Big Tracks Taxidermy
Alberta Bear Busters Ltd.
Rated 4 out of 5.0 based on 1 Outfitter reviews.
Contact: Patrick McLean
Location: Blackie, Alberta
Species Hunted: Black Bear
State(s) Hunted: AB
Submitted by: Doug Howlett
Review Submitted: May 27, 2009
Hunt Date: May 16, 2009
Species Hunted: Black Bear
Days Hunted: 7
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Any
Method: Shotgun
Price Range: 3000-3999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Great Black Bear Country
I just returned from a spring black bear hunt in northern Alberta with Alberta Bearbusters and would definitely recommend the outfit if you're looking for a chance to see a lot of bears and a lot of trophy bears. The great thing about hunting Alberta is it is a two-bear hunt, not something you get in a lot of other places where spring bear hunting is offered. While you might be able to find larger bears in provinces such as Manitoba, the borreal forest we were hunting yeilded a number of bears in the six and a half foot range and one seven-footer. Of the eight hunters in camp, everyone took their two bears except for one hunter. That's 15 bears in seven days. Not too shabby. I personally saw more than a dozen bears either on stand or while driving around, and while hunts are over bait (a virtual necessity in the thickly forested terrain), I did take one of my two bears through spot-and-stalk. I also got the opportunity to see a beautiful blond/cinamon mix bear that I should have shot (long story there), and that another hunter took on the final night of the hunt. In fact, Alberta Bearbusters has produced a number of color phase bears for its clients over the past several years. Several bears were also seen with perfect white chevrons on their chests. Camp was remote and rustic along the Chinchaga River with generators for electricity and wood-sided, plastic sheeting roofed cabins. So if you're the type of hunter who prefers a comfy lodge with a plush bed and large roaring fireplace, you'll be disappointed. If you enjoy camping out, then you'll find the accomodations to your liking. Several hunters were in camp that had been there before, which I think is always a testament to how much faith they have in the outfitter, Pat MacLean. I know I would certainly go back and would definitely recommend them. In addition, the guides were all friendly and hard-working, ensuring all of their baits were taken care of and completely skinning out their client's bears.
Contact: Phil Rutt
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer, Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Pronghorn Antelope, Mountain Lion, Coyote
State(s) Hunted: WY
New Mexico Hunting Information
New Mexico is one of the top destinations for trophy Elk and Antelope hunting. Draw odds can be tough depending on the unit but landowner tags are also available for those who don't draw. Mule Deer are plentiful but generally of average size. Only a couple of units and reservations consistently produce big muleys.
Utah Hunting Information
Utah has recently been outstanding for trophy elk, but the best tags take many years to draw. Utah does have conservation tags available for purchase that allow hunters to bypass the drawing. Given the high demand for these premium tags prices can be high. In the past Utah has been a top trophy mule deer state but recently only a handful of units consistently produce B&C caliber deer.
Colorado Hunting Information
Colorado is one of the best western states for trophy mule deer hunting and has the largest population of elk in the west.