Hi all, I am enquiring as to the most cost effective way to do some spot and stalk black bear? Trophy size not an issue as I just would relish the experience and be keeping the skull, if successful! I am from UK and would consider Canada or the US.
Thanks
Matt

The most effective way is find the food source. Spring time i find is best for spot and stalk hunting as the grass is greening up at the lower elevations and concentrating the bears. I hunt most of the day unless it is to hot mid day. You will typically kill 5-% in the evening,20 % mid day and 30% in the morning. The days are long that time of year and 17 hrs of hunting is tough for anyone but expect your guide to put in 12 hours of hunting anyways. In a good location finding a good boar is not that hard.
Tell your guide you want a 6 foot plus bear and hold him to it. They are not that hard to find.
Good luck

Thanks Doug, any ideas of how to keep the price down?
Matt

Spot and stalk hunts here in BC and most places cost more then baited hunts because of the expense of doing it. A baited hunt is cheaper because the guide only has to bait the stations and transport hunters and game. He can have a pile of hunters as a spot and stalk hunt the guide cannot have more then two hunters at anytime.
Cheap is not always better, quality area, accomodations and food you should expect to pay $4000 to $6000 for a quality hunt.
Be wary of anyone selling hunts much cheaper then that.
I hope this helps.

If you have friends in Alberta you could do a hunter host hunt for just the cost of the licence..

Matt,

Doug has pretty much laid out everything for you. If you find a price much less than what Doug quoted your probably not buying a great experience. Save for another year and do it right. Don't come all the way from England and buy some bargain basement hunt.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by chilcotin hillbilly:
Spot and stalk hunts here in BC and most places cost more then baited hunts because of the expense of doing it. A baited hunt is cheaper because the guide only has to bait the stations and transport hunters and game. He can have a pile of hunters as a spot and stalk hunt the guide cannot have more then two hunters at anytime.
.

That may be the case in some states but I know in most provinces that the two hunters per guide rule still applies even on baited hunts. I'm not sure baiting is cheaper than spot and stock either, there's a lot of money goes into securing bait, transporting it, setting up and maintaining bait stations and moving hunters around. At least for guys doing it right. I think baited hunts are just often cheaper because it's such a competitive market.

Sage advice as always guys, thanks!
Matt

Matt

I'll add that Doug's neck of the woods is beautiful Definitely worth the trip. I miss hunting in the Chilcotin.

Get hold of Brad Lister, Coastal Inlet Adventures. He has a concession around Jervis Inlet North of Vancouver. This could be a boat hunt or hunt out of one of his float houses. I shot a 7' bear a few years ago but he is still going strong. He will be in DSC in January.