Please note that I've never hunted black bear in N.B., so others would likely know more than I. I am a firm believer in early hunts though. By that I mean hunts on or near opening day (if that's a consideration). It's also my opinion that at least some guides talk up other weeks to hunt because so many hunters want opening week and they need to sell multiple weeks to make any $$.

I'm simply a firm believer of being the first one with a gun sitting on any bait that's been there long enough to attract bears.

From what I hear though, some areas of N.B. are simply crawling with bears, so perhaps it's not a huge concern. Also, the later you go the worse the bugs...yuck!