Black bear outfitter recommendations

[Pigskin]

Would love to hear some good input on which outfitters to go with, looking to go up in Canada somewhere,

 

[Joseph2186]

Mikes outfitting in Alberta saw probably 35 to 40 bears in the 4 days I hunted. Took two big p&y bears.

 

[JMDavies]

Are you looking to spot and stalk or barrel hunt?

 

[Pigskin]

I spot and stalk here in the US, looking for a barrel hunt in Canada

 

[JMDavies]

Marshland Outfitters in Saskatchewan. Big bear and tons of color phase. I've hunted with them a couple of times and don't have a bad thing to say. Great accommodations and a no nonsense operation.

 

[Rancher]

As stated Mikes Outfitting in Alberta.Great guy,lots of good bears.Eagle Eye Outfitting is run by Mikes head guide,Kyle Mudge.I have hunted with Kyle,and will again if this dam virus will lay down.Can't go wrong with either of these guys.

 

[WRO]

Tim pickett kills tons of big bears in Oregon during spring season spot and stalk. 0 point draw.

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[TheGDog]

For somebody that longingly watches the videos of people who are lucky enough to be able to live-in.. or travel... to these places where they actually let people be intelligent and bait for bears in barrels... what's the range in cost? And do the places also coordinate the air travel? Or does the person, after they book the hunt, have to handle scheduling the air travel to get there? Looking to learn how much a person would have to save up for one of those hunts.

 

[Joseph2186]

Cost often depends on where you go and also the quality of the bears they have in the area you get what you pay for. Make sure you do your homework on outfitters call references, be leery if all their gallery photos look like they are from the 80s and 90s. That being said every hunt ive been on I have had to book my own travel to get to the area and the outfitter has either picked me up at the airport, or at a near by hotel the next morning. Then they handle transportation for the duration of the hunt then bring me back to the airport for flight home.

 

[Bobcat]

As WRO said, Tim Pickett (Southern Oregon Outfitters) kills big bears. I’ve hunted with him twice and learned a lot. Killed 2 bears, 18 3/4” & 19 9/16”.

 

[gearguywb]

We (wife and I) are looking at options for next year. We'll see how it goes and the kind of feedback we get.

 

[207-12A]

If barrel hunting is on your list check out PB Guide Service in Maine. I used to guide for them they’re good people

 

[TheGDog]

If barrel hunting is on your list check out PB Guide Service in Maine. I used to guide for them they’re good people

I'm curious... when you leave working for an operation as a guide... do they make you sign an agreement stating something to the effect of you won't then guide people into those same areas on your own? Or is it that all these outfits own the land privately, so that's not an issue?

 

[207-12A]

I won’t speak for other states, but a good portion of western and northern Maine is owned by timber companies that allow public access. Guides pay those timber companies for exclusive rights to run their outfit in certain sections. So we had some bait sites on public and but most on “private”. You couldn’t run an outfit right off of the area that another guide service was already established.

 

[Rancher]

Gearguy,I went to Alberta last year,and shot a 19 3/4 inch bear with my xbow that squared 7'1".The hunt was 3500.,air fare from Az.550.and the tip for the guide and cook.Had a great time,food,camp,and the experience was awesome.Was rebooked for June 1st this year,and I choose to push it back to next year which was wise as Canada shut down the border due to covid.I went year before last and passed on 11 bears as I have killed 3 in Az.and wanted a big one.Eagle Eye Outfitting is a little cheaper than Mikes Outfitting,but you will have a great hunt either way,as they both work together.You can get a second tag for about an extra 1000.

 

[Joseph2186]

Kyle's operation is alot like mikes. I meet him on my mule deer hunt stand up guy cant go wrong with either of them.

 

[TheGDog]

What does a customary tip for guide and cook look like, usually?

 

[Trial153]

What does a customary tip for guide and cook look like, usually?

Around 10% give or take for the guide and about 150 or so for the cook.

 

[TheGDog]

Whom handles the skull and hide? I'm guessing some local to them outfit. Are their costs included in the hunt? What are those costs, roughly?

 

[Joseph2186]

They skinned my bears out and cleaned alot of fat off the hid then froze the in a large chest freezer in coolers along with the skulls and i just took them home on the plane as checked bags. But it depends where you go what they do.