Crossword Genius

Male bears after time seen in remote areas (3,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

the sticks

'remote areas' is the definition.

'male bears after time' is the wordplay.
'male' becomes 'he'.
'bears' becomes 'sticks'.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'time' becomes 't'.
'he'+'sticks'='hesticks'
'hesticks' after 't' is 'THE STICKS'.

'seen in' is the link.

(Other definitions for the sticks that I've seen before include "What a keeper has to mind" , "They limit goals" , "country areas" , "rural area" , "backward area" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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