Mountains of NC....well all of NC in generally is dog hunting country for bears, where season is in...with the occasional few being taken via still hunting.

I would look towards anything still producing mast....in the mountains, I would look for beech and oaks near rhododendron thickets. Rough country isnt ALWAYS where they will be, but couldnt hurt. Lots of public land to hunt bears on in NC, but most is ran by dog hunters. An old home place with some apple orchards with apples still around maybe?

Sows with cubs are off limits as stated earlier.