Ep.116 Jet Boat Bear Camp

Send us Fan MailA two-hour jet boat ride, an island camp lit up in the middle of nowhere, and black bears showing up like they own the place. That’s the kind of hunting story that sounds exaggerated until you hear how it’s built. We sit down with Jason from Extreme Outdoor Guides and Outfitters, a 37-year veteran Canadian hunting guide who starts as a teenage camp helper and works his way through just about every big game hunt Canada can throw at a person. We talk honestly about the sacrifices of guiding, how he keeps anxious clients steady, and what he learns by “reading” hunters before they ever arrive. If you’ve ever wondered what separates a good outfitter from a great one, Jason explains it in plain language: access, pressure, preparation, and decisions under stress. Then we get into the nuts and bolts of a remote northern Alberta black bear hunt near Fort McMurray, where jet boats replace quads and even planes can’t compete. Jason breaks down spring bear baiting strategy along river systems, how wind follows the curves of the river, and why setting hunters tight to the bank can keep scent flowing away from the bait. We also talk rifles and bows, why shot placement beats bringing the biggest cannon in your safe, and what broadhead choices help on animals that can “plug up” blood trails fast. And yes, there’s a bear camp story that starts with a text that only says “help.” If you’re planning a guided black bear hunt, a moose hunt, or you just love real backcountry hunting talk, you’ll get practical tactics and hard-earned perspective here. Subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations, share this with a hunting buddy, and leave a review with the one gear choice you refuse to hunt without.Check us out on Facebook  Hunts On Outfitting, or myself Ken Marr. Reach out and  Tell your hunting buddies about the podcast if you like it, Thanks!