News

Most bowhunters dream of hunting in some far away place where big bucks are behind every tree. The problem is guided big buck hunts can cost a small fortune and the chance of success is often small. Consider this statistic: about one out of three bowhunters who hunt with an outfitter go home with a buck. The other two go home with an expensive unfilled tag in their pocket.

If you want to have an adventure and make sure you go home with a critter in your cooler, consider going on a guided or unguided black bear hunt. Many states offer fall bear hunts; some are for residents only but others allow residents and nonresidents to hunt. If you want to have an adventure of a lifetime, consider hunting black bears in Canada. Many Canadian provinces offer fly in bear hunts where you get dropped off in a remote camp via float plane which can be lots of fun.

(Story Continues Below) 

The good news is whether you hunt with an outfitter or on your own, your chances of tagging a black bear are extremely high. A guided black bear hunt is less expensive than a whitetail hunt and the chances of scoring a decent black bear is over twice as high. In fact, most black bear guides have above 80% success. There are many good black bear outfitters in the states and in Canada who sell bear hunts for less than $2,000. Some outfitters charge as little as $1,000.

If you live in a state that offers a fall bear hunt or near a state that offers bear hunting, one of the most inexpensive ways to go on a bear hunt is to apply for a tag. It may take years to get the tag, but once you get it, you can harvest a bear for less than $1,000. In Michigan, if you don’t have the time or knowhow to bait, a guide will place stands for you and supply the bait. You show up, provide your own food and lodging and hunt the guides’ baits. If you have the time, you can bait yourself or hire a guide with bear dogs.

Whether you go on a guided or unguided bear hunt, bring a scouting camera with you. A few years ago, I shot a bear in Quebec with my bow on the last night of my hunt because I had hung a scouting camera and knew a bear was hitting a certain stand at a certain time. Without that camera, I would have headed home early because until I saw the picture of the bear on the camera, I hadn’t seen a bear all week.

When using a scouting camera, make sure it is free of human odor and other odors. If it smells, bears might chew it up. Use a Pine Ridge AT-5 Camera Support and place your camera up high and point it down at the bait. If the camera is placed above eye level of a bear, they probably won’t notice the camera and will leave it alone. If the camera is on a tree at or below eye level, it is fair game for the bear.

Most big game hunting is a crap shoot. You can work your tail off and still go home empty-handed much of the time. Bear hunting is as sure of a bet as you can find. If you have never tried bear hunting, give it a try. You will never forget the first time a bear walks under your tree. Just like hunting big bucks, your palms will sweat, your heart will race and the adrenalin will be rushing. The good news is you can do it all on a shoestring budget.

---

Author: Tracy Breen