Rustic Retreat Lodge & Dead North Adventure’s Maine Black Bear hunting packages give you a wonderful opportunity to harvest a big game trophy animal, in the Northern Maine Woods.
Black Bear Hunting in Maine
Maine has a very healthy, stable black bear population, and it’s estimated at 35,000 according to the state’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Statewide we average 9 bears per 100 square miles. In our zone seem to have a higher percentage. Our region is Northern Maine, a consistent producer of adult bears each season.
As a bear hunting outfitter, we limit each week up to 15 participants, to make sure they get a personalized hunt. We have hunted this area for the last three years and know how to get the bears to come in. We manage our bear sites for a sustainable harvest.
Rustic Retreat Lodge & Dead North Adventures aim to provide the hunter an opportunity to harvest a Maine Black Bear, dressing out at over 200 pounds. Maine black bears reach full maturity (adult size) at about 5 years old. Boars will average 250 – 600 pounds. Sow (female bear) are smaller weighing in from 100-400 pounds. We have close to 100% sightings for each bear sight that we have. However, the most bears in Maine typically range between 160-225 pounds.
The four-week bait season for black bear varies some each year but is typically the last week of August thought he third week of September, ending just before the first bull moose week.
For your best chance at getting that mature Maine Black bear is to book with a reputable guide and outfitter. We hope that you consider Rustic Retreat Lodge LLC & Dead North Adventures for your Maine Black Bear Hunt.
Choosing your Bear Hunting Guide/Outfitter
There are many Hunting Guides and Outfitters to choose from. Make the choice carefully. Everyone here at the lodge are avid hunters, and we work extremely hard to provide you with the type of hunt that we would want for when we are booking a guided hunt. Here are some things that set us apart from other Outfitters:
- We have a range for sighting in your gun or bow upon arrival and we have an orientation meeting the first night before dinner. After dinner we go over what site you will be at, share pictures of the bears hitting our sites, shot placement, how to judge the size of the bear, as well as other tips and tricks.
- The tree stands we use are certified by the Tree stand Manufacture’s Association, safe and comfortable. Most do have a seating pad but feel free to bring one from home. Anyone in a tree stand is required to always have a harness on, while in the stand. (Welcome to bring your own or borrow one).
- The bear bait sights we have been pre-baited starting in July (when the law states we can), we place cameras on the sites to pattern the bears’ activity for up to 30 days prior to your hunt.
- Stands and ground blinds are set up to provide gun hunters an approximate 50 or less yard shot and for bow hunters no more than a 35-yard shot or less.
- Stands are set for left or right-handed shooters and have shooting rails or bow hangers, as needed by the hunter. (Hunter will notify us what they will be using as a weapon on the hunt)
- We have a rotation of sites, so that the bears do not get over pressured. Ensuring that our hunters have fresh areas to hunt.
- Our hunters will be placed on active sights, monitored with game cameras and we have several sites available for each hunter.
- Our Guides will take you directly to your tree stand or ground blind, make sure bait is fresh and your situated in your stand or ground blind.
- We will field dress your bear and will recommend butchers and taxidermists in our area.
- All Hunters will be given a radio to use to contact your guide in the field.
- We recommend scent-free clothing, also that you bring scent-free soap to shower with. If you need to wash anything we have a laundry room available for guests to use.
How we run our Bear Hunts in Northern Maine at Rustic Retreat Lodge LLC
& Dead North Adventures
Our bear hunting packages give hunters a great opportunity to harvest a big game trophy that eludes many hunters who have spent a lifetime in the woods. The absolute thrill of seeing a mature boar or sow silently appear at the edge of your vision is enough to get anyone’s heart racing!
We have put in a lot of thought of how to set up our bear sites whether it be for a tree stand or a ground blind. We can accommodate bow hunters, rifle hunters, muzzleloaders, and pistol hunters. We are able to make both left- and right-handed hunters comfortable and provide a confident shooting distance. Our guide will drive you within walking distance of your bear hunt site and get you settled into your stand or ground blind. Youth hunters can get a hunting license and do a bear hunt, accompanied by an adult. At 16 years old they can hunt on their own. We can set a pair of stands or ground blinds together for a parent and youth hunter sharing a hunt of a lifetime!
We will provide 2-way radios for access to your guide when you need him. We will come and get you at the end of legal shooting time and bring you back to the lodge for a nice home cooked meal.
Rustic Retreat Lodge has absolutely wonderful accommodations and each bedroom has access to their own bathroom. We have shared rooms with no more than 3 hunters max in each room, unless a group has reserved a room. We are able to accommodate large groups if we have the availability. (Please Plan accordingly.) The lodge also has great menu of home cooked food. While at the lodge in your down time, it is always a great time to tell hunting stories with your fellow hunters/guests. We only allow up to 15 hunters per week, this will give everyone a chance to make new friends or catch up with old ones. The camaraderie between bear hunter is a very special one! We have hunters that come stay with us year after year, no matter what hunting season it is. You may come into our lodge as a hunter looking to enjoy your time in the woods, but you will leave as part of the Rustic Retreat Lodge & Dead North Adventures Family. Our staff will do everything possible to make sure that you have a great time on your Northern Maine Black Bear Hunt!
What to Expect on a typical day of your Bear Hunt:
Your hunt starts with us on Monday with you arriving in the Morning. We will start your hunt off with a little time at the range to make sure your rifle, bow, handgun etc. is sighted in. Then we will move into an orientation and a rundown of the week. This meeting is pretty informative, and you should find it helpful for your week ahead. Then we will have a group lunch before you head out for your first day of hunting.
Brunch at the Lodge starts about 10/1030am and while you’re enjoying a nice Brunch our guide(s) and guide helper are out making sure each bear site is freshened up. They will also review the camaras at each site for sign of bear from the previous baiting. You can spend your morning relaxing, trying you hand at calling in Coyotes or rent an ATV from one of the local areas powersports or go try your luck at catching a few fish in one of the nearby bodies of water.
After eating, you will get ready to go out for the afternoon hunt. Transportation to and from your bait site is included. We will leave the lodge about 1pm/130pm and begin to deliver hunters to the sites. You will be walked into your site and the guide will wait while you get into the tree stand with all gear or your ground blind. He/she will than make sure you’re comfortable and ready for action! Each hunter will be given a radio, for safety and for when you shoot your bear. So that we can respond quickly to recover the bear. Occasionally we do have a big bear feeding on baits in the mornings. When this happens, we will sometimes put a hunter out on that site in the morning.
Hunting hours end a half hour after sunset, every day. If you have not had an opportunity for a shot and are still in your tree stand/ground blind, the guide will pick up each hunter at the end of legal shooting time. The guide will walk into the bait site via flashlight, in order to help you exit the site for the night. He/she will also shoo away any bears nearby so that they do not peg a hunter coming out of a tree stand or ground blind. Once all of the hunters are picked up, you will come back to the lodge to a good old fashioned home cooked meal and tall tales of bear sighting and of bears shot.
Book Your Hunt
Rustic Retreat Lodge LLC & Dead North Adventures has openings for this season! Please give us a call at 207-930-5935 for more information on the hunt, rates and to book! Our many bear sites will help us keep sites fresh for each week’s hunters. So, it will not matter what week you come you will be confident of bear sighting and shot opportunities.
Licenses are available online or locally. Please check with Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for current rules, regulations, license and permit fees.
Maine Black Bear Hunt Pricing
2025 Hunt Dates:
Bear Over Bait:
August 25-31, 2025 – First week
September 1- September 7, 2025 – Second Week
September 8-14, 2025 – 3rd Week
Trapping Season:
September 1 through October 31, 2025
September 1- September 7, 2025 – Second Week
September 8-14, 2025 – 3rd Week
Stay at Rustic Retreat Lodge Bear Hunt Package:
Your choice of either:
Over Bait hunt or a Trapping hunt: $2600
Combo hunt: $3600
Non-Hunting Guest: $1000
Non-Hunting Observer: $1300
Airport Pick up/Drop off: $200 (Presque Isle Airport)
*Pricing is subject to change without notice and All Hunts are subject to Maine State Taxes.*
The Lodge stay includes: Staying from Sunday to Saturday, Home cooked meals, non-acholic beverages, bait, tree stand & harness/ground blinds with chairs, Professional Guide(s)/Helper(s), transportation from Lodge to bear site(s), Transportation to the tagging station/butcher, bed linens & bathroom linens, Washer/Dryer available, firing range for guns/bows, radios for contract with guide(s), parking for trucks and trailers.
What is not included: Licenses; Gratuities (15-20% is customary); Meat Processing Fees; Taxidermy Fees; Weapons/Ammo
Out Post Hunt (Off Site Lodging)
Your Choice of either:
Over Bait hunt or Trapping hunt: $2300
Combo Hunt: $3300
Non-Hunting Guest: $600
Non-Hunting Observer: $900
Add Food Package: $300
Airport Pick up/Drop off: $200 (Presque Isle Airport)
*Pricing is subject to change without notice and All Hunts are subject to Maine State Taxes.*
The Out Post Hunt will have off site lodging that is about a 15 min ride to Rustic Retreat Lodge and are very close to Presque Isle for groceries/restaurants. The rooms can sleep up to 3 Hunters. (Larger groups can be accommodated) You will have 2 full sized beds and if you have a 3rd hunter they will have a single bed. The room will have a kitchenette with a stove, fridge, microvalve, tv, couch and table. You will be responsible for your own meals. The lodging will be from Sunday to Saturday, bait, tree stand & harness/ground blinds with chairs, Professional Guide(s)/Helper(s), transportation from Lodge to bear site(s), Transportation to the tagging station/butcher, bed linens & bathroom linens, firing range for guns/bows on Rustic Retreat Lodge property, radios for contract with guide(s), parking for trucks and trailers.
What is not included: Licenses; Gratuities (15-20% is customary); Meat Processing Fees; Taxidermy Fees; Weapons/Ammo
Deposits and Cancellations Policies
Deposits:
$500 Deposit due at time of reservation to guarantee your reservation. (NON REFUNDABLE)
Balance due 30 days before your hunt.
We take all major credit cards for payments.
ALL Hunts Cancelation Policy:
Reservation deposits made are NON REFUNDABLE.
Fall Hunts and accommodations are NON REFUNDABLE
Dates are non-transferable to another year.
Cancellation due to weather is not refundable. We take a change of mother nature not cooperating.
