We don't get many bears here in Ohio but the boss says I get to pick the vacation destination this year, I would like to stay in the east if I can but I'm not opposed to heading west... maybe canada? I'd like to spot and stalk with a rifle if I can. Thanks in advance and God bless.

Been watching some videos from WA and ID

If you draw a tag here you can spot and stalk them but you better be GOOD. You will need to stalk within about 10 yards of them before you will see them in the wet, swampy tangles they like in the fall.

Spring is the best time to spot and stalk bears but you can do it in the fall too.
I have taken dozens of bears spot and stalk.it is the best way to take bears especially in spring since you can pass on the ones you dont want(sows cubs too big or too small,rubbed hides etc) and take the ones you want.
When spot and stalk hunting here in NE Ont have seen as many as 16 bears in a day-usually 4 or 5.
Go to a place with high bear populations and spot and stalk hunting is very good.
In spring the bears are in old burns and clearcuts,and in fall they are in the blueberries or if you are in a farming area they are in the farmers oat fields.

In the fall look for tracks in corn fields

Kind of along what Boco said, spring is a great time to get after bears that are feeding on new greens. They will be concentrating on the areas that spring up first and then move on to new ares as they green up. Makes them vulnerable.
Here it happens to be along the coastal shoreline.

You can buy two OTC fall bear tags in Oregon for about $200. Lots of places with fruit trees and berries in the fall that brings them in like a magnet.

Bear hunting is great out west, you'll just have to put a few miles in instead of sitting over a barrel. Spring and fall are both good, but feed is much different in each season and they will be in slightly different areas. Spring has a slight advantage because snow will isolate areas you won't hunt. Finding sunny green areas is the ticket. I prefer fall bears for the meats sake. And chasing dear and elk as well.

Thank you everyone, I will ultimately sit over a barrel at some point in my life... but I'm in my 29's, I wanna work for it and have stories to tell my grandkids! I appreciate the answers, is it that much better in the spring? I'm looking to get grease so I would really like a fall bear if I can... but a nice fur would be cool too

Fall bears are great for food, grease, and fur and I prefer hunting them then. You always run the risk though of having it snow in september and it put the black bears to bed a little early. I can think of a few times guiding it's been kind of a bummer. Generally, plan for nice weather and great scenery

In Alberta you can't do a DIY bear hunt as a American unless you've got a friend to hunter host you. Most or all guided bear hunts are over bait so I thunk you're pretty much guaranteed a bear. I'm not much of a bear hunter (mainly due to grizzly being predominantly in my area and no season for them) but I see lots in the fall once the oats are ripe.

Our fall bears are pretty nice when they are up in the mountains eating berries. But, you can likely find similar much closer to you.
I prefer spring bears, for no real particular reason, other than I want to do other things in the fall. Some are I shoot are rubbed. Not even really a consideration for me, any more.

I’d go fall. I have way better luck in the fall and the meat on a bear that has been eating berries and apples is fantastic.

Do a Google search for "Frosty pass, white pine creek trail, Chelan County". The first week of September or so, when the huckleberries (blue berries) are ripe. This is in Washington State. Or anywhere else in the upper reaches of Icicle Creek.
I really shouldn't be making this public, but what the heck.

You are looking for information like this:
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/frosty-pass
Then scroll down the page for more info, you'll see what the country looks like. It is definitely hike-in. After Labor day you won't see many people, early buck (three point minimum one side, opens on the 10th or 15th can't remember), you may see a couple other hunters then. Lots of country though.

Get up high where you can glass acres and acres of huckleberries. Take a wrist-rocket and some 32 caliber lead balls for shooting blue grouse. It's some very beautiful country. Take a fishing pole and some small spinners like yellow and red dotted Panther Martins, some rooster tails too.

I would suggest accessing the area via White Pine trail just east of Stevens Pass on US Hwy 2 rather than via Leavenworth and Icicle Creek.

NJ has thousands of bears and OTC tags for $2 each! Top THAT...

Pete

That's exactly what I want

Yeah but they also have bunny huggers and a crooked governor who cares more about likes on social media than he does conservation. I thought the season was banned there?

If you want to stay in the east and do a DIY hunt without bait your only real options are coastal Carolina hunts.

Montana is where I've thought about going... but I might not leave once I'm there. I think I'd just find Steve Rinella convince him to hire me for my charisma, and expurlative hunting ability, get my job and stay there forever. Hahaha Beautiful country with incredible hunting and fishing.

Don’t know if a N R needs a guide in Ontario ? I haven’t did it in a while but if nothing has changed. A NR can go to Quebec for spring hunt, and DIY without a guide, if you hunt in a ZEC, (zone exploitation control ) There are many, you join the ZEC and buy the tag over the counter.