Our Black Bear Management Area is large and covers four Townships. One Township is 36 square miles so our BMU is 144 square miles of prime Black Bear habitat.
- 7 Day Hunt: Arrive Friday night or Saturday before Noon. Hunt Saturday to Friday
- Amount of hunters may vary from year to year. We do not allow more than 20 persons to hunt Black Bear in our Black Bear Bear Management Area (BMU). No more than 10 hunters in camp per week.
- Our Black Bear Management Area is large and covers four Townships. One Township is 36 square miles so our BMU is 144 square miles of prime Black Bear habitat.
- Remote Access: An ATV is welcome as 20% of the Bear Management Area is only accessible by ATV. Make sure to bring proof of vehicle insurance and helmets)
- We start baiting in May and continue well into October. (This keeps the bears denning in the area)
- Bow Hunters & Rifle Hunters: Both are welcome and we have some permanent stands. You can bring your own stand if you prefer. Gun registration is required. For a Non-Resident Firearms Declaration Form, please call 1-800-731-4000. There is a $25 fee. Please do not sign the form until you are with a custom's agent at the border. They have to witness you signing the form.)
- Your hunt will include: Hunting, set up, 2 sites, tracking bear, retrieval, gutting, cooler storage, bait, group camping, boat and motor and gas (2 per boat).
- Cost: $1000 US per person.
- Additional Costs not included in package: Bear License, Bear Export Permit, Butcher, Skinning or Fishing License. A Small Game License is required if a bear hunter wants to be eligible to take a wolf if the opportunity arises. (Wolves do show up at the bait stations from time-to-time)
When a hunter wounds a bear and it's not found, his/her hunt is considered over. Wounded bears must be reported for public safety. The hunter can have an additional hunt for $300.00 US for that week. We pride ourselves in providing an excellent shot at our game. The techniques we use when baiting enables the hunter to shoot the game in the standing position.- The bears are most active from August 15 until September 15. On September 15, Small Game hunters commence hunting in this area. The bears become skittish after this period. We have some secluded areas that can be hunted after September 15 so you could have a Small Game hunt at the same time you are hunting bears. Two (2) hunters maximum after September 15.
- The area has not been heavily hunted since the Spring Bear Hunt was cancelled in 1999. The bears are large and very plentiful. The 2007 season was very successful with 100% multiple sightings and an 100% harvest rate. The largest bear taken to the butcher was 416 lbs.
- Your stay at Appelo Lake Lodge will be a great outdoor experience. The staff is professional with a good deal of hunting experience. At Appelo we expect our customers to come back year after year.
Things to Bring
Hunter safety certificate or old hunting licence, camera (extra batteries), camcorder (not recommended for hunts), bow, rifle, rope, flashlight (extra batteries), safety harness, hunting boots, rain gear, hunting/skinning knife, compass, case and gun trigger lock (required for highway driving), large cooler or garbage cans for transporting bear, tree cameo, hunting clothes, orange vest and hat, tree stand, sleeping bag, towels, food, beverages, insecticide, fishing equipment, cards, ATV.