My buddy (a wheelie guy) and I are begining our search for an outfitter to book a spring black bear hunt in Manitoba for 2010 or 2011.  Can anyone recommend some good ones that are "traditional" friendly?  We would prefer one we can drive to as there are places we'd like to visit along the drive North.

One more thing, I'm working on converting my buddy to traditional.  So far he's shot in a couple traditional 3D shoot and liked it.

Check out Bear Track outfitters. One of his guides is a trad shooter, and actually posts on Tradgang occasionally. I think he goes by WildNorth on here.

Check out Big Antler Outfitters, he is a traditional guy. He hunts the interlake region and is about 100 miles north of Winnipeg and if you fly he will pick you up and return you to the airport in Winnipeg.

Thanks guys, I'll look into them.

Jason Lambley runs Hunts From the Heart.  He is Bryce Lambley (Wary Buck's) brother...about 12 hours north of Omaha...

Try Darren Shipp here in Manitoba. I tried unsuccessfully to find his handle here on Tradgang, but you can probably find him through directory assistance for Winnipeg, Manitoba. He's a trad shooter, taxidermist, and bear guide.

Try Jerry Cook at Outland Outfitters
in Grand Rapids,Manitoba.
Ross

Whiteshell Outfitters in Rennie, Manitoba they are about 1.5 hours east of Winnipeg.

Question for the experienced bear hunters.  Are bears more nervous or tend to come into bait closer to dark when the outfitter allows gun and bow hunting versus bow hunting only?  Is it best to find an outfitter that only allows bowhunting?

I don't see how a gun or bow would make much difference.  They could become more nervous after the season had gone on for a time regardless of weapon choice though.

I also think it makes no difference.Big boars that have some age on them are slick,like all trophy animals except that big bears could be 20 some years old vs what we think of deer being old and cagey at 6 or 7.                        

Then imagine that, that bear has survived,living around a hunting operation all those years.They often come in very late,may circle and scent check the sight and will look into the treestand to see if there is any movement.                

They probably won't see you if you stay still,but they know where the stands are.Don't panic if they look there.                        

Big boars also may come to the thick brush on the fringes of the site and then just fade away,I guess just having a feeling something isn't right.                                    

I don't sweat the fact that rifle hunters have been in camp.I'm sure bowhunters spook far more bears than the rifle hunters do.