Newfoundland Bear

[Short Track]

Is it worth adding a bear tag onto my NL Moose hunt ?
I already have a bear rug, so it's not like I'm looking for another bear. I wouldn't eat it anyway......
and I wouldn't want to scare off Moose with shooting a bear 1st....

Are bears plentiful up there ?

 

[adamkolesar]

I wouldn't bother with a bear tag. Especially if you're all set with a rug, and not interested in eating the meat. I bought a tag on my trip and didn't see a bear the whole week despite a 10 day old gut pile 50 yards from the cabin's front door. Your area May differ. Just Sayin'.

 

[Short Track]

That's my feeling... It would just be a trophy hunt... nothing more. I ate my 1st bear, and it was a good eating bear; but I wouldn't eat another one. I'd have to do a shoulder mount, and give away the meat.. I'd rather shoot a cow moose. That would get eaten

 

[MallardMaster]

Agree. I was going to purchase a tag, but didn't want that to detract from my hunt. So I donated my tag fees to my buddy to go on a mission trip. I felt like that was a better use of the funds. I didn't see a bear when I was there, but the other guy in camp did see one, and was going to shoot it until the guide say a spike bull....which he told the guy in camp to shoot. I personally felt like that was a horrible mistake to shoot a spike bull, but I wasn't in that moment.
Just remember that you cannot buy a tag after your hunt starts. It sounds like it is a 'Hard No' for you here with the bear tag, but wanted to mention that.

 

[PA Hunter]

We usually get one bear each trip from my group of four hunters and they are huge, last one over 500 one before 400 plus. I forgot about another one over 400 also. I hunt an hour or so from Deer Lake.

 

[Short Track]

We did see some bears. Not too big, but scat everywhere. They are all berry eating bears, probably taste good.

 

[JES]

I'm considering a moose/bear combo, but from the sounds of this thread it may be best to stay away from the extra cost of the bear tag. Good thread.