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Bear Hunting Information for Matagamon Wilderness Camps

For State information on the Black Bear

We specialize in archery, pistol, and rifle hunts. We limit the size of our groups yearly so that we don't over-hunt an area and also ask hunters not to shoot sows or cubs. Again, this is to insure good bear population indefinitely.  

We can start baits 30 days prior to opening day. So when you start hunting, the baits have been maintained for a month. We lease enough bait area so each week the hunters are in a new un-hunted area.

The hunt includes: housekeeping camp, bait stands, guide, and transportation to and from the stands. We prepare the hide for a taxidermist, and quarter and freeze the meat. 7-day hunt runs from Sunday to Sunday. You may also fish for Salmon, Brook Trout, and Togue (Lake Trout) in the nearby river, lakes, and ponds.

Each group has their own housekeeping camp set up with complete cooking and eating utensils so that you can do your own cooking.

We currently hold leases from Great Northern Paper Co., Fraser Paper Co., Huber Corp., and the Bureau of Public Lands. This encompasses (7) Townships totaling over 250 square miles. (5) Townships border a game preserve of over 204,000 acres of un-hunted wilderness.

If we can be of help to you in planning a bear hunt, feel free to call or write. We do our best to see that you have a successful hunt.

What are the requirements for obtaining a hunting license?

Applicants for an adult hunting license must show proof of having previously held an adult license to hunt with firearms in any year beginning with 1976 or successful completion of an approved hunter safety course. Residents must provide proof of residency when applying for a license.

To obtain an adult archery hunting license, you must show proof of having held an adult license to hunt with bow and arrow in any year since 1979 or successful completion of an archery education course.

You can purchase your license here when you arrive or you can do it over the internet at the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife website.

Facts & Observations:

The truth about baiting bear is that it isn't as simple as it seems, with an abundance of natural feed, one must entice the bear away or have bait placement in close proximity to natural feed. Over the years we have developed bait sites, some near natural feed and some in natural travel areas. The adult bear has a large territory, with male bear traveling the furthest in their feeding habits. These bear are much more nocturnal than deer and often visit the bait site at or after dark. Young animals are more apt too be seen earliest in the day. As in most hunting, there are always exceptions to the general rule. Bear will sometimes make fools out of us and be at site when least expected.

We have found that the least activity in and around the bait site the better, a new smell that the bear is not accustomed to, will make him very cautious. The bear is used to our routine, so we try not to make many changes and that goes for the bait as well. As for what we use for bait depends on season, feed etc. We usually start with beef trimmings, then will move on to either full meat diet or mix of meat and grains or bakery and greases. When baiting, we try not to contaminate the area with human scent, we walk the bait in and leave, looking for the paths, any changes, tracks, etc. We almost never go beyond the bait. As for how the bait is placed, to discourage other scavengers, we put 5 gallon buckets and covers, then place a heavy rock on top, as a rule only bear can get at the bait. We also put a lot of cooking oil out on the sites, as bear will track back on their trails and any bear coming across this trail will investigate. So at any time, you could see a bear that perhaps has never been there before.

As for commercial scents, I personally advise against them as we already have the bear coming and that would be a new odor, my fear would be that it could alarm the bear. Let us stick to our routine, hunters going to their stand or blind directly as you will be instructed and leaving on the same trail when it is to dark for a perfect shot. When leaving stand or blind, do so as quietly as possible, avoid noisy gun actions, etc. Most hunters can very quietly unload before reaching the road, then continue as far away from the entrance trail as possible. Try to avoid slamming doors, racking shells from guns, etc., even when leaving after dark, the bear may only be yards away. If we tell him by our actions and change in routine, the bear may continue to hit after dark. We need to try and fool him into our routine, so please use your head and be as quiet as possible. We can talk further down the road and also close our doors firmly, BUT that gun must be UNLOADED before reaching the vehicle. I can't ever remember a hunter shooting a bear on the way out.

Now we have your routine down, lets judge the size of the bear. This is tough because most hunters have not seen lots of bear to judge. The hunter with lots of experience, will have no problems, new hunters will. Look closely at the ears, if they appear large, it's probably a small head, appear small then the head is larger. Ears are about the same size on small and big bear. Secondly, the truly large bear will appear to have a belly almost to the ground, a lot of daylight between belly and ground, usually indicates a smaller bear. We judge a bear that can put his head in an upright bucket without knocking the bucket over is shootable. We ask that you not shoot sows and cubs, usually they come in together or often the cubs come first, you can't judge sows unless cubs are with them, so if a bear comes in, give  it a few minutes.