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FL, USA
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Posted: 4/27/2015 3:23:05 PM EDT
I would like to go some time this year up in Maine and it will be my first bear hunt. I think that I would like to hunt over bait but I am open to hunting with dogs. I will be using a .308 or a 30/30 lever gun. I was hoping that some of you might have some info/recommendations on a good guide service and any info for a new bear hunter
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Posted: 4/27/2015 7:36:55 PM EDT
[#1]
I lived in Maine for a few years, you'll need to head up to northern Maine for a decent bear, by decent I mean anything over 250lbs, which is small in my eyes. I'd probably use a .308 just for the fact that ammo variety is plentiful. Any good bonded bullet is good. Granted the woods are so think shots of 100+ yards are rare. Make sure the wind favors you as bears have excellent noses and you'll do ok. I am not sure if baiting is legal in maine so actually seeing one can be tough. But a bear skin rug is never out of style.
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Posted: 4/28/2015 12:43:55 AM EDT
[#2]
I think if I was going to pay for a lower 48 guided bear hunt, it be Idaho.
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Posted: 4/28/2015 1:58:34 PM EDT
[#3]
I agree, except I went to Western WY......in sight of Idaho but technically still in WY.
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Posted: 4/30/2015 6:48:21 PM EDT
[#4]
Maine has great bear hunting but like said above , they arnt huge. You may be disappointed to see nothing but 100 lb bears sitting for a week over bait. Hounds have a much better chance seeing a big bear in Maine but not guaranteed . I shot a 340 dressed in northern Maine and it took me till the Very last day of the hunt.
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MO, USA
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Posted: 5/5/2015 12:20:38 PM EDT
[#5]
Squapan Mountain Outfitters! I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with them again!!!
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Posted: 5/17/2015 9:21:31 AM EDT
[#6]
I did a dog bear hunt in Maine several years ago.
Even though I got a bear on the last day I Can't recommend the guide. The hounds men from West Virginia and North Carolina were great and were the only reason I got one. The guide did nothing for me. Mine was 260 pounds and I got to say that after getting a rug I would not want a bigger one. They take up a lot of room. We chased small bears all week 50 to 100 pounds. The little ones don't tree. One even jumped in a lake and started swimming. We were able to grab a row boat from a lake house and rowed next to the bear. Lots of fun. The guild and hounds man had a fight and were not going to hunt on the last day. I went to their camp and asked them to hunt for me and they did. The guide from the camp, not the owner, was a dick to me when we were catching up to the dogs when the bear treed. He said really stupid stuff to me like " you better get your shit together. You got to shoot this bear and not fuck up" and other shit I can't remember. I asked him if the bear was going to have a gun. That shut him up. It was a very easy shot to the head with a 35 Whelen. Could have used a 22 magnum. |
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Posted: 5/27/2015 10:03:37 AM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By mike103:
I did a dog bear hunt in Maine several years ago. Even though I got a bear on the last day I Can't recommend the guide. The hounds men from West Virginia and North Carolina were great and were the only reason I got one. The guide did nothing for me. Mine was 260 pounds and I got to say that after getting a rug I would not want a bigger one. They take up a lot of room. We chased small bears all week 50 to 100 pounds. The little ones don't tree. One even jumped in a lake and started swimming. We were able to grab a row boat from a lake house and rowed next to the bear. Lots of fun. The guild and hounds man had a fight and were not going to hunt on the last day. I went to their camp and asked them to hunt for me and they did. The guide from the camp, not the owner, was a dick to me when we were catching up to the dogs when the bear treed. He said really stupid stuff to me like " you better get your shit together. You got to shoot this bear and not fuck up" and other shit I can't remember. I asked him if the bear was going to have a gun. That shut him up. It was a very easy shot to the head with a 35 Whelen. Could have used a 22 magnum. now a days a non resident hounds man cant hunt without a Maine guide by their side. my hunt was similar but without the fighting. i could tell the hounds man and guide had different opinions but they kept cool most of the week. i gota say i couldnt have done it without these hounds man though, they really did their work. |
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