There's a show on American TV called "Expedition Safari" that I try to watch when I can as it shows different hunts all over the world. I missed the 1st 15 minutes but the last 15 were very interesting.

The hunter was on a platform on the side of a hill looking downhill and high enough that shots to the front would be into the ground and not be a danger to the driver's who were trying to push a bear or bears past him. They were in a forest area that was very open, no brush to speak of on the ground, with clumps of trees here and there but very good visibility which was hindered more by bumps and depressions in the terrain more than by trees etc.

The platform was large enough for the client-hunter, another person who was armed and apparentely there for protection if the client wiffed, and the booking agent/guide.

The 1st to come thru was a beautiful sow with blond chest and legs with the remainder being a dark chocolate color -- nice size but she was accompanies by, what looked like, a pair of last year's cubs as they were fairly large. Of course no shooting. They were moving right along with a big lumbering gait.

During a lull in the action the booking agent
told the hunter how they hunted bear during the winter by rousing them from their den and shooting them when they came out -- mano y mano.
I assume they have some way of making sure it's a boar.

The next thing you could hear was something coming up the hillside -- a very nice looking boar came lumbering up the hill and when he saw the platform appeared to turn toward it but the hunter shot it fairly quickly knocking it down. It bounced up quickly and started back down the hill - 2nd shot appeared to miss but the 3rd, which took a little time as the bear was in a small clump of trees did the job.

There must have been 20-25 beater's.

It looked like a great hunt to take. I would estimate the bear was about the size of a very large black bear -- the hide being around 7' long from nose to tail.

A hunt like this sure beats staying in a small tent on the Alaskan Peninsula with the wind blowing 30-40 miles per hour and rain half the time -- eating freeze-dried food and sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag. Sloughing thru muck and mud in hip boots every day for 10-12 days.

What would be the cost for a well-run bear hunt in Europe and which country would it be in?

Bill, if you want some BIG bear hunting without freezing your buns off, its right next to you in Arizona. Search for "bears in the pears" on the web!

quote:

hunt like this sure beats staying in a small tent on the Alaskan Peninsula

In my world nothing beats the Alaskan Peninsula. but here is a recommendation to a hunting area in Romania, offering Bear driven hunts in Carpathian (Fagaras) Mountains.

www.besteuropeanhunts


Or from the high seat in Croatia. www.jip-agent.com

Here is a picture from Fagaras mountains, Romania in October 2011

Oh nooooo ,I know some of those bears from Croatia very well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...G2546e8cAUAAAAAAANAA it was difficult to record them because when they come out usually is too dark for my camera. In Croatia we don't do driven bear hunts but if someone wants I can always arrange for a client to shoot one every evening.

Last autumn 2 went to the USA and 3 to Poland.All very large. I had good season over all.
For myself I'd go to Alaska or to Romania because I never tried hunting bears there.