Arguably the most scenic area in Minnesota, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is over 1 million acres of land along the Canadian border. Very strict rules apply not only to campers and canoers, but also to hunters. Throughout Minnesota, hunters rely on bait as the go to method for hunting bears. The landscape and thick swamps where the bears live don’t lend themselves to spot and stalk like you might see out West. Baiting is illegal in the wilderness area, as it violates “Leave no Trace”. In addition, no wheeled or motorized transportation is allowed, meaning packing out heat sensitive bear meat is a logistical nightmare all on its own. Spoiler alert: No bears were killed on this trip, but the experience was one of the most memorable of my hunting career. This is definitely a trip I encourage any DIY hunter to try! Have a look at some of the magnificent scenery up there!