We offer guided bear hunts for trophy black bears over bait sites in our exclusive non-resident hunting area which is 500,000 acres (over 700 square miles). We have a very healthy population of bears in our area including many trophy bears and a variety of color phases, including chocolate, cinnamon, blonde and other variations. Our remote hunting area has vast amounts of rich forests, lakes, creeks, swamps, and cuts which allows bears to mature and grow to trophy size.
Spring hunts typically start the third week of May, and fall hunts start at the end of August or start of September. The Manitoba rule is to have a minimum one guide for every three hunters. In many cases we will have two hunters per guide but it is also common for us to be one on one with the hunter. Hunters typically see many bears and have multiple chances to harvest a mature bear. We spend the time with you to understand what it takes for your hunt to be considered a success and we do everything possible to meet those goals. It is very common to get an opportunity at your target bear but it is up to you to make a lethal shot on the animal. Sometimes mother nature can put a damper on your hunt but we can assure you that our rule at Clearwater Outfitters is to do everything in our power to make your hunt successful.
The majority of our bait sites have been established for years. They are placed in remote areas and in strategic spots well spread out from each other in order to prevent bears from jumping back and forth on bait sites. This is controllable as we are the only outfitter in the area. We bait well in advance of our hunters arriving to make sure that our bait sites are active for then. Baiting ahead of time, and using trail cameras enables us to keep track of what bears are hitting what baits so we can put you on the right bear. The scents and variety of bait we use are all high quality to keep the bears hitting the bait as much as possible.
A typical bait site will have an angled open barrel as well as a roller barrel that is placed 12 to 18 yards from the tree stand. We also mark the trees to help judge the size of the bears better. Bait sites are also equipped with double ladder stands that are comfortable and large. The stands have ample room for a single hunter, but can accommodate two people if desired. With plenty of cover surrounding the majority of our baits, a ground blind is also an option if necessary. Whether at camp or at the lodge, all of our baits are accessed by ATV and are located in our exclusive outfitting area which ensures little to no other hunting pressure.
If you take a shot at a bear, our policy is that we will make every possible effort to recover your bear. However, if we cannot find the bear, we consider it wounded. At this point you have two options. You can end your hunt and consider your bear tag filled, or continue your hunt after paying an additional $500 wounding fee. Why a wounding fee? We don’t like to see a hunter have their hunt stopped without getting a bear but we also don’t like wounding bears. We put many hours into trying to find you a trophy bear to harvest and when a bear is wounded, you have either killed or educated the bear and eliminated a bear from our bait sites. This fee is in place to encourage the hunter to think about their shot wisely, as well as to account for the time and resources we have to spend searching for wounded bears and finding a new bait for the hunter if necessary. We understand that wounding animals is sometimes inevitable and is a part of hunting, but to minimize wounding please practice prior to your arrival, take your time, and make a clean ethical shot.
Black Bear Hunts Gallery
