Anyone have any suggestions for an outfitter inside the US? I have a buddy that killed one every year in West Virginia but not with an outfitter. Next birthday is a big one for the wife and it's on her bucket list

Just go up the road to BigT's club and get er done.

Fyi, killing a bear in areas with good bear populatons is not that hard but, a guide will make a big difference if you want to kill a "good" bear. If y'all go solo, judging bears can be a pain if ya haven't looked at a lot of bears. Its fun hunting western states with plenty of areas to glass.

Looking for a professional. If it was for me I'd go solo but it's for the wife

Lower 48 only?
Would you consider Canada?
What's your budget?
Spring or fall?

You may want to consider the mountains of Pelham inside the big pen where they are free range.

Id look in North Carolina personally. Seen some monsters shot there in the lower 48. ( we filmed 400 - 500 pounders dying there.. Great bear hunting on the coast there IMO.)

Maine is good NH alright in a clinch. If youre looking for 150 - 275 pounders. Ive shot a couple there.

Wisconsin good as well. And bigger bears then Maine.

Im sure there great spots in the West.

If you were including Canada, Id say thats a great choice. We filmed giants dying there.

Ill try to uplaod some bears we killed in Maine and Canada,..possibly NC if you give me a few days. New computer here and not sure how to upload video.

Wife and I went with this outfitter for our honeymoon and had a great time.

She killed a 6' chocolate and I got a 6' cinnamon.

SNS outfitters

My Backyard

There are some good guides out toward the Eastern part of NC that can put you on some big ones. Been wanting to go give it a shot myself. There are one or two guides on another forum I'm on. Let me know if you want a reference for these guys.

That pic isn't too far from your backyard

I second what OutdoorObsession said about North Carolina. Friend of mine has hunted the coastal area and they have some whoppers. Not all but the possibility is great for a really big one.

Downside is you may truly hike-muck-slog-work your ass off in the marshes. But if I were going to look for a bear hunt that would be one of my top options, along with contacting Big Game Hunter to talk with him about hunting out west or Canada (depending on budget).

One other possibility is Scott and Angie Denny with Table Mountain Outfitters. Great people and guides, top-notch hunting and different options. I know they has some spring tag availability a few weeks ago but that may be too late now. But you could look to book in 2018 with them. I think they hunt bears in Idaho. They also do mountain lion, mule deer, whitetail and pronghorn.

These guys are great, I hunted mountain lion with them several years ago. One word of warning though is they primarily hunt with dogs that is a whole different ball game verses hunting over bait. You better be in shape to run up and down those mountains chasing dogs.

True, I forgot about them using hounds. And they're both in shape so yeah, they can get it in the woods.