Black bear hunting

[ViperJock]

Where is the closest (but still good) place to go black bear hunting? I'd like to go out west or Canada or somewhere more interesting but in the interest of saving time and travel.... Bow and/or rifle.

 

[MRP2003]

Wisconsin has very good black bear hunting but you have to put in for the draw in December for the following year. PA has good black bear hunting. it is a short 3 day hunting season on the Sat, Mon, Tues before Thanksgiving

 

[w_ADAM_d88]

UP of Michigan, I'm pretty sure there is even some guided hunts up that way. About as close to Canada as you can get without actually crossing the border.

 

[ViperJock]

Cool. Will look into those options! Thanks!

 

[Savage99]

Actually there are bears south of the bridge in Michigan. The bear hunting units go about as far south as Mt Pleasant.

 

[gvsugod]

We have property in Kalkaska, MI. If someone on our camp draws a tag they are usually done opening morning. We currently have about 47783662771 bears.

 

[BigRed]

I put in for a point license in MI today.... as I do every year.

I started doing this a while back, but was not sure how long. I checked my total, and it looks like I am up to 7 points. It looks like I've got enough to get in just about anywhere except the Drummond Island or Baldwin Units. Those areas would require me to just about double my points or more.

So, it looks like it might be getting time to start doing some planning for a hunt... maybe next year.

Has anyone here ever been in a draw for a MI bear hunt? Any advice or recommendations for better bear management units to put in for?

 

[Riggs226]

I go to PA to hunt deer every year. I know someone up there so it's free stay I know they have a black bear season and they're one of the cheapest out of state licences. It's about a 5 hour drive for me. IDK how good the hunting for black bear is.

 

[Michigan Slim]

Actually there are bears south of the bridge in Michigan. The bear hunting units go about as far south as Mt Pleasant.

I have 40 acres in Newaygo County. Bears all over. They are moved well south of us too.

 

[amboy49]

Black bear

I hunted with an outfitter in Ontario, Canada a couple of years ago. 10 in our group and we all killed bears except two and they had chances and blew it. The guy is always booked up at least a year in advance. He has had a booth at the Indy Deer and Turkey Expo for several years. The hunt was for one full week. I think our cost to the outfitter was about $1,800 and it provided us a place to stay, baited sites, and help tracking and getting the bear out. The bear license was on top of that. It was a day and a half drive to get to camp and, of course, we had to have a valid passport to cross the border. It was up to us to provide our own meals. Some of the group hunted with rifles and others bow hunted. I took my bow and also packed a rifle as a backup. Ended up killing my bear with a bow the second evening on stand. Once we killed a bear some of us did some walleye and pike fishing. Boat, motor, and gas was provided for a max of two days. I think the total was about $2,500 all in by the time we paid for gas, stayed in a motel on the way up, etc. However, half of the outfitter fee was due as a deposit and the remaining half when we got to camp so it enables you to save up during the year leading up to the hunt.

Average bear size was about 200-250# but there were some 400 pounders taken every year. The outfitter had dozens of baited sites with trail cameras over each one. He assigned hunters to specific stands based on whether they were a gun or bow hunter. Hunting was done from tree stands (built from lumber) or ground blinds for those who didn’t like to, or couldn’t, get off the ground. This was my second bear hunt in Canada. The first was in Quebec several years ago and was a similar hunt but not nearly as well run. I’ve heard of some Canada hunts that were pretty much a rip off, at a higher cost, but I would not hesitate to recommend this outfitter.

If you would like the name of the outfitter pm me. This is what a 300# bear looks like.

 

[amboy49]

I hunted with an outfitter in Ontario, Canada a couple of years ago. 10 in our group and we all killed bears except two and they had chances and blew it. The guy is always booked up at least a year in advance. He has had a booth at the Indy Deer and Turkey Expo for several years. I think our cost to the outfitter was about $1,800 and it provided us a place to stay, baited sites, and help tracking and getting the bear out. The bear license was on top of that. It was a day and a half drive to get to camp and, of course, we had to have a valid passport to cross the border. It was up to us to provide our own meals. Some of the group hunted with rifles and others bow hunted. I took both but ended up killing my bear with a bow the second evening on stand. Once we killed a bear some of us did some walleye and pike fishing. Boat, motor, and gas was provided for a max of two days. I think the total was about $2,500 all in by the time we paid for gas, stayed in a motel on the way up, etc. However, half of the outfitter fee was due as a deposit and the remaining half when we got to camp so it enables you to save up during the year leading up to the hunt.

Average bear size was about 200-250# but there were some 400 pounders taken every year. The outfitter had dozens of baited sites with trail cameras over each one. He assigned hunters to specific stands based on whether they were a gun or bow hunter. Hunting was done from tree stands (built from lumber) or ground blinds for those who didnÂ’t like to, or couldnÂ’t, get off the ground. This was my second bear hunt in Canada. The first was in Quebec several years ago and was a similar hunt but not nearly as well run. IÂ’ve heard of some Canada hunts that were pretty much a rip off, at a higher cost, but I would not hesitate to recommend this outfitter.

If you would like the name of the outfitter pm me.