Where's a good place to go spring bear hunting?

[teddy12b]

I've never been on a spring bear hunt.  Does anyone know where a good place to do something like that would be.  Is spring bear hunting mostly spot and stalk?

[Graybeard]

That would depend more on where you hunt than when you hunt. In the eastern US and Canada I think most hunting is over bait but out west again in both US and Canada it is more likely to be spot and stalk due to the more open terrain. Many locations do not allow baiting anymore.

Since I've never hunted bear I really have no recommendations on specifically where to hunt them but I do have a suggestion on how to find where. Bear Hunting magazine is the official sponsor of this forum and they have a wealth of knowledge and experience at their disposal. Why not click the banner at the top of this forum and go to their site and see what information you can gain there. That plus whatever folks post here to help should get you some good info on where to go and who to hunt with.

[teddy12b]

GB,
     I clicked on the banner this morning to renew my subscription for another 3 years.  I really enjoy their magazines and I'm still trying to read through all the information on their website.  I was hoping someone would say they had been to a specific place and had a good time there or could recommend an outfitter.  I wasn't sure if baiting worked in the spring time, because I thought they just got up and ate the first food source they'd find.  I have a lot of reading to do on spring bear hunting.

[Rev Buck]

teddy, baiting actually works better in the spring than it does in the fall.  In the spring they emerge hungry and do not have as much natural food as in the fall.  I know of some outfitters in Quebec, Manitoba, and New Brunswick if you're interested in a spring hunt in Canada.  Have also been on a spot-and-stalk hunt in Montana but it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.  They do not allow bating in Montana but they do in Idaho.  I understand Idaho has some very good bear hunting but I have never been there.  Send me a pm if you want some names in Canada.  Quebec and New Brunswick will be less expensive, but Manitoba will generally have bigger bears and also some color phase.  Good luck, Rev

[Cabin4]

British Columbia, Alaska, Idaho in that order.

Central BC is by far the best anywhere. I will be in Idaho in the northern pan handle this spring. The area I will be hunting is spot & stalk only, no baiting allowed. Plenty of bear including griz ( no hunting for griz). But the griz are there thats why baiting is not allowed in the pan handle.

[teddy12b]

Does anyone know of a place closer to indiana.  I've been doing some reading, largely from Bear Hunting Magazine about where to go on a spring bear hunt.  I'm getting kind of confused though.  There are a couple places that say they do spring bear hunts in Quebec, but there addresses and lodges are located in Ontario?  I know I need to do more reading and more homework, but if anyone knows a shortcut I'd appreciate it.

[leadbutt]

Teddy there are a couple of places in North Carolina , one has just started on bears but has them in spades so to speak.






http://www.dplacellc.com/home.html   here is a web site for it

[teddy12b]

Thanks for the link.  I'll check it out!

[Rev Buck]

Quebec is closest to you for a spring hunt.  Ontario as you know lost their spring hunt years ago.  Here's a fellow in Quebec who is doing right well.  A friend of mine went there last spring and got one first day about 285 pounds with a bow.  I am considering them for this spring.  Here's a link: WWW.AUBERGEDESONZERAPIDES.COM
I can show you where to find some references for him also.  Good luck, Rev

[teddy12b]

I'll look into that website.  I'm still trying to do my homework on this.  I got bear fever last season and I can't quit thinking about bear hunting.

[bhod1]

Teddy,
I went to New Brunswick last spring.  There are lots of bears in the area we were hunting.  Spring bear are smaller than in the fall, but the pelt and the meat are far better. You do see many more bear in the spring than in the fall.

My wife and I are both going this spring.  The guide  I hunt with is a small operation, but they get real good bears every year. Relatively inexpensive also. I can give you more info if you would like. Shoot me a PM or an e-mail: bchchod@securespeed.us

This was mine from last spring, he went 335lb dressed.




Barry

[wyocarp]

Teddy, the west is only a days drive from Indiana.  Idaho is what I'd call a hunter friendly state.  They allow bait and dogs.  I've shot bears in Idaho, although close to Wyoming and I think they were lost Wyoming bears (since I am from Wyoming).  I talked with a guy that had come back from a hunt in Idaho a couple of years ago over bait and his only saw one small bear.  While I had seen a lot with the spot and stalk method.  Arizona is supposed to have some nice bears and that is a place I haven't hunted bears yet.