Black Bear Question

[ildrhntr]

I have only hunted bears in Canada and they bait them there, at least where I hunted. I used a Fred Bear Vapor 300 bow shooting 68 pounds with easton acc 360's tipped with muzy 3 blade 100gr broadheads. My bear only went 35 yds.

[JimT]

Re: Black Bear Question

I have only hunted them over bait also. If your not going to use dogs or bait, your only other option is spot and stalk. That can be tough, but far from impossible. If this is your first bear hunt I would tote a rifle for sure. Get that first one under your belt.

[birddog]

Re: Black Bear Question

Is baiting legal? If so,I have a few tips: I love chasing bears!

[fisherguy]

Re: Black Bear Question

Ok, an effective method can be hunting barley or oat field edges in the evening, but with a bow a stalk would be tough. Look for area farmers and ask if they have bears flattening their barley and oat crops, then volunteer to kill one with the rifle. Same with berries or other food sources. The area in the UP from what i have seen would lend itself best to baiting. Dig a hole in your selected location (preferably near good bear sign) about a foot deep, and 2-3 feet across. Fill it with a mix of very nasty rotting meat, fish, anise oil, and anything that smells, as well as some some sweets and bread etc. Try local bakeries, grocery stores, doughnut shops, restaurants. Molasses or syrup poured on any breads and such makes it bery attractive. Once the smell has allowed bears from the area to locate it and they are coming in stick mainly to the breads and sweets. Oh, the important part, cut a bunch of logs in the 5-6 foot range, and 6-8 inches in diameter(can go bigger if you want). Lay these length wise across the hole to cover it, and do at least two layers high. There should be no large gaps for other animals to get in. This way the bear has to work a bit to get the bait, the little critters don't get in, and when you are hunting you should get lots of time and angles for a shot. Also if the ground permits, clear a spot beside the bait and loosen the soil so you will get good bear tracks. This allows identification of the size of bear or bears coming in. Generally a 4 inch pad is a 5 foot bear, 5 inch pad an 6 footer and so on. (approx.) That should keep you busy, and get you on your way to tagging a bear.

Oh, and on the rifles do not use the .338, that is too much gun. Even the .300 is more than you need, a .270, 30-06 etc is more than enough. Bears have thin skins, and teh bones i would say are similar to a deer. a well hit bear will not go far. With the bow, just make sure to get two holes, the fat can keep a wound from bleeding externally a lot. So even though a bear may be down in 50-60 yards there may not necessarily be much of a blood trail.

[Guest BCBOY]

Re: Black Bear Question

Here in BC it's spot and stalk or running with the hounds. Baiting is illegal. All my bears have been spot and stalk. I have shot many. Just took my biggest yesterday, a 7'4" monster. Glassing cutblocks and natural openings looking for the new green grass is the best way. As the spring season progress', the rut is when the big boys come out and play. The rut starts around the 3rd week of May and goes through the 2nd week of June. The big boars do a lot of travelling looking for love. Driving logging roads seems to be the best method to find bears during the rut.