Looking to take my daughter on a black bear hunt, and looking for recommendations. Over the counter tags preferably, affordable with a high opportunity rate. She’s 10 and it would be a great experience for both myself and her. Was looking into Maine but now I’m wondering if we should get up into Canada. Thanks for any advice and recommended outfitters.

John

Send a PM to BernieB on here. He will hook you up

Yes Bernie is best bet but I have hunted bear in 6 states and 2 provinces I have been to Ontario 4 times it is definitely the most cost effective and easy to get a tag

If you’re planning on coming up, I can my other brother Daryl is pretty good. Think he’s got 2 tags left for next spring. He had over 50 bait sites going this spring.

https://doaoutfitters.ca/manitoba-bear-hunts/

I’ll be following this ‘un.

NJ WE HAVE SOME SLAMMERS AND THERE LIKE COCROACHES THEY ARE EVERYWERE

How’s the tag availability ? I’ve been hearing what you’re saying.

Following

Foggy Mountain Guide Service. Charleston, Maine. 207-564-3404 give Brandon a call for 2026 Over bait and hound hunts

Follow.

Moosetrot

Consider Hyde-Dare Counties in Eastern NC.

These guys have a good success rate and had nice sized bears. Plus the fishing is good if you tag out. I would take my own boat for the fishing.

https://www.cozycamp.com/ontariohuntinglodge.htm

Virginia, over the counter tags and they are everywhere in the southwest part of the state. Eric

Eric, how's the mange situation there ? I've seen a lot of posts on FB from SWVA where the bears seem to have mange. But I understand that may not be truly representative.

I have never seen a bear in my area with the mange. I have multiple different bears on camera weekly and not one with mange. Eric

Good to know. Thank you.

You need to hunt Va to many for the farmers.

Amen red webb! They are a nuisance here.

I had good luck with adrenaline outfitters in Manitoba. You will tag out saw many bears on stand each day and I believe they cater to the younger hunters price wise.


https://adrenalineoutfitters.ca/

How’s the area for public land to hunt on or how hard to get permission on private property

Plenty of public land. I would think if farmers are having problems permission wouldn’t be an issue.

We were supposed to have moved to Lynchburg for my wife's job last year. Did not take long for her to recognize that company was rapidly unraveling. Moved her out there in January, moved her back in September. I'm so grateful that I didn't get the house sold ,as, she's been interviewed by fraud investigators due to the owners' shenanigans. A bullet was dodged.

But ! We loved the area ! Absolutely gorgeous and I loved seeing all the trucks with dog boxes. My kind of people. And I was really looking forward to the hunting opportunities, to include bears. Might go back to hunt. Breathtaking country.

[quoteVirginia, over the counter tags and they are everywhere in the southwest part of the state. Eric][/quote]

All true, I even have them on my own property every spring, but of course no spring season for bear here. The bigger problem is that there is no hunting over bait and the forest is thick.

I have hunted bear in Maine and in Idaho. It's a lot longer trip but I would recommend a spring hunt in northern Idaho. For many of the northern hunt areas you can get two OTC tags for about $84 total and there is a high percentage of color phase bears. Hunting over bait in Maine you will be in a tree overlooking a bait site a short distance away in thick, dark, conifer forest. There is no view and mosquitos abound (a Thermacell is a must have). The terrain and flora is much different in northern Idaho. It is still conifer forest but more mountainous and open and I don't remember any mosquitos. PM me if you would like to know the outfitter I used. He was recommended to me by a Trapperman member.

https://www.stonybrookoutfitters.com/

They have a lodge in Maine and in New Brunswick. I have hunted with them 4 times in Canada. Bob and his wife Jaye run a great operation. The Canada lodge is right on a beautiful lake with good fishing.


And to answer the NJ questions... tags are $2. It is a lottery, but there are always OTC available as we have a big allotment. It's the north western corner of the state... open for Archery for a week in October (3 days muzzleloader tacks on here), and shotgun for a week in December. Lots of BIG bears. They recently changed the baiting rules (distance) and that makes it... a little bit harder. Depending on where you are, it could be like shooting fish in a barrel. Be leary of outfitters, we have very few and not all are clean.

You can shoot two fall bears in Oregon for about $200 non-resident. No bait or hounds. Plenty of berry patches and old apple orchards though on public land and way too many bears.

Thanks for the replies, really good information here

over the counter pretty much guaranteed tag

Much of MN is lottery areas and it can take several years to get drawn.

I don't guide, don't hunt bear but live in a no quota area where tags are over the counter. There are some guides north of me who do pretty good. If youre interested I can send info.

Our season opens in a few weeks so this year might be out of the question