A Canadian outfitter with a quota of three grizzly bears a year is offering a hunt this spring at a great introductory price. He has broken his fee down into a base price plus a trophy fee so that you don't pay the entire amount unless you score. He is offering a nine-day hunt with one hunter per guide. Last year he took no spring hunters and had only one moose hunter who even bought a grizzly tag. That hunter saw five grizzlies and had a shooter within 30 yards, but the cover was too thick for a shot.

"The spring hunt is usually better," the outfitter said. "I would say that guys who are patient and hunt hard would have a good chance at a seven to eight and a half foot bear."

Altogether the outfitter's fall hunters saw seven grizzlies, and their guides called two of them in close with moose calls. One of them gave good shooting opportunities for 10 minutes but nobody at the time had a tag.

Hunting is mostly spot-and-stalk hunting in logging country, where trees have been removed in what the locals call cut blocks. You'll travel between vantage points by four-wheel-drive truck or ATV.

You can add black bear or wolf if you buy the tag. A trophy fee of $950 is payable if you shoot a blackie and $250 if you shoot a wolf.