Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Thinking about a bear hunt a couple years from now

So if a guy wanted to try it out, which type of bear and why.
What would you be sure to get out of it, and how much would you expect to pony up for the hunt.

I'm paying off my DIY gear so after that I'm planning on doing the extended hunts for what I can't do with my DIY stuff.

Spot

Budget? Expectations? Physical condition? Time allowed?...............

Budget - non polar bear budget (2-5k)

expecations - A rug and experience... or at least some experience

Physical cond - good to excellent

Time - no more then 2 weeks

Spot

Budget: ='s Black Bear only.

Expectations: Drive to the nearest State with a Season and punch a tag

Physical: You are there

Time: You are there................

If you want to hunt a unit with good potential, do your research. Talk to hunters, locals, game biologists, etc.
Depending on where you want to hunt, start building preference points in that state, (if that is a possibility)

The best Bear States,need no points,for a high percentage crack at a Booner..................

To say I don't know sqwat about bear is being kind to me.
Spot

Bait, hounds or spot and stalk?

hereIf you go to Prince of Wales Island in SE Alaska, you can do a semi to full DIY Black Bear hunt, and come in on the low end of your budget. They have big bears, but you gotta work for them. There are some places that supply room and board, and even fishing boats, and you hunt on your own. Here is an example. Check it out.

http://thelandingatottercove.com/hunts.html

maddog

Aren't those some of the "Island" Bears,with have notoriously short skulls and such? Someone on this Board(Kentucky Windage) who'd been Bear Hunting once,has a friend who's a "Guide"(ith a vivid imagination),that thought she talked to a "Biologist"...which cemented all those "facts".............

Can't answer about the skulls, but over the years they've taken some big bears there. Like any place else, you got to do a lot of lookin.

maddog

Thanks for the tip!............

I guess I'll start poking around, I didn't know they used hounds on them, I did know about baiting. I hunted blackies once in the adirondaks because I kept running into bear sign each spring. Never did see one in season.


So bears are graded on skull length? I was just thinking about a hide that ultimately I won't be allowed to have in the living room.

Spot

B&C scores the skull only (width + length).............

so, if them island bears have short skulls, are they wider? like Pugs of the bear world? (grin)

you don't say where you're from, Spot. Places in ID have OTC tags, a 2 bear limit, and liberal seasons. The terrain is amenable to glassing and you can't not look at a few bears, even camping on the (dirt) road system.

finding a big one is a little tougher, because they're "continental" bears, long and skinny.

Spot, if you are just wanting the experience, and not worry about the score[which I didn't/don't], lotsa places to go. Alaska, British Columbia, and Alberta will get you the biggest bears[pricier, too]. But you can get nice bears all over the country. The west, including western canadian provinces, off a chance at color phase bears. In the end, you have to decide on spot/stalk, bait, or hounds, then go accordingly. Here is a pic of my cinnamon blackie, taken in Idaho, in 2006. Not a big bear, but nice rug and a helluva spot/stalk hunt in very hot conditions.



maddog

maddog,

I enjoy your faith to your Marlin 1895. I do not ever recall a picture of you with a different rifle.

Am partial to said model as well.



Apologizing to the OP for the tangent.

The Rats do Runneth Over...............

Fixed it for you. Subtle hint, that is.

You can't "fix" a Rat,nor stupidity.

Let alone their melding..............