Bear hunt questions

[big papa]

My wife and I have decided that we are going on a black bear hunt in 4 years. We are thinking of going to Maine because we have heard that Maine has alot of bears. We are open to suggestions on where to go. Could my TBH family give me suggestions/opinions on what state to go to and what outfitter to use. I would also appreciate it if you could provide their website if they have one or other contact information if you know it. Any other ideas and suggestions are very much welcomed. Have a blessed day.

[2050z]

I am going to Maine at the end of August with this outfitter

http://mainewildcountryoutfitters.com/wild_country_outfitters_iii_003.htm

Our killvesting machine Buff killvest a huge black and got it all on video.

[keep]

Big Papa
Pourvoirie des Bouleaux Blanc is a TBH sponsor and he has a great operation. That is where I have hunted for the last 4 years. The bear hunt cost is $1595, but the total trip for me typically runs between $2800 and $3000 from doorstep to doorstep. If you pm me your email I can send you the write up on the hunt, how it works and my detailed costs for the past 4 years so you have it forn reference. Last year we had a group of us from TBH go. You had to have seen the threads on here about it.
Here is n idea of how he runs the operation in regards to the hunt itself:

Eric has 130+ baits but typically only uses 70 to 80 per year, they keep more than enough baits prepped for us prior to our arrival. He only takes about 50 hunters a year as of 2008. In 2007, out of 62 hunters they took 56 bears with 20 others shot at or wounded. In 2006, 84 hunters shot 89 bears but only recovered 67. Eric has said we will have 14-16 “hot” baits for our 8 hunters. He defines a hot bait as a bait that has active bears on them and he knows the bears to be a daily visitor, a warm bait will have irregular bear activity and may only be hit every other day or so and won’t put a hunter on this bait. Once a bear is shot out off a bait, he closes the bait for the year. On occasion he will keep hunting a bait if something exceptional is happening at that bait. For instance, if he had a hunter the week before shoot a small bear off the bait but there was and still is a big bear coming in. He may try it for a day or so to try to get another hunter a big bear if he is certain he has a big one coming in but he won’t try it long maybe a day possibly two. This will be specifically to pick up a big bear. The 14-16 baits he has set aside for the week you will be hunting will be HOT, not warm and will not have been hunted yet that year. He also moves areas. At the start of the season the hunter’s baits will range from camp a ways the after that week he will close that area down and move to an area closer to camp and so on till the season is over. He does this so you are hunting a fresh stand and not a recycled or shot out stand. Eric keeps 14-16 hot baits per week incase a hunter “scraps” a bait or a bear is wounded out of one, this give him the option to move a hunter. On occasion a hunter may spook a bear and Eric may feel that’s it best to move you rather than hunt a bait that has been blown out already. Also, there are times a hunter may wound a bear. He understands that accidents happen and asks you try to make a good shot. If you were to wound and not recover a bear he will move you to another stand if he thinks the episode ruined that bait. I will warn though, if you wound a second bear he says that you are done till all the other hunters have tagged out this way 1 hunter isn’t using all the baits himself.
He has 2000 square miles of exclusive guiding rights and that whole area will never get touched during the season.

Here are everyone's stories from 2009
Jim (keep)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87694&highlight=bear+hunt

Timothy (maglite)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87509&highlight=bear+hunt

Hollis (Hollis F)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87816&highlight=bear+hunt

Eddie (Eddie Howard)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87797

Alan (shockvalue)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87551&highlight=quebec

Russell (Target Panic)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87815&highlight=quebec

Byron (ByronF)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87847&highlight=bear+hunt

My 2009 video

http://www.huntingfootage.com/data/511/2009_Bear_Hunt_web_size.wmv

My last 2 year's costs:
My 2008 Costs
$ 1,595 Bear hunt
$ 486 Airfare
$ 25 fishing license
$ 160 bear tag and bear registration
$ 78 food
$ 31 beer
$ 100 for guide tip/ depending on effort and the animals they put us on
$ 50 caping out
$ 86 week rental of an auto
$ 76 gas/ I’m not sure on this because it is sold per liter
$ 40 on meals during drive time
$ 200 on just b.s.
$ 0 meat transport on airline (left w taxi in QC, only got tanned)
Total Hunt Cost: $2,927

My 2009 Costs
$ 1,595 Bear hunt
$ 551 Airfare
$ 25 fishing lisc
$ 165 bear tag and bear registration
$ 89 food to be fair and after 2008 it was best for everyone to buy their own beer
$ 100 for guide tip depending on effort and the animals they put us on maybe more
$ 50 caping out
$ 104 week rental of an auto based on 4 people
$ 44 gas/ I’m not sure on this because it is sold per liter
$ 31 on meals during drive time
$ 200 on just b.s.
$ 65 meat transport on airline
$ 80 checked bag fees
$ 37 hotel on way up
$ 56 flight change fee to get home early
Total Hunt Cost: $3,191


PM me if you have any other questions or want more info.

[EddieHoward]

It can't be better than Quebec

We have a new sponsor (Pourvoirie Des Bouleaux Blancs) here on the green screen that several of us have used this year -- I can't believe you would see more bear or be treated as well as we were any where. Eric will do everything imaginiable to see you get a bear. Please before you commit to anyplace, give them a look and talk to Keep, Mag, HollisF, ByronF, Target Panic, ShockValue or myself here on this board. Good luck!!

[big papa]

Ttt

[MountainMan]

I am going to Maine at the end of August with this outfitter

http://mainewildcountryoutfitters.com/wild_country_outfitters_iii_003.htm

Our killvesting machine Buff killvest a huge black and got it all on video.

I second Pete. I've known him for almost 15 years. He is the most stand up guy you'll ever meet. I'm headed up there with him next fall.

Be prepared to laugh your head off around him, he's hilarious

[ByronF]

Cant go wrong with Pourvoirie Des Bouleaux Blancs. We are already booked and going back next year.

[Hollis F]

Big Papa
Pourvoirie des Bouleaux Blanc is a TBH sponsor and he has a great operation. That is where I have hunted for the last 4 years. The bear hunt cost is $1595, but the total trip for me typically runs between $2800 and $3000 from doorstep to doorstep. If you pm me your email I can send you the write up on the hunt, how it works and my detailed costs for the past 4 years so you have it forn reference. Last year we had a group of us from TBH go. You had to have seen the threads on here about it.
Here is n idea of how he runs the operation in regards to the hunt itself:

Eric has 130+ baits but typically only uses 70 to 80 per year, they keep more than enough baits prepped for us prior to our arrival. He only takes about 50 hunters a year as of 2008. In 2007, out of 62 hunters they took 56 bears with 20 others shot at or wounded. In 2006, 84 hunters shot 89 bears but only recovered 67. Eric has said we will have 14-16 “hot” baits for our 8 hunters. He defines a hot bait as a bait that has active bears on them and he knows the bears to be a daily visitor, a warm bait will have irregular bear activity and may only be hit every other day or so and won’t put a hunter on this bait. Once a bear is shot out off a bait, he closes the bait for the year. On occasion he will keep hunting a bait if something exceptional is happening at that bait. For instance, if he had a hunter the week before shoot a small bear off the bait but there was and still is a big bear coming in. He may try it for a day or so to try to get another hunter a big bear if he is certain he has a big one coming in but he won’t try it long maybe a day possibly two. This will be specifically to pick up a big bear. The 14-16 baits he has set aside for the week you will be hunting will be HOT, not warm and will not have been hunted yet that year. He also moves areas. At the start of the season the hunter’s baits will range from camp a ways the after that week he will close that area down and move to an area closer to camp and so on till the season is over. He does this so you are hunting a fresh stand and not a recycled or shot out stand. Eric keeps 14-16 hot baits per week incase a hunter “scraps” a bait or a bear is wounded out of one, this give him the option to move a hunter. On occasion a hunter may spook a bear and Eric may feel that’s it best to move you rather than hunt a bait that has been blown out already. Also, there are times a hunter may wound a bear. He understands that accidents happen and asks you try to make a good shot. If you were to wound and not recover a bear he will move you to another stand if he thinks the episode ruined that bait. I will warn though, if you wound a second bear he says that you are done till all the other hunters have tagged out this way 1 hunter isn’t using all the baits himself.
He has 2000 square miles of exclusive guiding rights and that whole area will never get touched during the season.

Here are everyone's stories from 2009
Jim (keep)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87694&highlight=bear+hunt

Timothy (maglite)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87509&highlight=bear+hunt

Hollis (Hollis F)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87816&highlight=bear+hunt

Eddie (Eddie Howard)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87797

Alan (shockvalue)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87551&highlight=quebec

Russell (Target Panic)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87815&highlight=quebec

Byron (ByronF)

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87847&highlight=bear+hunt

My 2009 video

http://www.huntingfootage.com/data/511/2009_Bear_Hunt_web_size.wmv

My last 2 year's costs:
My 2008 Costs
$ 1,595 Bear hunt
$ 486 Airfare
$ 25 fishing license
$ 160 bear tag and bear registration
$ 78 food
$ 31 beer
$ 100 for guide tip/ depending on effort and the animals they put us on
$ 50 caping out
$ 86 week rental of an auto
$ 76 gas/ I’m not sure on this because it is sold per liter
$ 40 on meals during drive time
$ 200 on just b.s.
$ 0 meat transport on airline (left w taxi in QC, only got tanned)
Total Hunt Cost: $2,927

My 2009 Costs
$ 1,595 Bear hunt
$ 551 Airfare
$ 25 fishing lisc
$ 165 bear tag and bear registration
$ 89 food to be fair and after 2008 it was best for everyone to buy their own beer
$ 100 for guide tip depending on effort and the animals they put us on maybe more
$ 50 caping out
$ 104 week rental of an auto based on 4 people
$ 44 gas/ I’m not sure on this because it is sold per liter
$ 31 on meals during drive time
$ 200 on just b.s.
$ 65 meat transport on airline
$ 80 checked bag fees
$ 37 hotel on way up
$ 56 flight change fee to get home early
Total Hunt Cost: $3,191


PM me if you have any other questions or want more info.

Trust him on his numbers. He spent more time figuring out the numbers than he did hunting bears. He did forget to add in the can of smoked almonds!

Hi Jim

[big papa]

Ok. I have another question about this. What is the best state to hunt black bear in?

[ByronF]

Oh ya smoked almonds are good but maple syrup (the kind from the real maple tree) is the best. Hi Jim

[smokin feathers]

I have a really good one that hunted with in NB this year cost was less than $2500 with airfare and everything including picking up all you can eat lobster off the boat. If your interested pm me.

[keep]

Ok. I have another question about this. What is the best state to hunt black bear in?

If I had to pick a state as in United States I would probably pick Maine unless they open NJ up this year. NJ has been without bear hunting for 4 yrs and the bears are hugely over populated and don't feel threatened. The bears there have gotten big too. This is similar to the deer situation that had 10 yrs ago. The anti's lock out the hunters or limit the time in the field to where the numbers get way out of control then when they open it back up to hunting it's a great place to be. If they do open it you need to check on the non resident tags and see if they are allowing them. If they do, I'm going and will hunt at my family's place.

[keep]

Ok. I have another question about this. What is the best state to hunt black bear in?

I also have to add that the Maine hunt is bait hunting. There are other states close by that I would go and hunt good bears with dogs. NM, ID, CO and MT to name a few.
While looking make sure you dig into the costs because there are ALWAYS more than are planned. i.e. coolers for the meat, bag fees on the pane both ways, rental cars, travel food(airports and drive time), fuel for the rental, meat and cape care, guide tip, meat and cape airfare(usually 100-200), tags, plain old bs money, canadian firearm fee if bringing a gun, beer(that cost is ugly in CA), license fees, fishing license, bear registration, the hat and shirt everyone always buys, ect., ect, ect,
Typically there is quite a bit more expense other than airfare and the hunt costs be sure to check on it. After you go add up all your reciepts so you know the true costs so you will be able to tell others and know for sure.
First hunt costs- everyone goes overboard, top of the line bug suits, tons of new fishing stuff, all kinds of new bowhunting stuff. Remember if you can use it on a whitetail then it will work for a bear, also when buying stuff for the hunt temper the cost and think how ofter will I use this? For instance a bug suit, is a $50 bug suit ok for a 1 week use and then you'll never use it again or will it be better to spend 200. For me it was the $50 as I won't get enough use to justify the higher cost suit.

[Mike Murphey]

I have had the best luck for bears, (bigger bears also) in Canada...Sask or Manitoba.....

[big papa]

Thank yall. I have one other question. What do you have to do to take your hunting weapon (bow or gun) across the Canadian border?