we are kicking it around right now. Have a few trips to pick from and this one is probably the most doable. Have multiple choice handguns to carry. What say ye? reflex264

I am tentatively planning a trip this year for black bear in Maine. I have "reservation" with the outfitter I hunted moose with last year.

And of course, if I go, I will be hunting with a revolver.

Do it! Then tell us all about it!

I am no expert but I have hunted Maine three times and shot three black bear. The first was taken near Grand Lake Stream using my TC Contender Super 16 45-70 and a Federal 300 grain factory hollow point. I had taken a nice black bear at about twenty yards over bait. The bear was 150 or so.

The next bear was taken with the same gun but using a handload for the 45-70. It was taken north of Jackman Maine and it weighed 305 lbs.

The last bear I had taken was with a Super 14 .375 Win barrel. It was 180 and again near Grand Lake Stream.

The thing with bear hunting is that over bait you need to be fully aware of scent control. Clean clothing, no spicy food, smoking, scented deodorants and shampoos. Rubber boots of at least rubber bottomed like the LL Bean boot would do.

Don't forget the bugs. Bring a thermacell. It will save your sanity.

Man you guys are mean! This is on my to do list. Maybe one of these days I'll have the funds to go.

Mine bucket list hunt is Alaska so I know what you mean. I think Maine would still rock though...

Duane

Not so much Maine, I just want to get a black bear with one of my handguns.

I planned on going last year when my dad got bad. He past away in March. Not trying to sound bad but my life has freed up a lot. My son and I both want to do it with handguns. Already know a guide there that will be a hoot to hunt with. reflex264

I'm still debating......

Absolutely. I think most of us on here are slightly insane though...

Pretty astute observation!





I agree with the Thermacell -- I don't leave home without it. I ran it the whole time I was hunting in Maine.

I haven't bought one because I haven't hunted in an area yet that I needed one. Hate to be ignorant but does it put off any odor? reflex264

It does, but it doesn't seem to bother animals -- even the nose sensitive types that I have hunted like hogs. There is a new earth scent that they have now, but I haven't tried it yet. It's $25.00 well spent as far as I am concerned. I live in Florida for a while and you absolutely must use a Thermacell there.

I use the thermacell earth scent last early archery season here in NJ, It worked great and the the smell did not bother the deer one bit. I will never hunt the early season without one again,

You see more deer when your not slapping mosquitos all day as well...lol

I was talking to one guide and he seems to believe that the Thermacells have a slight attractant quality to them. Mosquitos aren't the biggest issue. There is an insect that is called the no see um midge. This thing is very small and can leave a welt on your skin the size of a nickle. The no see um midge looks like a flake of black pepper. When I hunted there was no Thermacell and to be as scent free as possible we'd cover our faces with vasoline to act as a scent free fly paper. It wasn't unusual to wipe your face and see the gell filled with little black flecks.

Maine is one of the best places to hunt black bear in the US. The success is around 33 percent and they allow handgun hunting.Another thing is that most guided hunts seem to hover around 1000 to 1500 dollars or so. Many placed out West are double that and forget Canada if you want to handgun hunt.

how long does a set of batteries last for in a thermacell?

Also, any issue with flying with them?

Off topic, but +1 on the Thermacells! A must-have in the Carolinas, especially in early season. Heck, last year, almost all season.

No batteries - runs on small butane cylinders and impregnated wafers. I change out the wafers each or every other time, and the individual butane refills last me about 3 afternoon stand hunts.

And makes summertime hog hunting tolerable - and the skeets are voracious right now!

I've flown them in checked bags, but you may get some pushback from TSA on the butane refills. I've heard of guys shipping them to destination just in case...

I have yet to use the thermacell while hunting, but used it while working in northern MN extensively, and it worked so well that my coworker bought two of them! definitely an awesome piece of equipment for the "buggy" areas.

I have not heard of the attractant part, but i guess it does kinda smell like something that a bear would be interested in... maybe it will help draw that big one in this fall!

I do not leave home without one.

Guess I need to invest in one!

I have always just used two masks for bow hunting / ceder bug spray and haven't had a problem, that sounds a lot easier

The thermacell is a must have here in Florida. They are as important as your handgun

My sentiments exactly!

Bear starts the end of august. Shouldn't be many bugs left up here by then.

Found that one out hog hunting in January in NW FL. I was wearing a netting thingy (not sure if that's it's official name) but couldn't hear the woods over the mosquitos trying to find a way in.

They're still there at that time. I hunted moose up there the week before bear season began and the bugs were still actively bent on eating me alive.

a little off course but have any of you tried the thermacell lantern? I was looking at one on Midways site and it looks like it has the same 15'x15' area of protection as the standard unit but it has a led lamp. I was curious how good the lamp is and how long it lasts on it's batteries? I'll be heading camping at the end of July and mosquitos and biting gnats are always an issue. I hate them more than the rattlers because at least I can shoot the snakes.

Funny you should mention that, Rod. I got one yesterday and am planning of testing soon. Haven't even opened the box yet. Standby.....

Thanks and I'll be waiting to hear.

Spend the day next to any stagnent water? I get chewed up worse in May turkey hunting then I ever do in the late summer and fall time by bugs waterfowl hunting in the bog holes. Although you may just be a 'tasty' treat more so then the others. Maybe its just a relative thing.

I have a friend of mine by the name of Jon York that does guilded hunts for Bear in Maine..I have taken guys up to hunt there and I hunted myself with handguns with Jon...We had a great hunts. I am thinking about going again myself this year..Anyone interested in his info, PM me and I will forward it to you..He is around the $1500 mark..You will enjoy your hunt with Jon..One thing, don't be surprised if you shoot your Bear at 6 pm..Seems a lot of Bears come to the bait at this time..All the other places that I have hunted Bear over bait, the Bears come in just before dark..

Bud, what is the typical sized bear shot at the camp you mentioned?

Where I hunted in Maine was surrounded by standing water. Everywhere I hunt has a huge bug population it seems. Love my Thermacells.......

Oh yaaaa, thermacell is your friend. I only wish they would ward off the worst vampires in the world. Those pesky little chiggers. f there is a chigger in the woods within a hundred miles it will find its way to me. &%$#4!!!!

Yeah, chiggers are evil....

that's one good thing about the West, we don't have chiggers!

If it is availible there is a product called "No Stinking Bugs" that seems to work on chiggers. I use tons of it during turkey season. reflex264

I'm going to look out for it. Hate chiggers!

That makes two of us. A buddy of mine brought some stuff on a hunt we went on last year called cedarside? Or cedar oil spray. It worked well and you smelled like a cedar lined closet. It was all natural. They also sell it for bed bug control.