Best Place to Stalk Black Bears in lower 48 or East Canada?

[Big Paulie]

Dear Guys,

Sorry for being so picky.  I want to go on a bear hunt, in the lower 48, or in East Canada, where the hunting is by stalking.  I also want it to be where the bears are big.  (I don't want to go someplace where 250 pounds is regarded as big.)   Stalking along timber trails in thick woods would be fine, and stalking along clear cuts would be fine too.  High success rates are a must.

I guess the very best place in the world for this is at Shockley's bear camp in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, but this looks to me to be about a $10,000 (or more) trip, all told.  This is a little pricey for me.

Does anyone have any advice for me based on actual experience?  

Thanks for all replies.  Big Paulie

[talon]

While stalking for bear is an excellent hunting experience, forget it in Minnesota. The swamps and brushy woods are just to thick. And there are few bears to be seen  during daylight hours in the grain fields in the southern and western parts of the state. The law doesn't permit hound hunting, so 99% of our bears are brought in by baiting. Of course, hunting here with a guide and full service for a week to 10 days can be had for far, far less than ten grand, and there are a few big bears here. Afterall, Northern Minnesota was the last frontier, settled well after the West and Alaska were well populated, and it is still rough to get around in many parts.

[Kathy-Fish River Lodge]

Forget about Maine also.  The only time anyone gets a bear by stalking is in the fall during the deer hunt.  The Maine woods are thick and heavy with dead and fallen trees.  I understand PA has a lot of open land and lots of crop fields that the bear like.  Try to keep it in the USA though, support your fellow American.

[David Parenteau]

Shockeys hunts are the most expensive on Vancouver Island because everyone in North America knows who he is.There are lots of other areas on  Vancouver Island that produce as well or better and can be had for a lot less money.Try the BC Guide Outfitters Association for more info.Here's the link

http://www.goabc.org/

There's lots of big bears on Vancouver Island as well as other parts of BC.The Trophy Wildlife Records Club of BC has recently had to increase their minimum entry score to 20" because of the excessive number of 19"+ bears being entered.
    Several extra mild winters and excellent salmon returns in the coastal streams have resulted in plentiful food for the bears and its common to see the streams lined with bears feeding on the returning salmon in the fall.
     We've hunted the west coast of Vancouver Island for years and have never come back without all tagging out on Black Bears.You're also allowed two bears so that you can take a smaller meat bear if you wish and continue to hunt for a trophy!
Dave