FALL BLACK BEARS OVER BAIT OR HOUNDS – MAINE #207

Many of Hunt Nation’s clients hail from east of the Mississippi, so we are always on the lookout for great new opportunities that are a bit closer to home for these folks. So when this operation approached us in early 2018 about partnering with them to market their Maine bear hunts, we were all ears.

Besides being outfitters, they consider themselves to be an education, entertainment and hospitality company. Providing extraordinary outdoor adventures, including great service, attention to details, and high quality in every aspect of their operation (including the food and lodging) is their focus. That’s exactly the kind of folks Hunt Nation looks for. And previous clients of theirs seem to agree:

“Just a short note to say thank you for such a fantastic hunting experience! I saw more black bears that 1st day than I had seen in the woods in a lifetime. The experience of that black bear going up that birch tree directly in front of me like it was an express elevator, ‘jaw popping’ all the way, eventually calming down and coming back down almost directly below me, and hanging around, apparently not detecting my presence (or at least no longer alarmed by it!) was ‘worth the price of admission’ all by itself. Your accommodations are excellent, and the food was outstanding. You, and all of your staff, are professional, friendly and very knowledgeable. This hunt was the best gift my son, Mike, could have ever given me, and the shared memories we will cherish for a lifetime. To be able to take my first ever black bear, and do it with bow & arrow, was truly awesome. A special thank you to Henry for tracking and getting out my bear. I sincerely hope to be able to use your services at a future date. Your operation is ‘top shelf’, and I tell everyone to book a hunt with you.” – Alex, Corning NY

Hunts are conducted on almost 100 square miles of exclusive territory in a remote but scenic area of Maine wilderness (some stands are accessible only by boat). Only fall hunts are offered, but you can choose to hunt either over bait or using hounds, and any legal weapon is welcome. The outfitter himself has been a registered guide in Maine since the age of 18, so he’s got lots of experience, and this results in about 80% of clients getting a bear. Bears range from 4.5’ to 7’ and weigh 140 to 300 lbs.; now and then a 400-500 lbs. bear is taken, generally with the hounds.

When you’re not bear hunting, fishing and grouse or goose hunting (when in season) are available. Families and other on-hunting guests are welcome too, and the available fishing, ATV tours, trap shooting, archery course and boating will give them plenty to do while you’re hunting.

BAITED HUNTS
The Maine black bear is smart, so the staff work hard to position bait sites so they are too attractive for the big bears to pass up. They invest great effort to find good habitat, and consider hunting variables like approach to the stand and wind direction, and also use trail cameras to ensure they are putting all clients on active baits. You will head for your hunting stand after lunch each day and sit until dark. You’ll be provided with a two-way radio to notify your guide once you have harvested a bear, so you don’t need to wait needlessly in your bear stand. These hunts start the last week of August and run to mid-September. There is no Sunday hunting in Maine.

“Just wanted to drop a note of thanks. What an adventure. We loved every minute of it. We are back in PA today. While we have a nice home and view, we miss what you have there. It’s not just the cabins, the view of the lake, the wonderful dinners, or the people we met there. I think for us it was your dedication to make our stay top notch. It was amazing how all of the people in camp got along so well. Bernie, Tom, Mark, and Dennis were all great guests. We will never forget Nathan, Rick, Jason, and most of all Audrey. Again, thanks for my first bear hunt and truly a great hunt.” – Greg, Laura & Otto, PA

HUNTS WITH HOUNDS
This is a fast-paced, high-adrenaline bear hunt. Hounds help hunters harvest the largest bears in the woods – nocturnal bruins that avoid bait sites during daytime hours. Success rates are high and trophy bears are common. Although the terrain is challenging, this hunt is not as physical as many hound hunts because logging roads improve access to remote habitat.

Well-trained hounds track bears from active bait sites that are monitored by trail cameras. Bears are pursued to their hiding places so you can get a shot at your trophy. These hunts start in mid-September, after the baited hunts are finished, and continue into early October. There is no Sunday hunting in Maine.

2024 PRICING (subject to change without notice until deposit received)

Baited Hunts, 5 Days: $3,150 per person (meals and accommodations included)
Week 1 – August 25- August 31 (4 spots)
Week 2 – September 1-7 (4 spots)
Week 3 – September 8-14 (8 spots)

EXTRAS:
$400 for water-access only hunt (subject to availability). $1,000 for non-hunting guests. $600 for single occupancy. $1,300 for non-hunting observers. $400 for a morning of goose hunting, September only (6 bird limit). $400 for a morning of musky fishing (2-person minimum). $1,800 for private 1×1 guide (normally there are up to 6 clients per guide at the start of each week) and transportation during the week. $250 round trip transportation from Presque Isle Airport or hotels.

INCLUDED:
Accommodations, 3 meals a day (with meal plan option), 6 nights’ stay, 5 days of guided hunting from modern tree stands or blinds, use of 5-watt private channel two-way radios for communication with the guide during the hunt, safety and hunting orientation meeting, and use of canoes and kayaks. The guide will help recover and field dress your bear, drive you to the tagging station, and to the butcher. He will also transport the hide to a local taxidermist.

NOT INCLUDED:
9% Maine sales tax, transportation to the lodge, license & bear tag (approx. $200 for non-resident), skinning, butchering, taxidermy, airport transportation, and gratuities. Airport transportation from Presque Isle is $100 each way. The butcher will handle skinning for around $75-$350 and process, vacuum pack, and freeze the animal for around $1 per pound. He will also freeze the hide in a box or they can transport it to a local taxidermist. Insulated shipping boxes are available at about $30 each, and packing and FEDEX shipping services are also available.

Hound Hunts

3-day hunts September 8-24 – $4,500 per person. Minimum 2 hunters.

EXTRAS:
Hound/bait combo hunt add $500 per person. $900 for non-hunting guests staying in camp, or $1,300 for such guests joining as an observer in the field.

INCLUDED:
The American Plan includes 3-day guided hound hunt, up to 5 days’/6 nights’ accommodations (the exact hunt dates vary as each hunt begins when dogs and handlers become available) and 3 meals a day, and use of canoes and kayaks. The guide will help recover and field dress your bear, drive you to the tagging station and to the butcher. He will also transport the hide to a local taxidermist.

LICENSES

Please purchase in advance a hunting license and bear permit online from Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife’s online system called MOSES: https://moses.informe.org/cgi-bin/online/moses_v3/index.

If you plan to hunt and fish, purchase a Combination Hunting & Fishing License
If you are just bear hunting, purchase a Big Game Hunting License along with a Bear Permit
If you are hunting with a bow, purchase an Archery Hunting License along with a Bear Permit
If you plan to do some goose hunting, purchase a Migratory Waterfowl Hunting Permit plus a Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp available at any US Post Office

PAYMENT TERMS

A 50% deposit is required upon booking, payable to Hunt Nation. The balance is due by June 30 for baited hunts, and 30 days before your trip for hound hunts. The outfitter will send you an invoice.

ACCOMMODATIONS

You will be staying in a comfortable lakeside log cabin with private bath, on the shores of a large lake. Meals featuring Maine lobster and prime meats are served in an historic and licensed dining hall in the lodge. The lodge has satellite phone and internet service for your use, but the connection can be poor at times.

GETTING THERE

Drive or fly to Presque Isle, Maine. United Airlines offers a non-stop from Newark, New Jersey to Presque Isle (PQI), which is just 45 miles from camp. The outfitter will pick you up from there for the 90-minute truck ride to the camp for $75 each way, per person. Another option is to fly to Bangor, Maine (BGR) and rent a car for the 3 to 4-hour drive. Bangor is served by Delta, American, and others. Portland, Maine (PWM) is 5 hours by car and is served by discount airlines. The outfitter can even arrange charter flights and, weather permitting, a transfer to a float plane for the trip to camp.

ONCE YOU HAVE BOOKED THIS TRIP, PLEASE REMEMBER TO ASK US FOR A SUGGESTED PACKING LIST, DIRECTIONS, AND LIST OF FAQ.

MOOSE
Maine over the last 5 years has steadily upped the number of Moose permits, from barely 2000 in 2017 up to 3,480 for 2021! THESE GUYS CAN HELP YOU APPLY!!
These guys are in Hunt Nation’s opinion the premier moose outfitter in Maine. If you happen to draw one of the coveted moose tags, are would like some assistance in applying (deadline is mid-May), look no further. Their standard moose hunt is just $8,000 per person 1×1 for a 6-day hunt, including food and lodging, but they also offer outpost hunts and can even custom-tailor a moose hunt to your desires (pricing will vary). They can do hunts from private land, special VIP hunts etc- with prices ranging from about $7500 for an outpost hunt, up to $15,000 for VIP treatment and private areas.

A limited number of tags were recently approved by the Maine Legislature and are only available from select lodges. These were offered for the first time ever in 2019. Tags are available in Maine’s most productive moose zones. Book for 2024 today, or get on our waiting list for 2025 or 2026.

CURRENTLY TWO TAGS FOR 2024 ARE AVAILABLE! you can avoid the draws- but they cost.
SPECIAL: Currently for 2024 they have 2 tags available at $26,900 for the guided hunt, plus tax. CALL US FAST!!

Tactics: Being about the best outfits in Maine for moose means this: running 150 trail cams just for moose; then running them 6 months of the year. Results are about 80% kill on moose and 100% opportunity on a bull, but some years weather can slow things down of course. But they have been doing this over 20 years with several hundred bulls taken. With cows and bulls they do 30 or more moose hunts a year. These guys go nuts over moose! They do tons of shed hunting (some are immense rivaling Alaska). They set out about 150 trail cams and run them from June to the end of December to key in on big bulls and prime areas. Thousands of pictures tell it all! They also do airplane. You will get to experience calling, spot and stalk and all in areas they know big bulls are in. IN 2021 THEY TOOK A 64.5” GIANT!

Lodging for Moose hunts: Varies with the Zone you are drawn for, but always this outfit exceeds expectations on everything within their control. They own multiple lodges all with comfortable beds, hot showers and top notch food and comfort.

SPRING BLACK BEAR HUNTS IN NEW BRUNSWICK

This outfitter is now also offering spring and fall hunts in northwestern New Brunswick in a 200-square mile remote territory that has never been commercially hunted. Accommodations are in an off-the-grid luxury lodge and cabins, with gourmet meals. Hunts are mainly over bait (about 50 bait sites), but calling and spot & stalk may also be utilized as the boars will be rutting at this time. Maximum 10 hunters in camp at a time. They also offer a limited number of deer and moose hunts (please inquire).

5-day fall hunts are $3,495 USD per person. 5-day spring hunts are $3,650 USD each for 3×1 guiding. VIP hunts with a 1×1 guide to call in bears and judge trophy quality is $5,995 USD. 2nd bear is $1,500 USD. Price includes taxes, but does not include license (approx. $120) or transportation to camp from local airport ($250 USD each way).

DATES: June 7-20

GROUSE/WOODCOCK GUIDED BIRD HUNTING: a true bargain!!
Stroll along gravel roads and old tote roads, enjoy New England fall colors, watch the work of the English setters or Brittanies, and jump when ole Mr. Ruffed Grouse takes to his booming flight! Shoot towering woodcock and enjoy a very comfortable deep woods Maine sporting camp, sitting right on the Lake. Seasons run into December here, but best are October and November. Three nights lodging, meals, fully guided with trained dogs just $1,895 per person. They report an amazing 25 to 40 or more flushes a day on grouse, plus woodcock as a bonus! Even ducks may be available to hunt. Add 9% sales tax and 18% resort tax. Small game license is only about $46 for 3 days.