop tracking.
From: Bowboy
22-May-23
Hope you get a shot at that big boy!
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
22-May-23
That bears a giant C!
From: SBH
22-May-23
Thanks for the post Charlie! What a blast. Beautiful place and a supreme adventure. Good luck tonight.
From: ki-ke
22-May-23
Great write up Charlie! Can’t wait to see yours!
From: HUNT MAN
22-May-23
Best of luck !!! Hammertime
From: JTreeman
22-May-23
Some really nice bears there. Looking forward to you wrapping it up with that brute in camera!
—jim
From: rattling_junkie
22-May-23
Good luck!
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Sow and three cubs. The future.
Sow and three cubs. The future.
Appreciate all your posts guys. I get to my stand at 4:30 pm. I’m just getting settled in and noticed there was a trail under my stand. My feet are about 9’ off the ground and at 5:35 I sensed something behind me and turned around and he was there at 4 yards watching me. Dang, I was caught. He had no business being there that early. He turned away and I rose to draw but he ran off. I talk myself into thinking he may circle and come back later.
About an hour later I had this sow with three cubs come right under my tree and two cubs got scared and started climbing my stand. Yikes, they got down and continued to the bait. Here’s a picture.
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
22-May-23
Doh!! Caught! Hopefully this changes and he comes back…
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
In the next four hours I saw 5 different boars but held out. Our average bear sightings during the week was around 40% color phase.
Last shoot time was around 9:20 pm and at 9:00 I saw a huge black bear cross about 50 yards to my South. He continued out of sight and then I heard a quick aggressive fight. A few minutes later a black bear returned the same way he approached and then circled around to the bait. At first I thought he was the giant and got ready. It was a good boar but not the giant. With 10 minutes to go I took an ideal 17 yard broadside shot. The arrow zipped right threw he ran about 30 years and piled up. Heard gurgling and knew he was done.
I gathered my gear and walked out to meet Kurt at the quads. The bear dies in a swamp and it took us around two hours to get him out and we arrived home at 11:45.
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
The quads do the job. My bear green scored 2/16’s under P&Y minimum of 18” but it was a terrific end for us all.
The quads do the job. My bear green scored 2/16’s under P&Y minimum of 18” but it was a terrific end for us all.
Notice the fresh cut on his forehead.
Notice the fresh cut on his forehead.
Here is a picture of my bear. It was another fantastic week at Kent’s on the beautiful Carrot River.
We will be back again next year.
From: Bou'bound
22-May-23
Great job Charlie
From: Charlie Rehor
22-May-23
Chris is going to do a full mount. Nice picture with the Carrot River below us.
From: RK
22-May-23
Great job. Great Bears
From: midwest
22-May-23
Great stories/pics and congrats on the bear, Charlie!
From: Gib
22-May-23
Congratulations everyone,, thanks for sharing the stories Charlie,, great animals
From: t-roy
22-May-23
Nice write up, Charlie! Congrats to everyone on the bears! What’s the next leg on your bearapalooza tour?
From: pav
22-May-23
Excellent hunt recap Charlie! Congrats to all the successful bear hunters in camp!
From: JTreeman
22-May-23
Charlie, curious as to the use for the leaf blower on the front of the quad in that pic with your bear?
—jim
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
22-May-23
Jim I had the same question….then I remembered he said the bear died in a swamp…but looks fairly clean on the quad.. I’m betting they blew all the dirt and crap off of his fur…
From: Ron Niziolek
22-May-23
Great write up Charlie! And congratulations on your bear!
From: rattling_junkie
22-May-23
Congrats Charlie, it looks like everyone enjoyed another adventure!
From: otcWill
22-May-23
Good stuff my friend.
From: sticksender
22-May-23
Great hunt, congrats!
From: Treeline
22-May-23
Awesome hunt, Charlie! Congratulations and thanks for taking the time to tell the tales!
From: cnelk
22-May-23
Nice bears - how’s the meat taste?
From: Ambush
22-May-23
Congrats Charlie!! We all knew you'd get it done! Some absolute tanks in the north of middle provinces. Big bodies and big heads!
From: yeager
22-May-23
Congratulations on a great hunt Charlie…….thanks for sharing it with us!
From: beemann
23-May-23
Way to go Charlie and congrats. Hard to beat last year. Kent is a hoot...
From: Pat Lefemine
23-May-23
Great hunt!! congrats to Chris, Charlie and the rest of the crew!
From: Rgiesey
23-May-23
Good deal Charlie! Now I’m ready for some bear hunting.
From: Mike Ukrainetz
23-May-23
Great pics Charlie! Thanks for the write up!!
From: Charlie Rehor
23-May-23
Chris crossing the Carrot River to get his bear.
Chris crossing the Carrot River to get his bear.
JTreeman: The bear died in a nasty swamp. We winched him out with the quad and he got muddy. Power washed and used the leaf blower in the am for pics.
Thx for following along. I hope more guys post bear hunt stories.
From: BowJangles
23-May-23
Great pics! Looks like y'all had a damn good time. Congrats on the bruins!
From: Supernaut
23-May-23
Great hunt and pics!
Congrats to all and thanks for posting Charlie!
From: njbuck
23-May-23
Congrats on another great adventure Charlie, well done.
From: tobywon
23-May-23
Thanks for taking us along and sharing and congrats to all on some fine bears!!
From: Smtn10PT
23-May-23
Looks like a great time, glad you were finally able to make the trip happen.
From: TMac
23-May-23
Sounds like a beautiful location great camp and friends! What could be better. Congrats on your bear Charlie.
From: SteveB
23-May-23
Congrats to all....thanks for taking us along!
From: Inshart
23-May-23
As others have said,,,,,, Outstanding hunt!!
From: Rob Nye
24-May-23
Congrats Charlie! Sorry I missed you but busyass time of year. Glad your crew had fun awful hard not to at Kentrock’s! I guided deer hunters for him for a decade that flew by always lotsa fun and frivolity happening around there!
From: Charlie Rehor
24-May-23
Rob: You and Kent Outfit an incredible area and create life long memories for your hunters. Absolute “pro’s” Best always. C
From: LWood
26-May-23
Sounds like a great hunt, Charlie. Congrats on the bear. Thanks for sharing. Lenny
From: Rackmastr
26-May-23
What a great hunt and recap!! Great pics, great bears, and amazing experience overall!!!
From: Paul@thefort
26-May-23
Hey Charlie, loved all of the details of the hunt. Nicely done by all. My best, Paul
From: Rut-N-Strut
26-May-23
Looks like a great hunt!! Chris is a great guy and couldn’t be happier for you both.
From: Dennis Razza
29-May-23
Congrats guys!
