| If you haven't tried black bear hunting, these | | | | me. To complicate matters, many times the |
| bulky black beasts will give you a thrill that's tough | | | | areas where black bears flourish are thick with |
| to compare to a typical whitetail hunt. There is | | | | mosquitoes during the late spring, as well. Even if |
| just something about hunting a carnivore that | | | | you are covered from head to toe with mosquito |
| gets your blood pumping. The great thing about a | | | | proof netting, they find a spot to reach you ,or |
| black bear is they are spread all over the United | | | | never let you rest with continual buzzing in your |
| States and Canada, are a reasonable priced hunt, | | | | ear. For me, it's nearly impossible to remain still |
| and normally are not an extremely physical hunt. | | | | with these pestering bugs swarming the entire |
| In my experience, a great way to start hunting | | | | time. Black bears are extremely weary of odd |
| for black bears is by finding an outfitter that | | | | sounds or movement, so this is a necessity. |
| hunts for bears over bait. Although you don't | | | | Occasionally you will hear a bear coming to stand, |
| have the fulfillment of back breaking hikes and | | | | but many times, sight will be your first contact |
| spotting and stalking the animal, hunting over bait | | | | with a bear. Keep still and quiet and you will have |
| presents challenges of it's own. | | | | a good chance at killing a bear. One option to slow |
| Normally the baiting begins before the season | | | | down the mosquito swarm is a Thermacell. They |
| opens with sweets such as donuts, | | | | are quiet, relatively scent free and do a fairly |
| marshmallows, or any other sweet smelling tasty | | | | good job of keeping the mosquitoes at bay. |
| foods, supplemented with more fulfilling items | | | | The second challenge is keeping your calm. When |
| such as dog food or meat scraps. Many outfitters | | | | a bear comes into the bait it is very tempting to |
| will find an available supply of reasonable priced or | | | | rush the shot. Bears are extremely difficult to |
| soon to be discarded food and begin putting it out | | | | judge, but if you spend a little time, you can often |
| for the bears before hunters arrive. The bears | | | | tell whether it's a male or female. Males are |
| grow accustomed to the food supply and often | | | | blockier with a square face and often a sagging |
| return year after year to the same area, sniffing | | | | belly. You don't want to shoot a sow with cubs |
| around for the smell of sweets and a free meal. | | | | and boars are normally larger, so take the time to |
| The hunting is usually done from an elevated | | | | judge the bear. A great reference for judging |
| stand shadowed by the darkness of timber with | | | | bears is watching some bear hunting videos |
| an effort to keep it on the downwind side. In my | | | | before you go. I recommend Cave Bears on the |
| opinion, the wind isn't a huge factor as long as the | | | | Pacific Rim by Jim Shockey. There are numerous |
| outfitter doesn't go to great lengths to remain | | | | black bears taken on this video of all shapes and |
| scent free when he is refreshing the bait. The | | | | sizes. Another very important factor is placing the |
| more human scent he leaves when refreshing the | | | | shot in the right place. I've found it's easy to |
| bait, the better in my opinion. Once the bears | | | | shoot a bear too far back. Be patient and wait |
| grow used to the scent, they are not as spooked | | | | until the bear has his front leg angled forward |
| when they do catch the smell of a human near | | | | toward the front of his body. Place the shot right |
| the bait. Granted this doesn't work very well if | | | | as you would on a deer, just behind the shoulder. |
| you begin baiting several days before hunting, but | | | | Don't take the shot if he is in an odd position or |
| if you give the bears some time, they will grow | | | | his leg is vertical with the ground. You may miss |
| more accustomed to the human scent. | | | | his vitals and have an injured bear on your hands. |
| One of the biggest difficulties is sitting in a stand | | | | They will head for deep dark cover and it's no fun |
| hour after hour and trying to remain quiet and | | | | tracking an injured bear. |
| with very little movement. Some people (often | | | | The main thing is to get out and have some fun. |
| women more than men) have a knack for this | | | | Black bears are exciting to hunt and hopefully |
| skill, but personally this is a grueling workout for | | | | you'll have a beautiful bear rug when you return. |