Alberta Bear Hunt Less Than 2 Weeks Away!!!

358Goat

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Jul 8, 2025
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I think the three exclamation marks in the thread title tell how I feel with about my upcoming trip! I will be leaving my wife behind for the longest that we have ever been separated in 34+ years of marriage. If we were still newly weds (anything less than 20yrs is a newly wed to us!)I would somehow get her in my suitcase to come along for the ride. She means more to this ol' boy than I can come up with words to describe. But I'm sure you'd rather hear about my upcoming hunt...

My hunting buddy, his son and I will pull out in a few days from Central Louisiana and drive to Northern Alberta in a three day trip. We plan on driving non stop to Billings, MT for the first leg of the trip --- a little over a 24 hour ride. The second day should see us well into Alberta, hopefully north of Edmonton to Slave Lake. Roughly a13 hour span, and then on the final leg we'll coast in to the lodge nearest the town of Fort Vermillion. Then I'll have five days of the fun stuff... If it takes us that long to fill our tags. We are fortunate to be hunting in an area that allows two tags per hunter.

Our Outfitter is very confident that both my hunting partner and I will each fill both of our tags before the week is over. (His son is not hunting but is our primary driver on this 42hour, each way, road trip.) I hope that I am up to the task when the time comes. I'll be taking my first Marlin 336 a 35Remington I bought nearly 30 years ago. Its been a faithful companion on many, many hunts. Its topped with a 2-7x Leupold with a heavy duplex reticle. It's always been a help in low light and in thick brush. It will be loaded with my handloads that push a 200gr Remington Core-Lokt at 2200fps. I believe that even the Bruins on the large side will have difficulty making it far if I do my part. The second bear will be taken with my Remington 7600 in 35 Whelen launching 225gr Nosler Partitions at approximately 2700 fps. I have no doubt but that this combination will hammer any bear that walks in the Alberta wilderness, or likely any other wilderness where bears roam! (And yes, I'm a left-handed shooter.)

Speaking of left-handedness... Has anyone else heard or read that CVA is to bring out a left-handed version of the Cascade bolt action rifle? I sure hope that the information I read is true. I wrote to CVA via their website some two moths or so ago and never received a response so I just attempted it once again. Maybe this time it will fall into the hands of someone who understands English and cares about the concerns of their customers.

So I should be closing this long and rambling post! I'll do so after asking those of you who pray to remember my hunting bud, his son and myself as we journey a long , long way from this country boy's neck of the woods. Please pray for our safe travels, border crossings and the hunt I've dreamed of for a long, long time! Since both of us hunting are pastors you probably better put in a few extra "knee mails" for us!

Thanks for reading my ramblings!
358 Goat
 
There are certainly bruins in that area. I would imagine you are hunting over bait, so your firearms will be more than adequate for harvesting black bears. It will be a grand trip for you and your hunting partners. We're pulling for you.
 
Good luck on your travels and your hunt. Sounds like the makings of a great time!
 
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