Our upcoming 5-day hunts are as follows:

• September 9 (5 days) Cost is $1500
• September 14 (5 days) Cost is $1500
• Maximum 10 Hunters for all of 2026

***All hunts require 50% down and the rest will be collected upon arrival***

The temperatures can be warm during the day and cool off in the evenings. Time is not our friend if the weather is warm or wet, and it’s crucial to get your bear field dressed and out of the woods as soon as possible so it can be cooled down. Depending on the time of day, we may pack the chest cavity with ice jugs. If I have room in the freezer, it may work best to drop it in for a couple of hours to get the temperature down.  The goal is to cool it down, not to freeze it before it is registered and sealed.  It all depends on the situation, which we can work through together.

I can cape your Bear or Skin for a Rug for an additional fee, so you can prepare your bear to be dropped off with your local taxidermist.

If you are going to have me mount your trophy, I can skin your bear or prep it for processing whether you are going to drop it off to be butchered locally or you are going to cut it up yourself.

Meat cutting and packaging are available locally – I will have a list upon your arrival. They are located just west of Bruce Crossing, Greenland, and Wakefield.

You can get your bear registered and sealed at Settler’s Co-op, just down the road in Bruce Crossing, during their hours of operation.

You must provide your own lodging and meals.

Camping – a small campground is located just down the road in Bruce Crossing.

Motel – Adventure Motel – Mass City, MI 906-883-3520

Resort – Lac Vieux Desert’s Northern Waters Casino Watersmeet, MI 1-800-895-2505

Roughing it – We are surrounded by thousands of acres of public land, where you can camp for free during your hunt.  There are also some rustic campgrounds nearby that generally have a hand pump water well and pit toilet.

The month of September in the west end of the upper peninsula is very unpredictable. The weather can range from clouds with snow to sunny skies and 90 degrees. Be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws at us, as the weather can change rapidly on any given day. Bring clothing that can cover you in all situations so you’re comfortable when you’re hunting.

You are required to meet the hunter’s orange requirement if hunting with a firearm. For my guide insurance, all hunters utilizing a tree stand MUST use a safety belt/harness system, which you are required to provide for yourself. I will provide a list of items to have with you when I send you the contract. (flashlight, compass or GPS, headlamp, knife, Thermacel, etc…) NOTE – Most hunting locations have limited cell phone coverage, if any at all.

Keep yourself and your hunting clothes as scent-free as possible.

If you have any health restrictions, whether medical including (allergy to bee stings) or physical, that may limit your ability to walk longer distances, up and down steep hills, or over uneven ground, I need to know this when you sign up. This information will help me get the right set up for you.

Your physical ability and the bear activity will determine the location you will be provided to hunt. Some stands are within a short walking distance of a forest road, while others are miles from the road access. If you are unable to walk a long distance, you may need to bring an ORV/ATV to reach your blind – ORV licensing and helmet laws apply. NOT all hunting locations are accessible by ORV/ATV and still require a walk to access the hunt site.

Plan on hunting all day if you are able. Bears are most active in the afternoon into the evening! The last 30 minutes of legal hunting hours are always the best. Coming out of the woods too early will disrupt the bear’s normal movement pattern, which may last for days afterward.

Hunters will be positioned at a bait site, which attracts the bears. Most hunt locations are set up with a double-wide ladder stand, which is generally located within 15 to 30 yards from the bait. My bait sites are monitored with trail cameras.  I expect you to go with me the morning before the start of your hunt to your designated site. This will allow you to orient yourself to the location and also the hunt site. You will be responsible for getting yourself to and from your hunting location during your hunt, whether by foot or ORV/ATV, if allowed and applicable.

I supply a double-wide tree stand that is 12 – 15 feet off the ground, a drop line to haul your gear up and down to the stand, and a seat cushion. You MUST supply your own safety harness when using the tree stand. I also have a couple of ground blinds if you require this accommodation, which are pop-up blinds that I can also brush in. Bears like to knock them down, so you may end up sitting in a brush blind. If you need a ground blind, let me know when you sign up.  Bring a comfortable lawn chair and shooting sticks if you choose to hunt from the ground. I will continue to bait your stand daily throughout your hunt, keeping the same routine consistently.

All hunters should practice with the weapon they are going to be hunting with, at the distance from the bait, and whether they’re in a tree stand or on the ground.  I recommend hunting with a weapon that has a large bullet/broadhead that can punch through, creating a good entrance and exit hole. A 12-gauge shotgun with 3-3 1/2″ slugs is a good choice. Hunting bear is much different than whitetails. With the thick foliage in a typical bear habitat, it gets dark in the woods early. High power scopes at this range are not recommended, iron sights or a red dot are best. The shot placement on a black bear is also different than a whitetail.

At the bait station, I use logs that are 4 feet long (48 inches) as a reference to compare to the size of the bear.  A legal bear has to be at least 42 inches from the tip of the nose to the base of its tail. Cubs or a sow with cubs are NOT legal to shoot.

Communication is key to meet expectation of everyone, to maintain safety and a positive experience.

I need you to be ready and able to go out with me the day before your hunt to show you how to get to your hunt site, familiarize yourself with the locations and how you are able to get to and from the site to your vehicle. You are responsible to access the hunting location each day of your hunt on your own.

I will continue to bait your hunt site each day, around the same time, to keep the same routine throughout the bear season.

Once you shoot a bear, please contact me so we can make a plan to track and recover your bear.

At the end of each days hunt please let me know that you out of the woods. Yes, I worry about you and want to make sure you are safe! With the limited cell phone coverage, this can be accomplished by a call, text, or stop by camp. Otherwise I will check your hunt site to make sure your ok and out of the woods.

If for some reason you leave early, no mater the reason please be courteous and let me know.

You are expected to participate in the tracking, field dressing, and recovery of your bear. I can help guide you throughout the process to your completion.

With base camp being right on the border between the Bergland and Baraga Bear Management units. I have hunting locations in both units and offer 5-day hunts for the first (September 9) and second (September 14) seasons. Note – The first hunt period will offer you the best opportunity for success. In the second season, bear hound hunters are in the mix, and then small game hunters also start hitting the field, which can alter the bears’ routines.

The Michigan DNR website his a great starting point for questions you may have regarding the application process and licensing.