Just throwing it out there.....is there a market for something like this? I have nothing to sell as of now and am not looking to use this thread as a marketing tool but rather simply asking for feedback in regards to starting something like a trad. only camp here in Manitoba.
I am already licensed as an outfitter, and know of some bear outfits for sale, and would LOVE to build a business around the kind of hunters you find here on the "Gang".
Any info. would help
...what kind of accomodations do guys prefer (cabins/teepees/yurts...etc.)
...available trad. range with "fun" target set-ups.
...is fishing while here that important?
...how many guys would you like to see in camp at a time..3..6...9? (each guide can guide 3 hunters here so that's why it's in 3's)
Thanks for your time....Ryan
I'm not sure how tough it would be to do an only trad only bear camp. Although I envy your wishes, I'm just not sure the economy will allow trad only. With that said, you could try to do trad only and see what happens. If it doesn't work then try certain weeks for trad only. Anyhow, enough of that. I would think 6 is a good solid number. I guess that would depend on the number of baits and help you will have. As far as accomodations, to me it doesn't matter. I love a good tent camp. Cabins are OK too, but tent hunting seems to bring everyone together more(IMO). Fishing is fun but doesn't make or break me when I'm looking for a camp.
This is all just my opinion. Hope it all works out for ya. And us!!!!
Mike
I think it's a good idea that's worth exploring. With the size of your bears and the great color phases, I think a fairly priced hunt would be popular.
Accomodations: as long as they're warm and dry it shouldn't matter too much, although something unique like teepees or yurts might be an added draw for some folks. Just so hot showers are available! Edit to add: good toilets, too, not just "memorable" outhouses.
Range: nice, but no something that's going to make or break a hunt. One or two targets plus a broadhead bag is enough to keep most guys happy and dialed-in.
Fishing: if a guys tags out early, fishing would be an excellent option. Would also offer something for a non-hunting companion.
Number in camp: I would go for six, max.
Ryan,
What knife river said! A quality trad bear hunt is on my short list, along with several others like Moose, and Caribou.
You'd also likely need to provide some decent credentials, as to your potential for achieving a good success rate for your hunters, since you don't already have an "established" guide service.
Fishing is a great way to occupy the morning/early afternoon hours between running baits, etc. From what I can ascertain; most of the best action seems to be on the late afternoon hunts.
Although it might be difficult to make this a full-time endeavor, I'd imagine that you could book at least a hand full of trad hunters each year, based on quality/production of your hunts.
Good luck in your idea, sounds great!
The only thing I would add to whats already been said, numberswise, take only what you can handle and handle well. You know the old saying, "You have to learn how to walk before you can run". Provide a good honest hunt at a resaonable price and build an exceptional reputation. Something else, have plans A, B, C, etc. inplace. No need to fly by the seat of your pants, guy's can tell if your just winging it. All the best to you.
I too think this would be something worth exploring as I would prefer to hunt with someone who is familiar with the limitations of trad gear.
I agree with Knife River on the warm and dry accomodations and I would actually prefer teepees or yurts but it wouldn't be a necessity.
As far as a range, I don't think I would find a use for an extravagant range as stumps are more fun to shoot, but a few targets around camp are always nice.
Fishing too would be a nice option but maybe a cases by case offering.
I agree with leatherneck and knife river that 6 would be the best number IMHO.
Hope this helps and hopefully you can pull something together.
Thanks for the replies guys! I too was leaning towards 6 hunters, and agree that there isn't anything better for practice than stumpin'.
As far as Trad. only....that would be my goal, but may need to allow wheel guys if needed...(to pay the bills, and meet quotas) I know for sure that it would only be a bowhunting camp...with the exception of physically challenged individuals. I already have a great career but feel that there is something worth sharing up here that i could do on the side. Fingers crossed it will work out one day. Thanks again...Ryan
I personally would love something like that. Please keep us informed on this one :thumbsup:
Eldon jandreau of Portage, Maine, runs a bear service. He is a long bow shooter and would love to guide only trad bowhunters. However, there are just not enough who can afford it so he guides anyone who shoots a legal weapon.
I would use an outfitter service just if it is a trad only camp.
Then what a pleasure to share a campfire.
Otherwise I would do a DIY hunt
F-Manny
That is definetly some thing I'd do!
I think you know where I stand...first in line!
I don't think guys care that much about lodging...the key to me about lodging would be NO BUGS and a way to take a hot shower.
Number of guys in camp...6-8 would be fine. As long as you can feed them and take care of them with fresh, active baits; I can't imagine anyone complaining.
I'd like to be able to fish and can always find a place to shoot my bow.
If you need someone in the states to go to some of the traditional shows to man a booth and sign up hunters, I'd do that too.
Steve, I'd help ya!!!
For sure fishing and targets are very welcome in any camp and a hot shower is a must have,but fairly rates and good hunting success are the first choice of any bowhunter.I think you can easily find 6-8 guys,it is important if you can managr them.I am interested keep it posted.
Hey Guys if this ever gets off the ground you guys are in for a real treat.
Although I haven't talked to him lately, if there's one thing about Ryan is that he knows bears. This and his true passion for bowhunting is a combination that is hard to match. Coupled that with a supreme hunting location and it will certainly produce some awesome memories. Good luck with this project and hopefully it will see the light.
Well, I would be in on this! I may only go every few years, but would love to participate in a trad only camp.
Bob.
Thanks for the feedback guys!
Yep..Steve O is #1 on the list...he's had it locked down tight for the past few months.
...Thanks for the kind words Mo...and for passing on all those bucks that I end up shooting at. Your restraint has given me some nice mounts!
I really think that bowhunting bears in Manitoba is one of the best things our province has to offer.I grew up hunting bears, my 1st word was "bear" (that's no lie), I guided bear hunters to put myself through university, and am now at that place in life to own my own outfit for bear hunters. The process will take a while but I'll be a sponsor here when it all gets ironed out. Thanks everyone...Ryan
I think you have a good idea there. I would certainly make the trip to a place like that for a bear hunt. Keep us updated. If you make it work I would be in line.
Good luck.
Nice idea. Always good to see something like this specializing in Trad only. Granted it will be a smaller crowd to "market" from, for you. You just have to get the same "number" of hunters but from a smaller pie to accomplish your goals.
I like the 6 hunters but if you need to make it 9 to pay the bills so be it as long as you can keep 9 happy. I like a more social(numbers) camp anyway. Fishing is a plus. I would not go all out on a range. Some 3d bears would be nice practice but bags hone me in good too. If elevated shooting is going to be the norm a place to practice that is a plus. As far as Lodging....warm and dry, are my two favorite words whether it be a tent or more permanent situation. Keep us posted especially ones that responded to this! Happy Hunters will get the word out for you!!!!
I'd go for the trad only also,with no more than 6 in camp.
My brother and I would like to take a bear w/ flint as a graduation gift to ourselves for getting a Masters degree with our sanity intact (which has been questioned a few times). AMOF my bro and i have been looking for an outfitter, and they all pretty much laugh and tell us we are crazy when we tell them we want to use trad gear w/ flint arrowheads. I am not a "people person" fewer people in camp the better, 3-4 tops. The fishing while at camp is just a bonus
I myself have known Ryan for many years, and ANY hunter who hunts with Ryan is in the best of hands.This is a guy who knows how to hunt bear's and whitetail, better than anyone I know. Good Luck RY
I hunted a trad only outfitter for black bears in British Columbia. What a pleasure it was to see only stick bows in camp. By FAR the most fun bowhunt I've ever been on.
He is full of traditional bowhunters every spring for bears and fall for moose.
All that really ever matters about a camp for me is a dry place to sleep and plenty of good food. I want to bowhunt and if the game is there a great camp is just gravy.
Five or six days is plenty long hunting bears.
John III
Make sure you offer a 1x1 option esp. if this is spot n stalk bear bowhunting.
I always listen to my guides but I do hunt hard and another hunter or two just get in the way. Paying a premium for 1x1 is money well spent. I would not spend the money to get to Canada without a 1x1 option. Over bait its no issue, at least for me.
For sure have targets in camp. Get trad guys together and in a heartbeat everyone is wanting to shoot each others bows.. Fun and more fun.
Ryan where can I get on that list. :bigsmyl:
I went to Maine on a bear hunt spent good money but they allowes to many guys and couldn't keep up with everything. I was the only bowhunter there so my needs was of no concern of the outfitters. So I say yes on a trad only just to see how works. I think that you should as some have already have said start out with 1 week and if works add another until you feel confident and then go on.
Best of luck!
Possum
The couple times I hunted bear up there, I for one really appreciated a nice cabin and good hot meals. I have no desire to come back to camp & crawl in my teepee or yurt...
Bear hunting only takes up so many hours of a day (normally in the evening) so a guy needs to do something during the day. I'm not into fishing, but last hunt I was on that's what I did because I don't think there was a bear within 100 miles of that camp. The hunt before that there was a golf course fairly near by, and some of the guys brought clubs and golfed (no I don't golf).
Neither camp had anything for practice but a well shot up foam block target. I for one would have appreciated a couple 3D targets and an elevated stand to shoot from before going out in the afternoon...
Hey Ryan;
If your interested in names put me on it...tents are fine, showers and fresh bait a must. As for the number of guys 6-8 would make interesting fireside chats.
I get the trad-only thing but...all of my hunting buddies shoot compound bows except me. Frankly it is a non-issue as we go places to hunt and hunt hard. Weapon choice is just that, each person's choice.
So I think trade only is interesting, but I would prioritize things in this order:
1.) Great place to hunt various color phase black bears that accommodates bowhunters
2.) A place I can go with my friends
3.) Go back to item 1
4.) Ok accommodations - dry place to sleep, ok food.
5.) Go back to item 1 :-)
6.) Bow only
7.) trade only (this is likely further down the list than 7 for me)
I have bear hunted in a shared camp with all weapons and I didn't care. The outfitter knew bears and had bowhunting stands and gun stands. The folks we met in camp were nice and I got to go hunting with my compound bow carry best friend.
Also, the hunting is what matters to me most and like most bowhunting, I do this alone so I don't care what you are doing (carrying), I care what I am doing.
So since you are asking, I would not limit the camp.
I would also guess that trad bow shooters are just like any cross section of people in this world, most are nice, some or ok, and a few will be arses top to bottom. :-)
I think you should have a bear camp that caters to trad hunting but not limit it to. No real reason to shut out other business but if you have areas and blind/stand set-ups that make it easier to shoot with trad gear that would help.
Maybe you should advertise a trad only week and then let things grow so you are not hard up in the end.
I would love to shoot a bear with my longbow!
Thank you to everyone here...all these opinions and ideas are being considered....all of them! Like I said earlier...this is just a vision I have and it's nice to know what guys like and dislike in a camp. Bears...Food...Hot showers....we certainly are a basic bunch aren't we? Thanks again....Ryan
I personally would love something like that. Please keep us informed on this one.
The knowledge that you will have trad hunters and set blinds/stands for them is a big part.
If Steve O. needs help with shows I would help also.
I think this would be a great idea.
Manitoba, This is already going on each spring in Quebec 10 to 20 Hunters each week...Search Bearquest.....Bobby
I echo Darren's comments. I have known Ryan for about 4 years and he is an awesome bow hunter (you should see his trophy room; white tail, elk, moose and bear) and he's a great guy. Ryan has been mentoring me as I was a very green bow hunter. My success with my bow has gone up exponentially since spending time with him in the woods. He helped me get my first black bear and my first white tail. To those considering hunting with Ryan, have no fear he will do it right.
If this does come to fruition, I am very interested! Please keep me informed! Thanks!
Ryan, I've never hunted bears, but I would love something like that. I would not need much as far as lodging or anything. But with the number of big bucks you have killed...you might want to consider a deer camp too!
If you are making any sort of list of fellas interested in hunting put me on it.
I am interested as well for 2011.
I'm in.