Does anyone have any (positive) first-hand experience with an outfitter/guide service for a black bear hunt in Wyoming?

I'd like to hunt in the States vs. Canada, and have been advised 1) to avoid Maine, and 2) that Wyoming is probably the best state for black bears.

If anyone has a strong (again, positive) opinion about a state other than Wyoming, I'd be interested in hearing about your experience(s).

Thanks!

Archuleta county in Southern Colorado has the highest black bear population in the state. We have some big bears and a bunch of smaller bears. I've taken a 420 lb. black bear through Archery season and several 300 lb'ers.
When I lived in Wyoming, I only saw one black bear while hunting and here, food and water is the draw.

S N S outfitters.

https://www.huntwyo.com/

I hunted elk with them a good outfit.

quote:

Originally posted by Hogbreath:
Archuleta county in Southern Colorado has the highest black bear population in the state. We have some big bears and a bunch of smaller bears. I've taken a 420 lb. black bear through Archery season and several 300 lb'ers.
When I lived in Wyoming, I only saw one black bear while hunting and here, food and water is the draw.

Do you have an outfitter recommendation?

Thanks!

Why avoid Maine? The black bear population is healthy and the hunting great. Avoiding New Brunswick Canada and cub hunting I understand. But Maine?

We have a lot of 200-300 pound bears back home.

We just don't have the groceries to make them 500 pounds.

Good hides though.

When I see a bear, I never have a tag.

When I have a tag, I never see a bear.

Standard problem of hunting in the Wind Rivers. Maybe someplace closer to Yellowstone is better.

Have hunted them in AK, ID, NH, ME, WY (and BC)

Largest for me was AK

When looking into this for a friend last year I found this:

https://www.realtree.com/big-g...t-black-bear-hunting

Might want to think about a little closer to home.

A hunt with our own Capt. Purvis In SC could yield you a big bear.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...2100588/m/4531075442

The eastern Wyoming bear hunt I had scheduled for the coming May was just cancelled by the outfitter due to lack of good bears.

Looking for other options now.
Our four person bear hunting group may just hunt exotics on a ranch here in Texas. Elk and bison are exotics here with no closed season.

Check with JT Robbbins at https://www.alloutoutfitters.com/colorado-bear
He hunts unit 61 in CO and has a high success rate. JT puts a lot of a ton of time in scouting in the off season and will work his tail off to give you a good hunt.

You can't go wrong in NC with Clark Purvis http://www.roanokeriverwaterfowl.com/black-bear.html
Lots of big bear in that country and much less physically demanding then a western hunt. Nice accommodations too. He offers options for bait or dogs. And did I mention LOTS of BIG bear in that country.

I could put you on to a few good guides that run 100% in ME if you are looking for a dog hunt. Dog hunts in ME are about the best bang for the buck with an average cost of $2500. As good as ME is for dog hunts, bait hunts only run about 50% success there but it's still a decent value with hunts ranging from $1500-2500.

North Carolina is closer to your home state of Fla. than Wyoming. Contact Capt. Purvis who has hunts listed in the "Offered and discounted hunts" forum on AR. He has some monster bears.

http://www.roanokeriverwaterfowl.com/big-game.html

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
North Carolina is closer to your home state of Fla. than Wyoming. Contact Capt. Purvis who has hunts listed in the "Offered and discounted hunts" forum on AR. He has some monster bears.

http://www.roanokeriverwaterfowl.com/big-game.html

I sent him a PM yesterday; waiting for response.

quote:

Originally posted by Nitro Express:

quote:

Originally posted by Hogbreath:
Archuleta county in Southern Colorado has the highest black bear population in the state. We have some big bears and a bunch of smaller bears. I've taken a 420 lb. black bear through Archery season and several 300 lb'ers.
When I lived in Wyoming, I only saw one black bear while hunting and here, food and water is the draw.

Do you have an outfitter recommendation?

Thanks!

I'll send you a PM

I hunted mule deer with Robb Wiley's crew last year and wouldn't hesitate to hunt bears with them.

https://nontypicaloutfitters.com

Yep, we decided to stay "home" and hunt exotics in Texas. Shaping up to be a good time with a lot of good protein for the freezers.

The problem with Colorado is you can't use bait and you can't use dogs.

If you are hunting with an outfitter that has access to private land where bears are living, you have a good chance of getting one.

I have seen quite a few bear in Colorado (where I have lived and hunted for almost 40 years), but have only killed one. Spot and stalk is fairly difficult due to the terrain and hunting pressure on public lands.

I would definitely get an accurate success rate before booking with anyone in Colorado.

I now hunt Maine every year. The prices are very reasonable, but I only do stand hunting. I am not mobile enough to follow hounds and the outfitter I hunt with has just over a 50% success rate. It would be much higher, but many bears are lost through poor shot placement, not enough gun, etc.

If I truly wanted a bear, I would consider New Mexico hound hunts. They can be very productive if you are in good enough shape to follow the hounds.

JMO

BH63

quote:

The problem with Colorado is you can't use bait and you can't use dogs.

True, and the resulting proliferation of black bears has caused some problems in CO.
In September of 2012, I hunted elk southeast to of Colorado City and took my bull into Colorado City to be processed and to turn over the head for mounting. The taxidermist told me that in September alone 20 plus bear had been shot , euthanized, or tranquilized and relocated from the town . More than one person had bears break into homes. None of this was common before the use of dogs and bait to hunt bears was made illegal. Unforseen consequences or just ignorant lawmakers?

I had a bear tag, but the only one I saw was on top of a trash dumpster near a house outside of town. It looked like a black German Shepherd dog to me, but my guide said it was a smallish bear. Looking for an easy meal?
On the private land we hunted, bear tracks were common around water holes with muddy banks and in the stream bottom.

I have booked a couple of hunts with Butch Manasee all were as represented. I have a New Mexico cow elk hunt booked with him in December of this year. I have talked with him about this hunt and it will probably be my next hunt.
Butch and his staff are straight shooters based on my experience.



HUNT # 103- IDAHO (2) SPRING BEARS

This outfitter has been in business for over 20 years and has been featured numerous times on big name TV hunting shows. He's a long established and capable outfitter.
The outfitter hunts along the Lochsa River out of a series of cabins and a base lodge. He also does wilderness hunts from tent outposts. He has a third hunt out of his regular ranch lodge, which has a one-bear limit with up to two turkeys. The hunt price is the same for all three options.
The hunt is over bait and is easily accessible via a long day's from much of the US and the West Coast. Hunting takes place the Selway-Bitterroot country of central Idaho. There's outstanding fishing nearby, too. All hunts are fully guided.

Lochsa River camps: We have sent many clients on these hunts. You hunt afternoons over bait. Because you don't get back to camp before 9 or 10 at night, morning is used to rest or go fishing. The outfitter uses horses or 4WD vehicles to reach the bear hunting areas. Normally, you stay in the cabins and eat at the lodge if you are hunting from the river location.
Wilderness camp: The outfitter utilizes classic, comfortable wall tents. Hunting is over well-maintained baits in the Selway-Bitterroot wilderness area. It's a short two hour horseback ride to camp. This area is so vast and has such a high bear population that you have an opportunity to be able to take two bears in this unit.





Spring Bear/Turkey Combo Hunt

5 Day Spring Lodge Bear/Turkey Combo Hunt -
Guiding: 1 on 2
GEAR: Any weapon | NOTES: 1 bear bait hunt & up to 2 turkey tags
$2,800
Fall Spot & Stalk Bear Hunt

5 Day Fall Lodge Spot & Stalk Bear Hunt -
Guiding 1 on 2
GEAR: Any weapon | NOTES: 1 bear tag
$2,700
Call or Email 307.637.5495 or
info@worldwide-hunts.com

quote:

Originally posted by crshelton:

Unforseen consequences or just ignorant lawmakers?

The lawmakers are innocent in this case. The closure of the spring season and no bait/no dogs was the result of a *voter* initiative put forth by the animal rights groups in 1992. It passed by a huge margin.

^ +1

Damned "progressives" are destroying Colorado, 1 law at a time.

BH63

We've got a "little" bear on our deck. We got rid of the bird feeder and am removing the stairs. Don't mind him in the yard but having him between myself and the door is troubling

https://youtu.be/vOnuMK1dZwI