Hunting Black Bear
09-09-2005, 12:26 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bland County Virginia
Posts: 469
Hunting Black Bear
This will be my first year going after a bear. I know by sign and trailcam pictures that I have plenty bears on my stomping ground. My problem is I know little about hunting for bear. Baiting is not legal here, and I have no dogs. I really want to tag one with my bow, what is the best meathod?? Hunt them like deer?? Any recomended scents or lures?? Any info would help. I just moved to this area and since the bear are plentiful I hoped to try and tag one. Thanks
09-10-2005, 12:02 PM
#3
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 10
RE: Hunting Black Bear
You can do many things for bear, spot and stalk, tree stand, and if you have enough people you can form a drive. I f you have pictures on your trail camera that probably is just as good as any way, hang a stand and wait them out. I spot and stalk in the fall by following old logging roads and cut lines but my failure rate is about 99 percent with my bow. Bears up here dont seem to have much routine they tend to wander so if you have found a couple that keep on going by your camera I'd try to sit them out. Good luck and post pictures if you get one! 
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09-10-2005, 12:07 PM
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Alberta
Posts: 51
RE: Hunting Black Bear
Your best bet is to find what they are keying on as far as food is concerned. I'm not sure what area you hunt, butin my "neck of the woods" they will be eating berries and crops such as oats. Figuire out where they are feeding, they won't be too far away. If youknow (from your trailcams) that they around, find a good ambush spot and try predator calling, I think a rabbit in distress call would work fine. I hope this info helps! Good luck!
09-10-2005, 10:23 PM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Idaho
Posts: 2,072
RE: Hunting Black Bear
If it is legal, do a honey burn. Put some honey in a pot and start heating it. This should draw one in if he catches wind of it. Bacon burns also work well. Bears are also addicted to propane. Take your propane torch with you and crack the valve. The bears will tear the can apart to get to the smell. You might want to make sure that these methods are legal. You are however spreading odor and not leaving bait per say.................Good luck!!!!!
09-12-2005, 09:30 AM
#6
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Winston Salem NC
Posts: 356
RE: Hunting Black Bear
Define baiting? Is a honey burn or scents considered baiting?
You have pictures from a cam? Post them...we like pictures. If they are coming into an area on a regular basis then I would put up a stand there and wait for one to show up. The thing to remember about bears is that they are very quiet. I never can get over how something that bid can sneak into a stand without making a single bit of noise. I can't tell you how many times I've looked up from a book or turned to see a bear coming in. They are sneaky.
Is a honey burn or scents considered baiting?You have pictures from a cam? Post them...we like pictures. If they are coming into an area on a regular basis then I would put up a stand there and wait for one to show up. The thing to remember about bears is that they are very quiet. I never can get over how something that bid can sneak into a stand without making a single bit of noise. I can't tell you how many times I've looked up from a book or turned to see a bear coming in. They are sneaky.
09-18-2005, 07:51 PM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location:
Posts: 1,447
RE: Hunting Black Bear
BAIT....if its legal....molasses and popcorn always draws em in...Get up as high as you can. they will stay at a food source as long as its there. Keep your eyes peeled, they move like shadows...
