Black Bear Hunting in Atikokan, Ontario, Canada

Ontario has one of the highest black bear populations in North America, and the Atikokan area is no exception. Bear hunting season in the north runs roughly from mid-August into October. Bear hunting is open to both residents and non-residents. A non-resident who wishes to hunt black bear in Ontario must have a Black Bear Hunting Licence Validation Certificate to validate a non-resident black bear hunting licence. This certificate can be obtained from a tourist operator (operator of a tourist establishment, guide or air carrier) licenced in Ontario to provide black bear hunting services to non-residents. There are two exceptions to this. Please download the Ontario Hunting Summary for more information. A non-resident hunter using the bear services of an operator licenced to provide black bear hunting services must hunt only on the areas designated on the Black Bear Hunting Licence Validation Certificate issued to him/her by the operator. These areas can include Crown land located within a Bear Management Area (BMA) assigned to the operator, private land located within a BMA assigned to the operator and private land located within a Wildlife Management Area (WMU). Resident hunters are not restricted to BMAs and may hunt anywhere on Crown land, or on private land with the owner's permission.

The resorts, lodges and outfitters in the Atikokan area (WMU 12A, 12B & 11A) have limited numbers of black bear hunting licences. To avoid disappointment, it is best to book way in advance of you hunting trip. You can choose between American Plan Resorts that will include everything (meals, accommodations, guide service and more) or housekeeping cabins, where you do your own cooking.

For more information, link to the following hunting outfitters that offer bear hunts in the Atikokan area. If you find that the outfitters are all booked, you can visit www.ontariobearhunting.ca to link to all the bear hunting outfitters throughout Northwestern Ontario.