Bear Outfitter Question

[ArcheryHunter]

I'm wanting to book a hunt in Manitoba and have been calling references on an outfitter.  It was mentioned that since the outfitter has both gun and bow hunters, the bears are more skittish and tend to come to bait closer to or after dark.  Would it be a better choice to book a hunt with a archery only outfitter or does it really matter?  Appreciate any information you may have.

[Jack Denbow]

I have never heard of that. Usually gun hunters are a lot further away from the bait than bowhunters. I would think that if a bear came into a bait that had a gun hunter on it he would not get a second chance to be "skittish". I would also think that skittish bears would be the result of them seeing or smelling hunters whether bow or gun.
Jack

[TomK]

What Jack said.  Another thing to remember; bears absolutely show no signs of hesitation associated with the human scent of the person replenishing the baits.  It's when curious hunters (gun or bow) walk around the bait site, that bears get suspicious and nervous.  Remember too, spring is mating season, which brings on a lot of cautious behavior on the part of bears, especially mid-sized boars.

[ArcheryHunter]

Makes sense, thank you for the information.  My son and I are headed to Manitoba in 2010.  We'll be hunting with Bear Track Outfitters.

[JimB]

I have hunted a couple times with an outfitter in Saskatchewan.He has rifle and bowhunters and I also think it makes no difference.

[David Mitchell]

I hunt with Eldon Jandreau in Maine and he takes gun and bow hunters--never a problem as the stands are placed so far apart I never hear a gun shot. Bears have come in at all sorts of different times to the bow stands.  He sets stands for gun hunters farther from the baits....Dave

[R. W. Mackey]

This will not be a problem, I hunted with Ron and Darren last spring, there were 3 bowhunters and 2 gun hunters in camp, everyone in camp got a bear. The baits are so far apart there is no inteference, good hardworking folks, just wait until you taste Jeanene's cooking.  Best of luck, get Darren to tell you about ol'Roy.

RW

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

I know the ol'Roy story! Ron and Darren are great guys and excellent hunters...you picked right! Post your pix when you get home....Ryan

[Darren]

Terry, I'm glad you had a great time at camp, and tagged out on the third day. And like yourself Roy, Terry made the best kill shot of the year so far. Terry's bear went less than 20 yards. He sure made my job easier that night. See ya next spring. One more week to go !!!!!!

Darren