My 15 y.o. son is wanting to shoot a black bear. We have 2 weeks of bear season here in N.C. starting yesterday. I have never been a bear hunter but we do have a good idea of where we may run across one as we ran across a sow and cub earlier this year while deer hunting. My question is how dependent are the cubs on their mother at this point? Do most bear hunters hold off on shooting sows with cubs? I don't shoot does with fawns but am told that the fawns are plenty independant by this time of year to live on their own. Justpersonal decision I have made. What's the normal practice among bear hunters on this.

Well I for one would be checking the game regs!!! most statesI have ever been in or around have rules against shooting a sow with cubs!!

Check page 42 of your game regs....says sows with cubs are a no no!!!!!

Try finding a good oats field by a big section of bush. Sit looking down the edge of the field the bears will come out to feed then its stocking time. I would recommend if your bowhunting to have a gun with just in case.

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.

Thanks for all the info. I knew I would not feel right about shooting a sow with cubs but wasn't sure about the rules on it. I am in eastern N.C. huntingon timber land, mostly planted pines but with some hard woods. Most of the bear hunters here do run dogs. We will be deer hunting, bear will be taken by opportunity only if we happen upon one. Thats why the question. The last bear I did see was a mother and cub but it was a good 10-15 minutes after seeing the mother before we saw the cub which was hidden in some cover. Any way to tell males from females by looks?

Hyde County!!! That place is loaded with bears. Its on the eastern portion of the state, and i think the World record came from there, dont hold me to that though. I think there is some public land in the area. My brothers ex girlfriend shot her first bear in Hyde county. ALot of bears. I see them on the road wondering around in when im down there with my dad visiting friends.

Cubs depend on the mom for 2 years, so dont shoot em, ya wanna hunt bears later right? I use Liquid smoke to spray in the trees but at this time they start to find some sleep time.