the only way my group has had success has been doing drives. i have not shot a bear yet "let 2 pass because they looked small" but every year our group takes 2-4. this year we took a large one just over 600 pounds and about 10 years ago they took one that was the largest black bear of the time, i believe it was something like 900 pounds but i could be off some being i was about 4 or 5 when it was killed but i am alomst 100% sure it was between 850-925 shot by Mr. Rinker (sp). but the way that they got it was by driveing off a small swamp and the one driver saw it laying in the brush and shot it when it stood up.

good luck and let me know how your season goes