I would like to go on a bear hunt in the next couple of years, but I have no idea how the bear hunting system works. Do I have to have a guide? Are there public places I can hunt in the lower 48? Do guides have some sort of guiding right's to national forests? I wouldn't mind a guide, but if I can get the job done with a tent and tag I'd rather do it myself. What area's of north america offer the best success rate? Any help is greatly apprciated.

JTD, you can hunt Black bears in many States, and Idaho is just one. We have both a Spring bear season, which is on now, and a Fall season. Idaho has a gigantic public lands area for hunting.

You need only buy a non-resident hunting licence and non-resident Black bear tag, and take off into the boonies. Idaho has a very healthy herd of Black bears, too! No, you are not required to have a guide.

Of course, there's a bit more to it than that, as far as finding a place to camp, hunt, etc., but there's no problem getting a non-resident ticket.

Required - Non-Resident Combo Hunting/Fishing license $181.50. Plus - Black Bear Tag = $235.00

Check out all the rules and regs at Idaho F&G...

www2.state.id.us/fishgame

Good Luck. L.W.

JTD
Leanwolf had it right for some cash you can be into some of the best bear hunting in the lower 48! Now seeing your from the south -may I suggest you 1) Get into good shape -we have some big hills around here! 2) You might want to have a friend come along-if your not use to mountain hunting -safety reasons-Alot of wild country, but a mistake can and will cost your life if your not careful. We have city folk get lost all the time around here and some times its the folks who should know better. Anyone who has hunted the mountains will tell you prepare for the worst-wheather can change in a heart beat during spring /fall seasons.

Gunnut are you suggesting I get a guide for my first hunt? What do you mean by "some cash?" Getting in shape should be no problem. I'm not in marathon shape now, but I have run several in the past. Yes, I would definatley be taking a partner. I just want to go bear hunting where I will at least see some bears. I don't want to travel half way across the continent to find out the next week I'm doing everything wrong, that's why I'm starting my research a year or two in advance. So is Idaho the best bear hunting in the lower 48? What about Maine?

[ 05-13-2003, 22:59: Message edited by: JTD ]

Idaho may not have the best bear hunting in the lower 48 but it is definitely right up there.
There are many areas N of the Salmon river that have a 2 bear limit. They are trying to reduce the population of bears so there are more elk calves for the wolves to eat. There is logic for ya!
Best time is about the first week of May.
Glass the south facing slopes up along the snow line. They eat a lot of grass when they first come out after winter.
You do not need an outfitter. The first year you would certainly have a better chance of success with an outfitter but it is certainly not necessary. Any of the units along the Salmon river have lots of bears.
The 2 bear areas N of the Salmon obviously have lots of bears but that is thicker country, hard to glass.
Call any of the Fish and game offices in Idaho and they can steer you to good bear hunting areas.
There is absolutely no problem finding public land to hunt, Idaho is mostly public land.
As suggested earlier, the better shape you are in the better chance you will have of success.
Know your limitations, carry maps, familiarize yourself with the areas you will be hunting, carry a compass, watch the weather use your common sense and you will be fine.

What tastes better a spring bear or fall bear? How do the hides compare between the two?

A lots of states have bear hunting some close to you. Some you can buy tags over the counter others you have to draw a tag. Some allow bait some do not. If you can bait and have axcess to a place it easy to get a bear to come in but it can be a lot of work to run and maintain a bait. Spring hides are the best if you shoot a good one. I belive fall bears taste better. I guide is not nessasary in most states for blk bears. But with out one or some local talent. you most likely well be pissing in the wind.

A guy that lives a few houses down the road told me somebody told him that fall black bears taste like jam because of all the berries they've been eating. That was used as an argument by his buddies to get him to go bear hunting. He didn't buy it and neither do I!

The hide thing...obviously fresh out of the den they look nicer than after a whole summer of rubbin' their buts. Or so I'm told...I ***want*** to see one pronto, but that's another thread on this forum

Frans

JTD, yep, Idaho is a great hunting State. But, as you're in Maryland, and there are many States with bear seasons, I suggest you also check into Pennsylvania, too. I haven't hunted Black bear there, but I know people who have, and have killed some big bruins.

Penn. would be somewhat closer to you than Idaho.

Good luck.

L.W.

[ 05-15-2003, 21:33: Message edited by: Leanwolf ]

You don't want any bear that's been into the salmon, for eatin anyway. The spring bear has the best long hair and ain't bad eatin too. Caught mine close to his den a couple weeks ago, it was a hike but it's an easy place to find them.

Brent,

Did you know where there was an active den in advance by scouting or was it a case of hunting a general area knowing that the habitat and terrain made it a likely area to find den sites???

regards,

Pete

Leanwolf, I'm actually in Missouri (MO) so just about anywhere is going to be the same distance. I made it home from Cody in 15 hours once. Is there any bear hunting in the upper midwest, like Michigan?

JTD, whoops! My mistake. I'm old fashioned, I suppose. Can't get these new fangled two-letter abbreviations for States, down pat.

Yeah, Missouri is certainly centralized. I grew up in northern central Arkansas, about 12 miles south of the Missouri line, so know what you mean. 15 hours on the road?? I used to do that, but am afraid my limit anymore is about 450/500 miles a day. Then it's motel time for this child!

I "think" Michigan has bear hunting, especially in the Upper Peninsula, but am not sure. I imagine the Michigan hunters here can help you on that. Or Michigan F&G.

Good luck.

L.W.

There are lots of bears in Michigan. The biggest population is in the Upper Penninsula alothough there are quite a few in the Northern LP as well. Michigan has a fall season only and we switched to a draw and preference point system a few years ago. Today, in fact is the deadline for this year to apply. Michigan would be a difficult place for a non-resident to make a do it yourself hunt I would think because the habitat makes baiting or hunting with dogs the only two methods that offer any real chance for success. Bears have large home ranges and low population densities compared to deer. Combined with the thick cover they inhabit in Michigan and most of the eastern US the odds of taking a stand and having one stroll by or spotting one from a distance so you can sneak up on it are just about zero. Idaho might be a good option. Certainly the bears are there, the public land is there, and the country is open enough that you have a reasonable chance to spot a bear from a distance. I'll second the be in shape comments. That bear you spot across a canyon might mean a 3 hour hike to get to and then you have to get back and I swear there isn't a flat spot in the state. It's either up, down, or side hill and whichever you are doing at the time is the worst. Great country and great people though.

Jeff

That bear you spot across a canyon might mean a 3 hour hike to get to and then you have to get back and I swear there isn't a flat spot in the state. It's either up, down, or side hill and whichever you are doing at the time is the worst.

One thing to remember that Skibum brings up, that it's often a long trek up to a bear, or down and then up to one so, do yourself a favor and watch him for quite a while and see what the hell he's really up to first. He may be feeding in an area not moving hardly at all, he may be moving one way for a minute and a long way the other way the next. You need to have a good idea of where he might be when YOU GET TO THE SPOT HE WAS. If you see him on another ridge line a 1/4 mile off, don't be surprised, it happens.

Pete,
The bears we hunt in spring are usually found by glassing from down low, looking at the snow line, and just above and just below. Saw one blast right out of the snow this year! The dens are usually found this way, more and more all the time are located. The one I got was at a new den, the bear was just hanging out around it when we spotted him, disappearing in and out of it for several hours. Another one about half way up to him was out of his den moving around but not staying near his anymore, we wnt after him the day before and he was gone when we got there. It was almost dark so we came back the next day and went and got the other one up quite a bit higher. He was standing in front of the den when we got to the base of the mountain.

Would have got pictures but, my dogs knocked my digital camera off the coffie table the day before and the battery compartment door popped open. I lost a battery when it opened up, my wife closed it up without looking and I didn't realize it until I was up top getting ready to take the shot, the lense wouldn't come out! I left all my spare batteries in my wheeler down below.

Next time I'll get pics.

JTD,

In most states with a bear season, either baiting or hounds are allowed. Except for Alaska, I know of no other state that would require a guide.

Hunting is usually either spring or fall. Spring bears are looking for grasses, water and staying close to their dens at first. Fall bear will usually be bigger. They are putting on the feed, getting ready for the den. In some areas, that means they will be feeding of fish. In others blueberries and the like. By the way, if you encounter a bear in a blueberry patch. Remember in his mind, it is his patch and he doesn't like to share.

Michigan is certainly possible for you. I have hunted bear in the UP. I used to own a cabin with 40 acres there. This is thick brush and forest. A 100 yard shot would be uncommon, more likely 35 yards in most situations.

There are some guides available. No one I can recommend from experience though. A call to the DNR will help a lot. They want you to come to Michigan, especially to the UP. While not expansive public land, the UP is mostly owned by the paper companies. They have no restrictions on hunting, just don't mess with their trees.

The primary need for a guide in the UP is to maintain several baits in advance of Bear season. You will most likely not be hunting over bait. The use of bait is to keep the bear in the area.

According a study done some time back, the average range for a male black bear in the UP is 25 square miles with some ranging as far as 50 square miles. So the chances of you walking into the woods and seeing a bear go way up. Hunting with hounds is legal in Michigan. If you prefer that method. Either way, hunter success is somewhere between 10%-15%.

Wisconsin has a bear season as well, but out side the National Forrests, there is no place to hunt them.

Minnesota, especially near the boundary waters is loaded with bear. But I have no experience there.

Of course there is always Canada. Ontario is plentiful with bear as is Manitoba. Both are a short flight from MO.

Before you go, read as much about black bears as you can. Watch the outdoor shows, but remember they are not showing the long hours involved. That includes running a bait line, and sitting for hours on end.

If you choose a spring hunt, in many places that means you will be sitting in a tree in full camo, providing lunch and diner for the local biting flies, no-see-ums and mosquitos.

Pete

Thanks everyone for the info. So I think I have decided to go to Idaho for a bear hunt because of the vast amount of public land. What areas/units are best for bears and do you run into a lot of other hunters? Here in MO deer season is two weekends long and the week in between and opening day sounds like some sort of revolution starting. There are people everywhere so I'm trying to avoid that scenario.

[ 05-19-2003, 21:59: Message edited by: JTD ]

I had saw a lot of bears in Unit 21 2 years ago during the first week of May. If you do decide to use a guide check out Horse Creek Outfitters at www.hcoutfiters.com, they took good care of me both times that I hunted with them.