My 12 year old son wants to go big game hunting. Any idea how much a guided bear hunt
 

In the western U.S. or Alaska? I would plan on waiting a few years until he gets bigger and more experienced (he fired a firearm and went hunting...duck...for the first time this year), just wondering if anyone has experience with big game hunting. I am a former U.S. Marine scout sniper and hunted non stop as a kid but just took it back up with my boy this year.

Vancouver Island.

Prices have only been going up I believe, so not really sure, probably 3-5k, but that may be for 2 bears per person.

Consider an antelope hunt. DIY is reasonable and it tends to be a fun hunt for kids and adults a like.

I got a great outfitter in Manitoba for Black Bear, it a 6 day hunt, very fun hunt and got some great fishing that can be done in the afternoon. Let me know if I can help.
Thanks!

This reservation in western Washington has some monster bears

http://209.206.175.157/

It's for the Quinalt tribe...it's pretty much a slam dunk hunt great succes rate!!!!!!!

Alaska will be the more pricey hunt but will tend to prodcue the bigger bears. If you want a more economical hunt but maintain a high success ratio then New Brunswick would be a good option. If I can help call me toll free or email me. We have bear hunts in several of the lower 48 states, Alaska and several Provinces of Canada.

Ditto. I have been hunting for 20 years, 10 different states, about every critter except BH sheep. Also taken kids that age several times. Hands down your best bet is Wyoming antelope. And lucky for you the lottery deadline is coming March 15th. At minimum I suggest buying bonus points for you and him this year. However, at 12 most kids are ready. You have a great chance to hunt this year. Just look for a unit that can be drawn with 0-1 points and apply. If you draw even if there's lots of private land the trespass fees are low, you could probably find something for $300. If you don't draw, you can still just look in the leftover tags and make the same arrangement for trespass fee.

You would probably enjoy that type of hunt anyway if you were a sniper. Shots can be long. Or you guys could get a ground blind and bowhunt probably before he starts school in August.

Either way this is best intro for a kid. And you don't need the expense of a guide for this, just a trespass fee. Bear you'd be $2,500 min. Don't know where you live but had you thought about whitetail deer also?

http://www.elkoutfitters.com/springBear.asp

Try this link. This guy is a member on this site, goes buy the name TwoBears

Its about $4500 here in Idaho for a guided hound hunt on bear.

New Brunswick you can get a bear hunt for around $1500 + tax and license. You can draw a antelope tag for the Sheridan WY area without preference points and there are always left over tags for that area too if by some chance you miss the draw deadline. We do WY antelope hunts too.