May 20, 2025 / Adam St-Jean

For some, bear hunting is a challenge. For Adam, it’s a family affair.
Even before he became interested in bears, he accompanied his grandfather on hunts for
deer and moose. But it was at the age of 15 that he first experienced
the unique thrill of bear hunting. And he remembers it like it was yesterday…

“I was nervous, but very well prepared. My grandfather had shown me everything. The
first thing he told me was that if you want to succeed on the bear, your bait has to be
impeccable.”

And they don’t take this preparation lightly. The bait (
) is the crucial step.
Before they even set foot on their land in Témiscamingue, Adam and his grandfather take
the time to gather all the right ingredients to attract the greedy bear. Because
yes, the bear is a real sweet tooth. As soon as he smells something sweet in the woods, he’ll come to
. And if he tastes it once… he’ll be back. Again and again.

“We take a 45-gallon barrel, pierced in several places. We tie it securely to a
tree, then fill it with jujubes, chocolate, cakes… That year, we finished
with apple gravy to fill the barrel properly, it smells sweet, it sticks, and the bears in
love it!”

“Towards the end of the barrel, we heat up old fat – bacon fat or
meat scraps – to create a smoke with a tantalizing smell. It’s like a
dinner bell in the woods. The bear may be far away, but when he smells it, he’ll come.”

The aim, explains Adam, is to create a habit. By feeding the bears every day
in the same place, they naturally return, attracted by the sweet and greasy smells.
It’s a job that takes time and consistency, often over a period of two
weeks. You have to think ahead and manage the quantity.

“The bait is crucial. If you do it the wrong way, you won’t see a bear. This
has to be enticing, constant, and you can’t let go.”

And even with a good bait, hunting requires patience. A lot of patience.

“Bear hunting isn’t like shooting at a target. You can wait hours,
days. You have to be calm, quiet and not overdo it. That’s when you win.”

It was his very first bear hunt, and let’s just say it wasn’t a quiet one. Adam took his first
shot at the beast, but to his surprise, there was no trace of blood.

Nothing. His grandfather, who was with him, looked at him with doubt in his eyes, “
are you sure?” Adam replied, very calmly, “I’m pretty sure of my shot. I’m going
after him.”

A few minutes later, he found the bear lying on the ground, as stiff as a log. He
couldn’t believe it. Proudly shaken, he had just shot his first bear. And not a small one: a real
giant, 350 lbs, gutted.

For this grand premiere, he had in his hands his .270 WSM Winchester Short Magnum,
a rifle in which he had every confidence.

“When I told them, some didn’t believe me. But my grandfather saw it.
It was my first bear, and I was proud as hell.”

And it wasn’t just him who was impressed. Once he arrived at the taxidermist’s
to have the animal stuffed, the man couldn’t believe his eyes:
“He looked at me and said: ‘You’ve been lucky with that tabarouette, my boy. That’s rare,
even for a first-time bear!

Bear hunting isn’t just a matter of caliber or luck. It’s an art, and
as Adam has shown us, it starts long before you climb into your cache. That
starts by understanding that the bear is a real sugar baby, always on the lookout
for something good. Apple gravy, jujubes, chocolate, hot
grease… it’s all the stuff that turns a quiet clearing into an irresistible buffet for a
Bear.

Adam got his first bear at 15, but what he really reaped was a
life-changing experience, a hunting memory etched for life – and a deep respect
for all the work behind a successful shot.