Oconto Falls

Mike Arko

Mike is an avid outdoorsman and guide. For the past 21 years Mike along with his wife Joanne have owned and operated Mike’s Outfitter of Lac Desserat North Western Quebec. (about 14 hrs. from Green Bay, WI)

In 1986 at age 24 he started baiting and guiding for Black Bears on a part time basis which has led to his current outfitting business (www.mikesoutfitter.com) which has a major focus on black bear hunts. Mike currently operates in excess of 85 bait stations and hosts 40-50 hunters yearly.

As the years progressed he has continually changed and adapted his style of baiting from the early days when he used rough fish, old meat and grease which provided OK success but not the quality he was looking for or that felt he owed his clients. Mike began using more sweets as they were available which not only increased the success rate but also the number record book black bears. Currently he uses over 30,000 pounds of sweets, frosting and fruit fill yearly; most of which he purchases from Big Woods Bear Bait in Wisconsin.

Several years ago we started hunting with Mike on our annual spring black bear hunt and introduced him to Big Bear Scents. Mike seemed somewhat skeptical at first, but as our results started to speak for themselves (Four Pope and Young bears in four years) he is now one of our biggest advocates.

Mike will be one of our very limited number of “New Product Testers” along with retailing our full line of products at the lodge and working with other local outfitters and retailers to promote Big Bear Scents products.

Visit Mike's Outfitter at

http://www.mikesoutfitter.com/