Anyone Intrested in DIY bear hunt for next spring or fall?

[stickmonkey]

Much like everything else the march of time leaves its marks upon us. I said in 97 I was going to Saskatchewan to hunt black bear. Talked to the outfitter, made a bow just for the hunt and was ready to pay the deposit when I was blessed with the news that I was to be a Father again. Being a young family man did not lend itself to bear hunts out of country and as far away as it was from where this Louisiana boy lived. So I called the outfitter and explained what had occured. I knew it was the right thing to do and I did build the new bow! As the years passed on I never lost the desire to want to hunt black bears but it never seemed to fit in with family vactions and work. Now however The kids have all grown and mostly left the nest and my mind drifts again to wanting to hunt black bears. 

 I head Idaho was bear rich and talked to some guys I located through youtube that hunt Idaho and most of them told me not to go alone. it would be too dangerous for me since I do not have any experience with bears. I talked to a few more guys including the owner of the simmoms broadheads who also hunts there and he too told me the same thing so I was pretty certain that it would indeed not be the brightst move to try it alone anyway.

I have never hunted bears nor think that I know anything really. I talked to Clay Newcomb breifly, purchased several books,subscribe to bear hunting mag, watch a lot of youtube and listed to several podcast on the subjects of hunting black bears. Four months ago I started hitting the gym and trails 6 days a week and have almost lost 50 lbs from when I started and plan to continue to train which brings me to the point of the post. Is there anyone that knows how to hunt Black bears that would like to do a DIY trip and help a guy learn?

Just as I did in 97 I have a new bow in the form in the shop that I will hunt deer and hogs with this fall and winter but I would really prefer to use it to harvest a bear as well.

Thanks for your time - Shane Wink

[BowMIke]

My recommendation would be to get with Ryan Derlago at Stickflingers and let them guide you to a wonderful experience. Almost all his hunters are Tradgang members because he really knows how to set up and run a great hunt. All the shots are very close (8 to 12 yds) because he is a Trad hunter and he has an area with lots of bears. I will be returning next Spring for my 4rth hunt.
This year I hunted 5 days and saw 41 different bears and some of those came in several times. It's a fun experience.
They haul you to your stand and pick you up, so you don't have to worry. And the comeradery in camp is just an added benefit!
On a self guided trip, you would have to establish baits and wait for the bears to locate them. This could take a while.
See the bear in my avatar. It scored 19 12/16's, only 4/16 from being a Boone and Crockett bear. And I have seen even larger!

[stickmonkey]

I appreciate that and I did look at Stick flingers but with airfare and the cost of the hunt its out of the range I want to pay. I do get the pros and have heard good things about their camp but to keep the hunt doable I need to try to keep it DIY if I can.

[Aaron Proffitt 2]

I've been kicking around this very thing

[JARHEAD1371]

If you are looking at a DIY bear hunt in ID then I can assume that you are planning on a spot and stalk hunt. As Mike said, setting up baits and waiting on the bears to hit them regularly can take weeks. I met Mike up at Stickflingers this spring. That place is simply amazing!! It was my first guided hunt, first time to Canada, and my first bear hunt. I learned more in one day than I ever thought I would. If you can swing it, I highly recommend a trip up there. I drove from northern VA all the way to Birch River, Manitoba.

[Jakeemt]

I sent you a pm man.

[Fattony77]

That sounds like a lot of fun! I'd love to do something like that, but I'm afraid my expertise is severely lacking.... I've hunted bear here in OK for several years now, but my success is limited (to say the least). Very few sightings & all while sitting over "not-technically-bait". If you're still open to different location choices, I hear that Arkansas is pretty good (for both bear population AND price of out-of-state licensing). OK isn't too bad either, but the hunting for bear here can be pretty tough (at least for guys like me that have no idea what the hell they're doing, lol). Making contact with the local wildlife department might be a good start as far as strategies, locations, etc.

[Aaron Proffitt 2]

I was also thinking Arkansas

[stickmonkey]

Area 2 in Arkansas Is only 3 hours from the house. Clay Newcomb told me the Arkansas hunt would be fairly rough hunt because of where the bear like to go there. Find a water source, food source nearby and nasty cover and hunt. Its spot and stalk only on Public Land in Arkansas. Land owners can bait and most do. Last year in area 1 of Arkansas 440 bears were taken 48 hrs of the season opening. Most all on bait. I plan to go a couple times this sept in area 2 on public land but I am also honest with myself about the odds too. I have hunted with a trad bow since the 80's for deer and hogs but from a stand or the base of a tree. Again I know learning to spot and stalk adds to the difficulty but at the same time that doesnt bother me.

I am open to most any state and not just Idaho. I did talk to the WLF of Arkansas about hunting the differnt areas. They suggested area 2 but also warned the bears there like to go deep and that it would be a hike to get to them.

[Aaron Proffitt 2]

Area 2 in Arkansas Is only 3 hours from the house. Clay Newcomb told me the Arkansas hunt would be fairly rough hunt because of where the bear like to go there. Find a water source, food source nearby and nasty cover and hunt. Its spot and stalk only on Public Land in Arkansas. Land owners can bait and most do. Last year in area 1 of Arkansas 440 bears were taken 48 hrs of the season opening. Most all on bait. I plan to go a couple times this sept in area 2 on public land but I am also honest with myself about the odds too. I have hunted with a trad bow since the 80's for deer and hogs but from a stand or the base of a tree. Again I know learning to spot and stalk adds to the difficulty but at the same time that doesnt bother me.

I am open to most any state and not just Idaho. I did talk to the WLF of Arkansas about hunting the differnt areas. They suggested area 2 but also warned the bears there like to go deep and that it would be a hike to get to them.

Any DIY hunt is gonna have the same challenges for bears . Arizona is another state I've eye balled. Kind of a sleeper state.

[Hud]

If your that interested in ID, you might contact Clay Hayes, a sponsor. His website is at https://www.twistedstave.com/ or T.J. Conrads, editor, publisher, founder of Trad Bowhunting at [email protected] both are in ID.  Northern ID from WA to MT  is the Panhandle and home to the Grizzly, but no open season.

Colorado is closer and has color phase bears and lots of areas to hunt.

Mike Yancy is a sponsor and from Ark. owner of Pine Hollow Longbow, Inc. might be able to help there.

Ted Fry, at Raptor Archery in Oregon, hunted bear in ID for a number of years, and hunts in Oregon.

[stickmonkey]

Thank you HUD. You posted some names I have not thought of and some I have not talked to in many years. Ted Fry sold me my first blitzenburger in the early 90's and helped a good bit dialing in some woodies. I have not met or talked to Clay Hayes but have listened to him and watched his videos. Joel Turner turned me on to Clay last year. I have purchased snake skins over the years from Mike Yancy and have talked shop briefly with him so I will send him an email this morning.

Thank you again for the suggestions.