I'm looking towards next spring for a bear hunt in Manitoba or Alberta with some buddies. We prefer bowhunting only, with a good chance at a color phase bear. I checked with Stickfingers, but he is booked solid until 2016. Anyone have any good experiences and/or references for an outfitter that isn't completely booked next spring?
Can't help you with Man or Alberta but in Sask. Rob Nye is a trad outfitter and hunter, Lindon at Smoothstone lodge is a great guy.
Look at Whiteshell Outfitters out of Rennie, Manitoba. Went there with a couple of other TG'ers and had a good time. They offer spring and fall bear hunts.
I would also recommend Lyndon at Smoothstone lodge. Great accommodations, fishing and some great Saskatchewan bears. He's been in business for years and you won't find a nicer guy. He may be booked for next year as well but it's worth a phone call or email.
I have hunted twice with Rob Nye in Saskatchewan. I would definitely check him out. He runs a great camp. Lots of color phased bears in SK too. Great fishing at his fly-in camp.
I've heard good things about the Garrett Brothers operation in Alberta but have not hunted with them. Also a two bear limit in AB if that interests you.
Jeff at true north outfitters, website of the same name, He has a large amount of color phase bears and big ones too. I killed a four hundred pound cinnamon with him last year, thread is on here somewhere. He works hard and has super quality bears. My friend killed a booner and mine made pope easily. I cant say enough good about them.
Thanks for the tips, guys. I will be checking into these.
Pat,
I have never hunted with Rob but have heard lots of good things about him. I have hunted with Lyndon twice and could not recommend anyone any more highly. I am going to attach links to a couple threads about my hunts with Lyndon so you can get an idea of what his operation is like. Lyndon and his wife Carolyn are just excellent people and you will have a hard time not gaining weight on Carolyn's cooking!
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=089972;p=1
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=105045;p=1
As you can see from my threads both bears I took were color phase bears. Lyndon has a pretty good number of color phase bears in the area.