International Black Bear Show - Visit Grand Rapids Skip to content

International Black Bear Show

The Annual Black Bear Show is a gathering for bear hunters across North America! It will be hosted in Grand Rapids, MN at the Yanmar Arena. Come check out the vendors and jump in on one of the seminars to expand your knowlege of the Black Bear as well as all things hunting the Black Bear.

Seminar Schedule:

Friday July 31, 2026

1:00 Bernie the Bear Professor answers your questions Live

2:00 Brian Johnson – Anatomy Hunter, the science of where to shoot a bear PART #1

3:00 Jesse Koskiniemi – Big bear hunting in ag land, how to deal with corn and other crops

4:00 Care and Cooking of bear meat

5:00 Richard P. Smith – Understanding Black Bear Biology and Behavior

Saturday Aug. 1

10:00 Jason Morris – Baiting strategies and techniques

11:00 Brian Johnson – Anatomy Hunter, the science of where to shoot a bear PART #2

12:00 Tom Miranda – Apex Adrenaline: One Chance, One Shot!

1:00 Black Bear Biology and Behavior – Panel Discussion with Bernie Barringer and Scott Smith

2:00 Blood Tracking Dogs, What Every Hunter Should Know: Juliet Flint, Minnesota Tracking Dogs

3:00 How to skin a bear – Bernie Goebel, 4 Rivers Taxidermy

4:00 Richard P. Smith – Field Judging Black Bears

5:00 Status of wolf hunting in the Midwest – Dillon Porter, Hunters 4 Hunters

Sunday Aug. 2

9-9:45 Informal Church Service – Teen Challenge Choir & Christian Bowhunters of America

10:00 Care and Cooking of bear meat

11:00 Jesse Koskiniemi – Big bear hunting in ag land, how to deal with corn and other crops

12:00 Brian Johnson – Anatomy Hunter, the science of where to shoot a bear PART #3

1:00 Bernie the Bear Professor answers your questions Live

2:00 Andy Tri, MN Bear Biologist – Minnesota’s bear population and biology

3:00 To be announced

Date

Jul 31 2026 - Aug 02 2026

Time

12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Location

Yanmar Arena
1401 NW 3rd Ave, Grand Rapids, MN

More Info

Wildfire Alerts

At this time there are no wildfires in the Grand Rapids, and Itasca County, Minnesota area. The wildfire smoke from the Cook, Lake, and northern St Louis County fires has moved into the greater Grand Rapids, and Itasca County, Minnesota area today. Predictions with wind and weather conditions that it will clear up significantly this weekend (July 17-19, 2026). Below are some resources and updated information regarding the air quality and wildfires in Cook, Lake, and northern St Louis County:

MN DNR Wildfire Updates/Alerts:
 https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/index.html

US Forest Department, Superior National Forest Updates/Alerts: 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts

MPCA Information:
 https://www.pca.state.mn.us/news-and-stories/air-quality-alert-issued-due-to-wildfire-smoke-for-wednesday-july-15-through-friday-july-17-for-east-0

INCI Information : 
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/mnsuf-july-2026-superior-nf-wildfires/superior-national-forest-and-july-lightning-event-combined-daily-update-07-14-2026