Sled Dogs and Polar Bear

[Brent Sinclair]

Many houndsman do not know that during a Polar Bear hunt "a high percentage of the time" the sled dogs are used to bayup a bear if it has a chance of getting into rough ice where it can get away or if the bear is moving to fast for the dogs to get the hunter and sled close enough in time for a shot.
Dogs are turned loose of the harness and will stop the bear until the remaining dogs pull the komatik and hunter within range.
This big bear had just killed and eaten a seal and without the dogs to bay it up would have gotten to the open water and been gone.
You always want to keep enough dogs tied back to insure you have a ride home...
Somewhere in my boxes of photos I have some great photos of dogs baying bears.
I have some clients that I am taking for bear hunts next month and now with the better digital cameras I hope to get more photos of the dogs with bears.

[2ndhound]

Interesting I was unaware of that, no fooling on holding back enough dogs for a ride home. Thats a tale that has a good chance of never getting told if a fella didnt do that.
Ken

[FullCryHounds]

Brent, If you get a chance, get a copy of a video called Manhunters. By far the best hunting video out there. It's with Dr Keebler and his quest for a white bear. It's one of the most interesting and intense videos I've ever watched.

That bear there doesn't looke like he's eaten anything in quite a while, normally they are all bloodied up when they kill something. He must have gotten all cleaned up for the picture!

[Brent Sinclair]

[FullCryHounds]

There you go!! That's more like it! Get that video, it's been out for quite some time, It is by McMillian River Outfitters, Manhunter, 1996. So much interesting stuff on there about hunting bears up north. Its an amazing video about the adventure, not only the kill. It's part of a whole series about all the game they hunt but that one is the best.

[1bigbear]

I've been checking around can't seem to find anything about that video..Anyone finds it please post where...Thanks Mike

[live to hunt]

Brent I have that video on vhs tape if you can't find it I will send my copy up to you to watch. Them Polar bears have not figured out the old stink eye trick on the dogs or us lion hunters need to run huskies

[Brent Sinclair]

Some photos from a hunt a couple weeks ago.
The bear track is good size but nothing special, 9" .......I have seen them close to 11"
Sled dogs live a hard life in the arctic.!

[chilcotin hillbilly]

Brent your just teasing us with the track picture. Where are the stories to go along with the other pictures.

[idahohunter]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. That sounds like it would be pretty neat. Gotta respect those sled dogs.

[bency]

Right on!

[Liz ODell]

Holy crap, is that, is thaattt, an Indian with a dead polar bear?
How funny according to the HSUS and the skins they found to use for their own purpose Indians don't kill bears and they would never guide a white man on a hunt with dogs...
First Nations, not first nation, we are all first nations people joined but yet different.
I'm pretty sure I know what this Indian would have said had he been at the SB1221 hearing on Tuesday....

[Brent Sinclair]

No, he is Inuk I guess he is Native.
The new territory of Nunavut was formed afew years ago in a Land Claims Agreement with Canada and First Nations people.
It was previously the eastern half of the Northwest Territories, the smaller territory in the Eastern Arctic of Nunavik was also divided in the Land Claims Agreement.
I have been doing Polar Bear hunts with Inuit communities in the Arctic since 1984, and the Inuk guides are required by Territorial law to conduct al Polar Bear Sport Hunts from dog team only....SO...there has been Inuk guides guiding White Sport Hunters for Polar Bear with dogteams since I can remember.
The HSUS......I have never known them to have their facts strait in most cases, if this is in fact what they have stated..!

[Liz ODell]

Yes he would be an Inuk just as I am a Maidu, just always grew up being an NDN and that is how all my relations refer to themsleves as well...well unless we are in a room of people that we would make uncomfortable by referring to ourselves as 'indians'.
Yes, the HSUS brought some 'native americans' with them to try and support the passing of SB1221.
I just think it's real sad as those people don't realize the HSUS is just using them and will eventually dump them when their wanting to still be Indian starts to interfere with the HSUS goal of no animal use by anyone.
Their hearts are in the right place, they want the animals to be respected, but their facts are wrong.
Fortunately there were also some 'Indians' there who actually do hunt, I wish there had been more, I think I might dress fully traditional (topless/bark skirt) at the next hearing and see how they like that.
Sorry I didn't mean to take over your post but that was just so maddening to see my brothers basically being whored out by the HSUS.

[Brent Sinclair]

I spent several years guiding sheep hunts in the Mackenzie Mtns. of the NWT with a good friend / guide who was full blood Cree from northern Alberta.
Some of my best memories are of hunts with him.
He was very respectfull of the grizzlies that would come into camp, the government closed the non resident grizzly season down in 1982 so we seldom killed one unless it was of a safety issue...Arnold always kept his distance from them dead or alive......so one day I asked him why..the bear is a sacrit animal to some Native Americian tribes and has been for thiousands of years.
Your right with the HSUS.. I know what your refering to as I have seen more than my share of white folk abuse the Native people...use them till they have helped accomplish what they needed them push them aside untill they need something again.
I have been privilaged to have had the friendship of many Native people from so many places and I have leard so much from them, their culture and ways..too bad we havn't learned from them.
The Polar Bear hunt I just on was a great adventure, the guide told stories of his father hunting bears with his dogs and a harpoon...he never took a rifle, ammunition was to valuable to use on a bear that could be hunted and killed with his dogs and spear.
Bullets were needed to hunt in the summer months when you needed to eat and could not travel as far or fast on the land or in a kayak....
They still have great respect for the animals and I see what that means to them and respect them for that.