Bear is the largest surface predator. The weight of some specimen is 480 kg. The length of the body is up to 2,55 m.; the height is up to 1, 35 m.
Usually the weight of the grown-up bears is from 120 to 250 kg.
The hunting is carried out in winter period: from November, 1 to March, 1.
The period of spring hunting: from April, 25 to June, 1.
The period of spring hunting in the Baikal: from May, 25 to June, 5.
The coloring of bears varies from dark-brown, almost black to light-grey. This animal prefers old mixed forests with windfall, ashes and bogs.
Bears spend the severe winter in a den in state of light sleep. So its body spends fat supplies economically. Sometimes 2 and even 3 bears lie down in one den.
Hunting for a bear – „in den”
- Hunting is carried out in winter period from November, 1 to March, 1.
- Air temperature in the afternoon is from –15 degrees C to –35 degrees C.
- The depth of snow is 30-70 sm.
- The optimal duration of the tour: 7 days.
- The number of hunters in a group: 1-3 person.
- Departure from Irkutsk for the place of hunting: motor transport, snowmobile; additionally cartage and hunting skis can be used.
- The road from Irkutsk to the place of hunting takes 4-6 hours. There is 1 hour stop for meal and rest.
- The accommodation of the hunters-tourists depends on the place of hunting. The accommodation is possible in home conditions of the hunters, hunting bases and hunting winter cabins.
- Service: log houses, furnace heating, 3 meals a day, Russian bath-house, WC in the street.
The hunting is offered in two variants:
1. „Bear in a den”. A hunter-tourist and the huntsmen carefully come to the den founded in advance. The huntsmen make „logjam” – they block the possible exit of the den with felled poles and then „awake” the animal. At this moment the hunter has an opportunity to fire a shot. A shot is to be fired from the distance of 3-4 m.
2. „Bear is set at liberty”. It is the same method as the first one, but the huntsmen do not make „logjam” and let the bear leave its den. For insurance it is obligatory to have gun dogs. A shot is to be fired from the distance of 5-10 m.
- Recommended weapon in hunting „in a den”: smooth-bore guns of 12 or 16 caliber; rifle of no less than 7,62 mm.
- Hunting is carried out in spring period from April, 25 to June, 1.
- Air temperature in the afternoon is from +3 degrees C to +15 degrees C; at night – from –3 degrees C to –7 degrees C.
- The optimal duration of the tour: 7 days and more.
- The number of hunters in a group: 1-3 person.
- Departure from Irkutsk for the place of hunting: motor transport; additionally wheel and caterpillar tractors, motor boat and cartage can be used.
- The road from Irkutsk to the place of hunting takes 4-6 hours. There is 1 hour stop for meal and rest.
- The accommodation of the hunters-tourists depends on the place of hunting. The possible options of accommodation are: personal country estate of the hunters, hunting bases, hunting winter cabins.
- Service: log houses, furnace heating, 3 meals a day, Russian bath-house, WC in the street.
The description of the hunting:
A huntsman puts meat or fish in the places of possible appearance of bears after their leaving the den. The bears find the meat or fish and start visiting these places regularly. In the morning and evening the hunter and the huntsmen catch the bears from a specially equipped tower. A shot is to be fired from the distance of 50-70 m.
- Recommended weapon in hunting: smooth-bore guns of 12 or 16 caliber; rifle of no less than 7,62 mm.
- Recommended clothes: warm demi-season suit, knitted woolen cap, comfortable footwear and short rubber boots.
Spring hunting for a bear in the Baikal:
- The hunting is carried out in the west coast of the north part of the lake Baikal.
- The period of hunting – from May, 25 to June, 5.
- The optimal duration of the tour: 7 days.
- The number of person in a group: maximum 3 person + up to 5 person (non hunters).
- The tour starts in the town Severobaikalsk in a comfortable cutter, 8 berths.
- The place of hunting is located within 180 km. from the nearest settlements among the picturesque spurs of the Baikal ridge.
- The hunters live in the cabins of the cutter. At will they can stay on the shore in the hunting winter cabins (triple – quadruple); there is a bath-house there.
- Weather conditions: night temperature is from –2 to +5 degrees C, day temperature is from +10 degrees C.
- Equipment: light-weight cloth, high boots, short boots, field glasses.
- Recommended weapon: rifle or carbine no less than 7,62 mm. caliber.
At leisure the fishing with spinning tackles if offered.
