Starting point for black bear hunt?

[MeekandMild]

Just supposing I manage to buy my 45-70, what would be the logical starting point to work up plans for a bear hunt?

Which is better Maine or out west, or are there other places to hunt? I've never seen any legal bear hunting south of the Mason-Dixon line but it would be really nice to find a place to go closer to home. Canada is entirely out. I'm allergic to air travel and don't want the hassles of border crossing with a rifle.

Are there places where a newby can go without a guide or is that just a waste of time? Where can you find a taxidermist experianced in bears?

???

 

[Stand_Watie]

Meekandmild, I crossposted your question to another forum where I know of at least one Maine black bear hunter. Hopefully he'll have a response for you...




http://nugeboard.tednugent.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/003854.html

 

[mete]

Black bear populations have been on the increase. Pennsylvania last year harvested over 3000 bear ,the biggest three were over 800 lbs. The 45-70 is an exellent choice and I would recommend the winchester 300 Partition or the PMC 350 for bear.

 

[MeekandMild]

Thanks Stand, checking your post on the other forum, runningdumb said that they may outlaw bear hunting in Maine November 04. Thats a scary thought, but maybe not so much. He also mentioned guides. I wonder where you'd start meeting and hiring a guide?

mete, where would a person start if they wanted to hunt bear in Pennsylvania? Are there guides there who do bear hunts?

I have done some online looking about 45-70 ammo and have read about PMC. I'm a great fan of Winchester and have shot their ammo in various calibers for years. Looks like a bear hunter would want to stay away from anything related to cowboy action shooting and original loads.

 

[Stand_Watie]

Meek, I don't hunt bear - I think they are attempting to ban hunting with dogs and over bait which I believe does account for a majority of bears taken. I don't know the odds of the ban occuring - Maine is a very pro-hunting state. If it does occur, I suspect that either the ban will be repealed within a few years, or other methods of encouraging hunters to take up bear hunting will be employed. The eco-freaks from out of state haven't completely taken over yet. I ate a roast from a black bear my grand uncle killed about 25 years ago.

I've got some kin living up there now, I'll try to get a recommendation of a guide service that won't skin you. It might take a while, but I'll bump it back up when I get it.

 

[mete]

Can't help you with the PA bear hunt. You might contact the PA game commision in Harrisburg. Across the border here in NY I had one knock on my door ,literally, last year . Ihave also seen them swim across the river to go to PA...If someone wants to post a picture for me I'll send a photo of a PA bear I first saw from 15".

 

[Oracle]

Georgia has a bear season, last year's Northern Zone firearms bear season ran from Oct. 18-Nov.23. No hunting with dogs or over bait is allowed, and no taking of females under 75lbs or females with cubs allowed. All that was necessary was a hunting license and a big game license (which covers bear, deer, and turkey during their respective seasons).

 

[Tom Held]

Western Bear Hunt

I had a successful bear hunt last fall in Idaho (Whitebird area) with Boulder Creek Outfitters, owner is Tim Craig. I saw 21 black/brown bears in 5 days. This is a fair-chase, spot and stalk hunt, no baited stands. There were 4 hunters in the party and everyone eventually shot a nice bear. Two were brown phase, one cinnamon, and one Boone and Crockett black. The western bears are not as big as PA bears but larger than Maine. 300 to 400 pounds is a nice once and they will average 6 to 7 feet.
It's a challenging hunt and somewhat physically demanding.

45-70 with the 300 grain bullet would be very good if you could get close enough for iron sights. Most of the shots were 250 to 350 yards across canyons. The exception was a big brown killed by a 74 year old Wisconsin hunter who killed his at about 150 yards (they took him in on a Kawasaki Mule).

I've never hunted in Maine but I believe most of the bears are taken over bait at very close distances. I guess that's bear hunting.

I would recommend that outfitter and a young taxidermist that we found in Lewiston, Idaho not far away.

 

[birddog]

Maine

I've been to Maine 4 times, and killed 2 bears with the rifle. This year I'm returning with the bow. Though I am hunting with a friend of mine, I would HIGHLY recommend Corey at the link below.

http://www.straightarrowoutfitters.com/bear.htm

He's also a friend of mine, and has access to some of the biggest bears in the state.

Leave some time for fishing and sightseeing. You'll fall in love with Maine.

Good luck!

Joel