What are you bear hunting tips?
 

My brother and i are going on our first black bear hunt this up coming weekend. we have been doing as much research as possible concerning hunting black bear, what to do and not do. We will be glassing and stalking, no baiting or stands.

What would any of you who have successfully hunted black bear advise to observe to have a successful hunt?

We will be hunting in Idaho in the general direction north of creators of the moon.

I appreciate any insight you guys can provide!

I'd advise don't bother hunting bears in bad weather, but be out there when the weather breaks. My first bear safari - Twenty years ago a good friend invited me up to Montana to bear hunt. Never having hunted for bears I wasn't that interested. A couple of years after the first invite he still was wanting me to come up and hunt, so I said OK let's go. When I got there my host had some business that had come up and he told me how to get up to the cabin and to have a good time and he be along when he could. Now, I've successfully hunted deer, elk, antelope, coyotes, bobcats and upland birds, but no experience whatsoever at hunting bears. Well I located the cabin and offloaded my gear and got camp setup; and, thought to myself what's next? Got in the pickup drove around a bit and located a creek that flowed through a meadow that had a clearing on both sides of the creek for about 300 yards. I setup on this clearing and was glassing the meadows on the mountains above and thinking that it's a beautiful day and I was glad to be there, even though the chances of actually seeing a bear seemed pretty slim. Tiring of the binoculars, resting my eyes and snacking on some peanut butter crackers, I caught some movement across the creek or a least I thought I saw something. After some scrutiny with the binoculars, there was something there but couldn't quite make it out. As I moved to the left then to the right to try for a better angle, this bear climbed a tree so he could see me. Right about now things start happening pretty fast, the light is fading and now the bear wasn't in the tree. I moved toward his location and he climbed up the tree again to see what I was doing. Being new to this bear hunting deal, I was cognizant enough to figure out it was time to shoot this bear. Put the crosshairs on his shoulder and let her fly, I had a good sight picture but couldn't tell if the shot connected or if he just jumped out of the tree. Waited about 20 minutes watching and listening without seeing or hearing anything, and now it's getting dark. At this point, although I was a little hesitant, it was time to get in there to see what happened. Well turns out the shot was good, the bear was graveyard dead at the base of that tree and I was one happy camper. Took that bear at 200 yards with a 270, that was a lot of years and a few bears ago. Now I'm 65 this year and I've got my bear tag to try it again this spring. It's like my friend told me all those years ago "Bear hunting is addictive".

simply thick cover with a water source is a great place to start

Do you guys eat your black bear? Is it good eating?

I killed 4 over the years, yes I eat them they are excellent eating

Black bears are great for eating, I love turning the bear meat into Italian sausages then make breakfast burritos with them so good ����

Yes. Bears are very good eating. The meat isn't gamey at all and makes great salami and stews.

For the OP, the black bears I have seen while hunting and/or observing are very alert and observant as to movement and especially noise. I always get a bear tag while deer hunting and have noticed I see far fewer bears than deer. Let us know how your hunt goes and post some pictures. Best of luck.

after having killed more than a dozen, and saw more than 50 killed, been within 30 yards of hundreds, I can assure you, if you killed a bear at 200 yards, or 100 yards, or even 50 yards, he did not see you, if you were downwind he may have scented you but he didn't see you.
RR

Great story.
 

I too have been hunting these fine animals for almost 40 years this fall. In Ontario they used to be considered vermin and now they are finally a game animal, My buddy and I take a week in June every year to hunt bear and fish. What a great time of the year to be in the bush..

I have eaten lots of black bear over the years. Now we pretty much get two a year made into spicy sausages that are great on the BBQ.

Good luck with your hunt lads. Off turkey hunting on Monday then bears.

Trip was pushed back due to weather and extra load at work, I will definitely upload photos of the hunt within the next few weeks. Thank you guys for the insight!