Who has bear hunted and did you like it

[Dave Pagel]

I truly enjoy it.  I have taken bears in BC, Michigan and 4 in Manitoba.  Going back to Manitoba in 2024.  Great fun and a bit more exciting to be around than deer.

D.P.

[GCook]

I went to Newfoundland and it was a bad year.  Very late spring.  No bears seen in over 30 hours on stand.
Not sure I'll ever go again.  Not because of that hunt.  Just don't feel like killing a bear is something I need to do.

[Steelhead]

I like the spot and stalk hunts like you have in Alaska.

[JimB]

Bears are one of my favorites.I have hunted them over baits in Canada and have spot and stalk plus stand hunted them here,even more.The more I learn about bears the more fascinating they become and the more questions I have.Some great memories there for sure.

[durp]

Been hunting em for 56 years now...killed my share...love the meat...killed one last night and stopped to chk it in this morning and bought a second tag...seems funny to now pay for what was once free

[Phillip Fields]

Hunted a few times in Maine. Have taken 2 bears, both from a ground blind. Loved it and am going back this fall.

[Bowwild]

I've hunted black bear four times; Ontario twice in the 80's (2 for 2), New Brunswick (goose egg), and Idaho (1st day bear).

Before 1985 I had been invited to bear hunt in Ontario with a very good friend from Lafayette, IN.  I turned him down 2-3 times because I didn't think sitting over stale doughnuts would be any fun. In 1984 I gave in. Killed a PY bear. It was very exciting and so different from anything else I'd ever hunted. I really liked it.

Last bear hunt was a guided affair (Ontario was DIY) in Idaho. I couldn't believe the steepness of the one "mountain" I had to climb to the bait, wow I was not in shape for that. I killed a bear that first night in the stand with my Blacktail Sitka. My son killed one the next day and my brother the day after.

I don't know if I'll go again, but if I did it would be in a big bear rich Province. No plans for now.

[Michael Guran]

I really like bear hunting.  I realize that I got spoiled shooting a 400b bear with my longbow on my first trip to Canada, but I’m hooked.  My plan is to concentrate more on bears here now that I live in the mountains.  It’s a very challenging hunt without dogs or baiting…

[Stringwacker]

A bear trip is a totally unique experience; more so than almost any other hunting. I've only made three bear trips, but have always planned to make more bear hunts as I get older. I don't know any other hunt that you can sleep until 8am, eat a hearty breakfast, and hunt to past 10pm each day. The loons, northern lights, sights and sounds of the far north (I always hunt in Canada) are so memorable when your home turf is the land of Dixie.

Though I have taken two bears; none have been record class so it gives me a goal to look forward to in the future. Ironically, though I don't like the aspect of baiting..... for some reason I give a pass to my ethical viewpoints on this type of trip. I guess I lump bears into the same category as things like coyotes and pigs. That's not to degrade the status of the bear as a game animal as much as just saying they are sometimes an aggressive predator. It just makes me look at them differently.

[flntknp17]

I hunted bears one time and that is probably enough for one lifetime for me.  I had the opportunity to go to an absolutely amazing place in Saskatchewan and was blessed with a very large boar (over 400lbs) with a thick and beautiful coat.  The whole experience was epic, but if invited again, I would gladly go along and fish/cook/help out, but one bear is enough for me.  I think it might be different in places where spot and stalk is the norm, but the hunting over a barrel of cookies and used frying oil wasn't the most aesthetic thing I've done.  I would strongly recommend everyone try it once, because it was a great adventure, then decide from there was your own priorities are. 

Matt

[Dave Lay]

I have but as usual, made it very hard on myself with personal limitations, I’m not sure why I always do that to myself. Lol
       I wanted to kill a bear in my home state, using a trad bow, with no bait and on public ground. It took me quite a while but I finally got it done , killing a 425 lb P&Y boar. I had passed a few smaller bears and wasn’t really holding out for a book bear, rather just a good mature one. Then something odd happened, I kinda lost interest , I dunno if it’s from fulfilling a fairly difficult goal or what. I’m sure if a good big one gave me a chance while deer hunting or something, I’d probably take it, but I’ve kinda lost interest in chasing them . There’s nothing wrong with baiting and it’s how probably 95% of our bears are taken, it’s just not my thing

[ron w]

Went on a Bear Quest hunt with guys from here on the site. That was in 2015, I shot a150 boar, my first trad kill. 6 yard shot,  very exciting, great experience !! It is the bear in my avatar!!

[MnFn]

I’ve hunted bear 6 times. Two in Mn, two in Ontario, three in Manitoba.  I ‘ d go every year if I could. This past spring I saw around thirty bear in four days, (Manitoba Stickflingers)
In Ontario each time I only saw one bear. MN similar.

Stickflingers is the place to go. I’ve shot yei bear there, one was nearly 7 ft squared. It’s a blast!

[Todd Cook]

My reply will be a little different than most. I've been once to Canada bear hunting and had a great time. Went with friends and it was a very good week. I killed a really nice bear (big sow) and have her tanned hide here beside my desk.  But I have no desire to go back. The baiting bothered me some, and the fact that the bears knew you were there bothered me more. I've ran into several bears elk hunting in the past, and probably would be interested in a spot and stalk opportunity. But not another over bait.

[BowMIke]

I have been to Stickflingers in Birch River, Manitoba several times. It is a terrific experience and I always see many bears. It is a blast to watch the many bears interact.
Ryan Derlago runs a truly great bear camp. There are numerous color phase bears and opportunities for some truly massive boars. Shots are close!
You should try this at least once!

[Gun]

I've hunted them in Wisconsin, Ontario, and here in Alberta. Mostly bait and all DIY. Baiting is like running a trapline. Fun to see what shows up. There's also a science behind setting up a GOOD bait.

I've only killed 5 Bears (2 P&Y class). I got turned off of the meat years ago, but it wasn't properly prepared. Just recently found a new trick in smoking them. Delicious! I have a friend that guides in northern Alberta and with a standing invite to weed out sows. Didn't work out this year because of shoulder surgery but hopefully next year.

Bear hunting is a blast no matter how you do it!

Pix is of a smoked Bear tenderloin wrapped in Bacon I did for our men's Bible Study and breakfast. A few were surprised but everyone loved it.

[gregg dudley]

I made one bear hunt to Saskatchewan around 20 years ago.  It was a remote area that we accessed by boat.  We travelled to hunting areas by boat and fished every day.  We did not see anyone that was not associated with the camp the entire time we were there.  I enjoyed everything about it.  I was fortunate enough to kill a nice boar that just missed PY.  I have thought several times about hunting bears again. 

We have a growing population of bears in Florida.  I have bears frequent my property in the Ocala National Forest on a regular basis.  They are a fun animal to watch and photograph.  There is not currently a season for them here.

[Doug Treat]

I kinda like it!!!

[Doug Treat]

…and we absolutely love bear stew!!!

[beemann]

Love bear hunting.  I have been going to Saskatchewan every chance I get.  Boat based wilderness hunts are what I enjoy the most.  Fishing for huge pike in the morning and eating fresh fish in the evening after sitting for bear what could be more enjoyable.  Not a better way to get in some hunting before fall seasons begin... Country is beautiful  and you don't see many people...  Perfect way too make some memories.  If you never did it you should try it.