Bear hunting in Maine

[Jeff505]

Bears are hard to judge by size, look for small ears and short legs. By comparison small bears have proportionaly large ears and long legs. Good luck.

 

[colorado]

@colorado - I agree there are occasional “monster” large Black bears in Adirondacks but NY does Not allow hunting with Bait and No Hounds can be used - success rates are very low and bears live longer and get to “grow older”. Most Guides in Maine make the $$ Money guiding Bear hunts….it is a very important industry and a Maine source of income for guides - likely brings in more revenue to Guides then deer/moose/& small game combined. Bears can be found in Maine (or any State they are native to) but the averages recorded each year by Maine Guides and Fish & Wildlife consistently report the average bear killed in Maine is 135 lbs. Also, very few Maine bear will make the B&C record books. I’ve read (not an expert) that because Maine is a colder climate the Bear hibernate weeks to months longer then in States like North Carolina or even PA and NJ - less time feeding & growing and more time in hibernation. That fact was also cited as a reason for Sows giving birth to more cubs in PA - averaging 3+ vs 2+ in Maine. I’m not a biologist, just a random hunter with some limited experience. From data I’ve read, North Carolina is producing the heaviest bears by far in the U.S and hunting near agricultural areas with hounds is producing real giants - actually look “too Fat”. Maine bear hunting is an industry in the North Woods and baiting is effective - most hunters shoot the first bear that shows up and most bears killed are 3 years old or younger. I think it’s a great State to hunt, nice people, real hunting traditions, and a very high bear population —- just a low percentage of Big 300lb+ bears.

Great points! Here's a picture of my son with a black bear he got (we hunted with dogs) in New Mexico, a state not know for really big bears. Not a monster but a solid black bear boar.

 

[Doubleplay]

@Doubleplay - did you have negative results on your bear Hunts in Maine? I know luck plays a big part in bear “size” and because of that I know many hunters that were disappointed ….but only 1-2 that failed to at least “see” a bear.
I’ve been on 6 Maine bear hunts (2/Hounds & 4 Bait) and hounds by far were the highest success rate — although bears were small and never treed/bayed one even near 200 lbs. For Me - I never got one over 200 lbs on a guided hunt but also Always saw bear, passed up several as they were under 150lbs. I think most Outfitters will show you bears over bait in August to mid September - that is usually prime season because they feed heavily then and none have entered hibernation yet. By the end of September it seems to become less consistent and regardless - as you point out - one over 150-200 pounds is a rarity and my guess would be less then one in five “scales” over 175lbs….but they are there and those are the photos every Guide puts in his brochure and website. As for the Food/accommodations - I never cared?? When a hunter tell me about the “great food” in Camp I assume he either eats poorly at home or there were No good bear around to talk about.
I think the OP has a great chance of seeing Bear and better than 50% at shooting a legal bear, as for “How Big”? That’s where the Luck factors in….

My wife and I have been on many black bear hunts and killed a couple,
We hunted in Maine and also in New Brunswick on bait and all we see was small bears that we passed and all the ones got killed were around 100lbs..
I would rather pay a little more and hunt Saskatchewan or Alberta to hunt bears where we both killed very nice bears.

 

[Daveboone]

Never Maine, but just north in NB a fair bit. No matter where you go, there are always a lot more smaller bears than big ones...and it takes practice to tell the difference. Dont be in a hurry. Try to be as still and quiet as possible. We went in spring, so I dont know how the bugs will be for you, but a Thermocell is your friend for dealing with them. The more bears you look at, the better a chance for a good one. Easier said than done. Have fun!

 

[93marlin]

Good luck. Who’s the outfitter?

Grey Owl out of Lynn lake.

 

[93marlin]

Bears are hard to judge by size, look for small ears and short legs. By comparison small bears have proportionaly large ears and long legs. Good luck.

That's a good way to judge. However, that's not always true about the short legs. Last year I had a long legged bear come in. Easily over 7ft squared. The single largest black bear I've personally seen in the woods.
Unfortunately, I could not get a shot!

 

[HankBuck]

That's a good way to judge. However, that's not always true about the short legs. Last year I had a long legged bear come in. Easily over 7ft squared. The single largest black bear I've personally seen in the woods.
Unfortunately, I could not get a shot!

Without shooting and skinning a bear - very tough to know it squared 7 feet?? I say that because every camp I’ve been in the Guides always “guess” the weight and hide SF of every bear brought into camp for the week…then after it’s weighed & skinned they are 100% wrong, always over estimate and the only variable is by How Much they are off. Deer seem much easier to estimate weight and Guides usually over estimate that too. A scale or tape measure always tells the “disappointing Truth”. If weight a SF are very important to a Hunter - Always estimate it!

 

[colorado]

We have a rather large for Colorado Springs "deck bear" that demolished our bird feeder. Unfortunately no hunting allowed in my neighborhood. He's kind of a fixture in the neighborhood, mostly eats my apples.

 

[93marlin]

Without shooting and skinning a bear - very tough to know it squared 7 feet?? I say that because every camp I’ve been in the Guides always “guess” the weight and hide SF of every bear brought into camp for the week…then after it’s weighed & skinned they are 100% wrong, always over estimate and the only variable is by How Much they are off. Deer seem much easier to estimate weight and Guides usually over estimate that too. A scale or tape measure always tells the “disappointing Truth”. If weight a SF are very important to a Hunter - Always estimate it!

I have been fortunate enough to be involved in skinning & processing my bear.
2 years ago, 6'1" squared.
Last year, 6'6" squared
Before that I no longer remember

 

[DJStang]

Just finished a week long black bear hunt in Maine today with my family and friends. The bears in camp were small, with the largest being 173lbs. I've hunted the Machias area 4 times, and there were a couple 250 lbs plus bears, but the majority were in that state average of 135 lbs.

 

[HankBuck]

Just finished a week long black bear hunt in Maine today with my family and friends. The bears in camp were small, with the largest being 173lbs. I've hunted the Machias area 4 times, and there were a couple 250 lbs plus bears, but the majority were in that state average of 135 lbs.

@DJStang - very similar to most of my Maine Bear hunts - but I always had a good time and hope you did too. Sitting on a bait - you never know what’s gonna walk in and it’s that “anticipation” that keeps it exciting. That first time you catch a glimpse of something dark-black-moving thru the woods and the “hope” it’s a Big One makes stand hunting exciting, just like when the Hounds first strike scent and are “off & running”. The reality is similar to Deer hunting - you see many more spikes & fork horns then big 8 & 10 pointers. Those few times some guy in Camp gets a big bear - over 250/300lbs….I’m happy for him and always think “coulda been me, maybe next time”…

 

[Inline6]

North Carolina claims to have big black bears. I have looked into it, just has not been a priority of mine at this time. I killed a Black bear in NM, it was a smaller one. It was the last day of the hunt, at the last hour. Could have should have shot the first bear on the first day. He way pushing 250, he was black and I wanted to take a color phase. Also did not want to tag out first day. Lesson learned, take it on the first it that is what is offered to you.

 

[colorado]

Without shooting and skinning a bear - very tough to know it squared 7 feet?? I say that because every camp I’ve been in the Guides always “guess” the weight and hide SF of every bear brought into camp for the week…then after it’s weighed & skinned they are 100% wrong, always over estimate and the only variable is by How Much they are off. Deer seem much easier to estimate weight and Guides usually over estimate that too. A scale or tape measure always tells the “disappointing Truth”. If weight a SF are very important to a Hunter - Always estimate it!

I am thinking of going back to Alaska looking for a 10' brown bear. The saying is "the only way you'll get a 10 footer is not to shoot anything smaller" lol. I'd like to hunt with Scott Mileau on Kodiak Island. I got an almost 9 footer (not quite) at 13 yards a decade ago in Upper Togiak Lake Alaska.. What an exciting hunt.!! This year I'm just happy to be going elk hunting.

 

[DPHunter4570]

This post has done a great job of getting me jacked for fall bear hunting. Just have to work 4 more days.

 

[calling4life]

The average bear shot here in MN is 140lbs.

Our DNR talks about having live trapped 800lb black bears. Guy poached one north of that a few years back.

I say that because you tend to get this idea that everyone is patient and waiting and killing big things. bear, elk, whatever, but the reality tends to be much different.

You can hold off and maybe go home empty handed, or, shoot what everyone else does, ultimately the trophy is personal and can involve more than the animal.

For me, I'd rather kill a 150lb black bear I called in, than an 800lb black bear over bait or dogs. My calling and success therein are the trophy for me. Same goes for anything for me, I'd take a 3x3 elk I called in over a 7x7 that walked by my camp by chance.

 

[HankBuck]

I am thinking of going back to Alaska looking for a 10' brown bear. The saying is "the only way you'll get a 10 footer is not to shoot anything smaller" lol. I'd like to hunt with Scott Mileau on Kodiak Island. I got an almost 9 footer (not quite) at 13 yards a decade ago in Upper Togiak Lake Alaska.. What an exciting hunt.!! This year I'm just happy to be going elk hunting.

@colorado - that’s a Great Bear - regardless of what his hide squared and if that Bear was killed in an “exciting & memorable Hunt”…that makes the trophy even better. I only went on one Alaskan Brown Bear hunt, 10 years ago on a Spring hunt.
It was a 10 Day hunt, the first 6 days we never left Camp, zero to 5 below each morning and 5’ of snow left on the ground, guides scouted by air each day for any tracks in the snow within 20 miles of camp — Nothing. You can’t hunt the same day you fly and must wait til the next and then go after them on snowmobile, then a stalk on snowshoes. The first 6 days were the most boring Hunt I’ve ever been on, nothing but sitting in a cook tent “talking, eating, and staying warm”. Day 7 struck a track, followed, got within 50 yrds of “good Not great” bear. Easy shot, all over, No adrenaline, and a decent 8’ 3” boar with good head and slightly rubbed hide. If I ever go back — Fall hunt so that I “see more” but doubt I would do it again.
Your hunt sounded “better”

 

[cajunchefray]

I am thinking of going back to Alaska looking for a 10' brown bear. The saying is "the only way you'll get a 10 footer is not to shoot anything smaller" lol. I'd like to hunt with Scott Mileau on Kodiak Island. I got an almost 9 footer (not quite) at 13 yards a decade ago in Upper Togiak Lake Alaska.. What an exciting hunt.!! This year I'm just happy to be going elk hunting.

Nice work! Did you take that bear with your 500 Jeffery?

 

[colorado]

No i took it with a Rem XCR II in 375 H&H., 300g A-Frame. I should've brought the 500 Jeffery, I will next time. I would've missed out on following his blood trail in the thick stuff if I had It's the rifle on the top of the picture. Weighs 7 1/2 lbs with scope. My youngest son wanted it, so it's his now He go his black bear with it.