Help appreciated: black bear hunt USA/CAN

[Ontario Hunter]

@Ontario Hunter: Yep, can figure that out on any Map - so the short answer is None. and we can assume NO successful Outfitters on Spot & Stalk Bear in Ontario or Quebec- success defined as (over 50% on bear over 250 lbs.). Both Ontario & Quebec are Not known for Spot & Stalk bear hunts for a reason, guides don’t usually offer it for a reason, just like Texas Not great for Moose…. But, the good news is BC & Vancouver Island have some excellent Spot & Stalk bear hunts and Vancouver Island bear population is large And averages more B&C skulls than anywhere else in Canada - I think they were recently reclassified as separate subspecies for B&C record books?? And a Hunter will pay heavily for that opportunity with $8000-$12,000 hunts and Up —- worth it? Depends on how bad you want a big bear and how deep your pockets are. Alternatives: sit over a bait bucket in Quebec or Maine and shoot a 135 lb average bear for $3000. Agree with you on this one - a bait hunt is no longer for me, mind numbing boredom and few big bears.

Judging from the skulls clients bring to us and the bears I've run into goose hunting, I think it's fair to say the average is way above 135 lbs. Last year I bumped into a boar in standing corn when looking for a downed honker. He had a head that must have been approaching 18" across. Four or five years ago I had one walk out into the corn stubble 200 yards from my decoys that I thought was a moose at first. Huge. I called everyone I could think of but couldn't get anyone to answer who had a tag. That bruiser sat out there almost two hours munching on corn ... in full view of the busy highway leading to the border. Several years ago the local paper carried a photograph of a bear hit and killed by a pulp truck north of town. 770 lbs!!! No lie. And I saw one in the dump that year when working at a fire camp that easily would make 600 lbs. His gut was on the ground. Big ones can be found but they don't get that size being stupid. There was a host of archery hunters in tree stands surrounding the periphery of that dump and no one ever got the big bear. Day after day he slipped by the sentries. And he was not interested in bait barrels either. Not during the day anyway.

 

[HankBuck]

Many thanks to all for the help!

@Nyalamonster - good luck and take your time researching Bear Camps & Outiftters, many claim high success rates and Bigger then average bears but I found they are all shooting “average” size bear which is 140-150 lbs…also very few weigh their bear on a Scale — it’s always an “estimate” and their estimates are 100% inaccurate (on the Heavy side). If you find a Guide that hangs their bear on a scale and keeps records - you might be on to a good one. Of course every camp kills a few 300-400 lb bear each season but the other 20-30 bear taken will likely be much smaller — contact other hunters that hunted that camp in past two years and include hunters that failed to kill a bear,,,,,,see what they say.

 

[WAB]

BC I believe. I think you’d be hard pressed
To find a decent spot and stalk opportunity in eastern Canada. I have done a lot of spot and stalk bear hunting in Alaska but never with an outfitter so I’m not much help there.

 

[HankBuck]

Judging from the skulls clients bring to us and the bears I've run into goose hunting, I think it's fair to say the average is way above 135 lbs. Last year I bumped into a boar in standing corn when looking for a downed honker. He had a head that must have been approaching 18" across. Four or five years ago I had one walk out into the corn stubble 200 yards from my decoys that I thought was a moose at first. Huge. I called everyone I could think of but couldn't get anyone to answer who had a tag. That bruiser sat out there almost two hours munching on corn ... in full view of the busy highway leading to the border. Several years ago the local paper carried a photograph of a bear hit and killed by a pulp truck north of town. 770 lbs!!! No lie. And I saw one in the dump that year when working at a fire camp that easily would make 600 lbs. His gut was on the ground.

@ Ontario Hunter: according to Maine Fish & Wildlife the average bear killed in Mane each year has been 135 - 140 lbs “live weight” and that hasn’t changed for many years. Ontario had reported similar average size when I researched in 2008 and 2015. I know they always have some Big ones but they are the exception and that’s what every outfitter advertises and puts up Photos of. Most guides do Not weigh there bears on a scale and that’s for a reason - easier to “estimate” a 200 lb bear then hang one on a scale and find out it’s 150. I am NOT an expert but I have done 6 bear hunts with 5 different Outfiters - 2 in Quebec and 3 in Maine. Only 2 hung their bear on a scale and all “estimates” were very “generous”…. Bear Hunting is a Bread & Butter hunt for Outfitters - they make $$$ for minimal effort (bait hunts) and it is an important income for them.

 

[Red Leg]

I have hunted black bear numerous times with BC Trophy Mountain Outfitters in BC. All were spring hunts and all were spot and stalk. All were successful. These are wilderness bears so don't expect one the size of a grizzly, but I would put the one below against any I have seen from similar habitat. We had no way to weigh him, but he easily was at that 400 pound mark. I should note, my knee is against his left side to keep him positioned, so we are not trying to make him look big in the photo.

At least a third - some years nearly half the boars taken are color phase. This is a typical size boar taken.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have hunted black bear numerous times with BC Trophy Mountain Outfitters in BC. All were spring hunts and all were spot and stalk. All were successful. These are wilderness bears so don't expect one the size of a grizzly, but I would put the one below against any I have seen from similar habitat. We had no way to weigh him, but he easily was at that 400 pound mark. I should note, my knee is against his left side to keep him positioned, so we are not trying to make him look big in the photo.

At least a third - some years nearly half the boars taken are color phase. This is a typical size boar taken.

400 lb spring bear is a dandy for sure! Have to wonder how much bigger he would be come fall after he's fat on fish and/or berries.

 

[WAB]

Great bear for sure! Here is a nice boar in Alaska. Similar class animal.

 

[C.W. Richter]

You should consider Alaska.

largest density of Ursus Americanus and most generous season-also cheaper than CN (if guided)!! My son who resided there got 2 whoppers unguided (one brown phase). Generally speaking not quite as large as the biggest back home (where he has bagged many and there are no guides,) but big enough and color phases too! 879 lb'er. The Smoky Mtns. have some big ones as well w/ guides.

 

[WAB]

largest density of Ursus Americanus and most generous season-also cheaper than CN (if guided)!! My son who resided there got 2 whoppers unguided (one brown phase). Generally speaking not quite as large as the biggest back home (where he has bagged many and there are no guides,) but big enough and color phases too!

It really depends where you are at. Interior bears are smaller than coastal bears in my experience. I’ve seen a couple of honest 8’ black bear come out of the area we hunt.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

It really depends where you are at. Interior bears are smaller than coastal bears in my experience. I’ve seen a couple of honest 8’ black bear come out of the area we hunt.

Coastal bears have a protein rich all-ya-can-eat smorgasbord at the beach every time the tide goes out. It's no wonder they are much larger than interior black bears.

 

[pilar]

Agreed, but way above the OP stated price range.

Self Guided Black Bear hunting and King Salmon/Halibut fishing: $2,795.00 per person​

Prince of Wales, Kuiu and Kupreanof islands​

6 nights 5 days double occupancy. Guests will arrive at the lodge by boat. Includes transportation from Petersburg to the lodge, meals and lodging,

This doesn’t include airfare so might be pushing the budget, plus it’s per person x2

 

[coreydb]

I agree with Ed Lally. Newfoundland CA is supreme for inexpensive quality bear...and Moose. Coming from the EU, flights are cheapest going to the east vs the west of Canada. Since this is your first time I presume, here is the site I used https://www.huntingnewfoundlandlabrador.com.

 

[375Fox]

Self Guided Black Bear hunting and King Salmon/Halibut fishing: $2,795.00 per person​

Prince of Wales, Kuiu and Kupreanof islands​

6 nights 5 days double occupancy. Guests will arrive at the lodge by boat. Includes transportation from Petersburg to the lodge, meals and lodging,

This doesn’t include airfare so might be pushing the budget, plus it’s per person x2

I don’t believe that’s a legal option for non-resident aliens. The tags are also on a draw. I’ve done guided hunts on prince of wales island. If you aren’t familiar with that type of land there is a huge learning curve. A fall hunt in particular I think would be difficult without a guide trying to set up at the right place at last light for a bear to come into salmon streams. Thankfully no brown bears there.

 

[375Fox]

I think interior BC in spring gives you the best option for what you are looking for. Coastal Alaska and BC are great but produce bigger bears and cost more. Interior BC has smaller bears but the hunting is spot and stalk on logging or oil/gas roads when they green up in the spring before other areas and also clear cuts. I’d look up the outfitters listed on British Columbia’s guide outfitter association. You have a lot of time to find the right outfitter for 2026.

Home - GOABC Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia Canada

GOABC is a non-profit society established in 1966 to represent the guide outfitting industry in British Columbia, Canada

www.goabc.org

 

[pilar]

I don’t believe that’s a legal option for non-resident aliens. The tags are also on a draw. I’ve done guided hunts on prince of wales island. If you aren’t familiar with that type of land there is a huge learning curve. A fall hunt in particular I think would be difficult without a guide trying to set up at the right place at last light for a bear to come into salmon streams. Thankfully no brown bears there.

Yes you are correct a NR alien needs a guide, my oversight on the post
Luckily my best friend has worked for BP & conaco In dead horse for the last 15 years
So finding a resident sponsor is not a problem for the two of us

 

[Gemsbok45]

I done three hunts DIY on POW. Price of Wales island. Great times and took bug bears. Easy hunt to do.