This is my first year applying in gwinn area, I hear from some local bear hunters the Michigan DNR is planning to have more permits than the past due to an increase in bear incident reports last fall.I think the main reason to wait for the permit for the first season is to hunt before the bears are run hard by dogs. Are you planning on a guided hunt? I think weapon used is your choice, I'm a bowhunter and no longer will be caught afieldafter big game with anything else,I don't know how affective spot and stalk would be in the U.P. just due to the thick cover in most areas. I'd stick to bait, I personally am not a huge fan of dogs, if I raised and trained my own I'd probably be more ok with it, I personally don't feel the sense of ackomplishment having a bear treed by others and being the shooter. It's howmy feel, I don't knock anyone for hunting in any legal matter. As for trophy bear, the U.P. has large bear but I think it's more known for numbers of bears than large sizes. There are probably better areas for trophies, but beautiful county.How large where your two nice bears?