Speaking of bears........
 

How many of you have killed a bear with a bow and arrow? How many of you have done it without the use of bait?

I don't think I'd ever become a serious bear hunter, but I'd like to take one with a bow and arrow some day and I'd be thrilled to have a nice bear skin rug for a future "Man Cave". Being that I live in NY and hunt in PA.........both having VERY healthy populations of black bears, they just aren't a species that I would be comfortable taking a guided hunt to pursue. I'd rather do it on my own in one of these states. I know in NY the season length is very liberal in the Adirondack region from 9/15 to 12/2, and they have a VERY healthy population with a lot of deer hunters seeing as many bears as they do deer. My girlfriends family comes from a long history of Adirondack big woods deer hunting and they consistently kill bears while deer hunting, nearly every year. If they are doing it with a gun, it should be at least attainable to do with a bow I'd think.

Does anyone have experience chasing these animals with bow and arrow without the use of bait? Is there any well known pro hunters that have done this and share knowledge?

Just curious..............

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

I have, but it was over bait. It was a fun hunt. And if the price was right I'd do it again.

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

Matt,
I killed a bear two years ago with a bow in New York State.No bait of course.9.5 year old sow,225 pounds.I have never specifically pursued them with bow or gun but I am actually considering doing that because in my part of the catskill mountains you likely have a better opportunity to take a nice bear than a nice deer.
Food is key beech nuts,white oak etc.,that's where they will be.I got 4 bears on trail cams in early fall.If anyone wishes to see a photograph of a 455 pound bear a close friend shot this past saturday email me.22 inch skull,a white patch on it's chest bigger than a basketball.

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

I'd like to take ONE with a bow and arrow before I hang it up.

And one more thing.........Next time I come to a place that has freakin bears (ROB!!!). I would appreciate it if the host (ROB!!!) would extend me the coutesy to at least let me know.....so that I can make SURE I'm packin!

Carry on................................................ ......................

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

I'm hoping to do so this coming year. In MI it is a lottery to get a tag, and I have 3 points, so I am "guaranteed" a tag. We'll see what happens. We have tons of bears where we hunt, so I should definitely have the opportunity to take one, if I get a tag. We've gotten hundreds of trail cam pics, one is around 500 pounds, never seen him in daylight though, always around midnight-2a.m. My bro is going to use the rifle, but bow for me.

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

That's awesome Scot, I'd love for the chance to take one like that sow you took. I've had encounters with them many times but always during the off-season. I don't think I'd want to take a lot of bears or pursue them like I do whitetails, but one 200+ lb bear with a bow would be an awesome experience and trophy I think. The Northeast doesn't have a lot of big game options compared to out west, but we do have a lot of bears and it's something I'd love a chance to do at least once.

Does anyone know of any articles written on the subject of killing bears without the use of bait?

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

Matt, the best you could hope for in PA is a stalk and spot once you've located a bear in the limited season we have. The odds of a bear coming by a stand in the few days within bow range, you could hunt a lifetime doing it. I don't know how NY compares. Do you ever have bears visiting your plots in PA?

I went the other route and took a guided hunt up in Quebec. They have bears like we have deer. ;) I loved every minute of the trip and would do it again with the right group. I have my bear now so it's not one animal I'll persue when there are so many more to go after but again, in the right group, I'd do it again. I know after I let the arrow loose, I was a nervous wreck. :D

I've never bought a PA bear tag.

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

I've killed three with a bow, all while whitetail or elk hunting. Two from a stand and one from the ground. They just came walking by.

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

And I've got $10 that says there's a mullet behind that cap.[8D]

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

Heh......you didn't realize that northeast/northcentral PA has arguable the largest population of REALLYbig bears in the world? Rob's county actually has the second highest bear kill #'s in the state. This year PA actually produced 7 different bears over 600lbs in only a 3 day season, and currently 5 of the top 10 largest in the B&C books are from PA........

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

I will be about 1lb. heavier as I hike to my stand, next year in PA;)

"Heat" or bear spray.....one or the other.

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

Rob, I knew you took one in Canada, and that's truly a great trophy. To be honest I don't think PA is my best bet just because of the length of the season. My property does fall into PA's limited zones that allow bears to be taken in the first 3 days of deer/rifle season, but I haven't hunted more than 2 days total during this season in the last 4 years. If I had one fairly well patterned I'd give it a shot though.

We definitely have some bears there, they terrorize my grandparents garbage at least once a year every year and I've seen them a few times out of season.The pictures below are all from the property down there, the first is from a game cam and the others I sawearly one summer and happend to have a camera w/ me. I was a bit close for comfort but by time I realized they were there it was toolate and figured I might as well get some cool pictures. I also see prints/scat a few times a year as well on the access road below where you Sat in the nanny whacker stand.

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

Bear hunting is one of my greatest passions as a bowhunter. I love hunting these great animals. I took my first this year, and am hooked. I hunt over bait, becuase it's legal here in MN. I put a trail cam on my bait and have numerous pics that I will post when I get home, none on this comp here at college. I've had as many as 7 dif bears in one pic!! It's amazing how quiet these huge animals can be. I usually here only one "snap" of a twig and like that they are in your set. Amazing. This is mine from this year and my buddies, who processes. Too hot to take "quality" pics...

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

I've killed one but it was over bait.

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

I got one in the catskills of NY with the bow. 336 pounds and took 3 guys to drag it out. More work than anything I'd say. Try to convince a couple of buddies that don't hunt to go into the woods and drag out a large bear and you need to think of ways to bribe them!

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

Matt my dad took a bear a few years ago, a 350lb sow, but it was with a rifle. It was in the same area this guy shot this bruin. It's only about 15-20min from my house.

The guy is actually good friends with one of my dads hunting buddies. Hopefully I'll be able to see it after he gets it back from the taxi.

625lb Black Bear taking in Sterling Forest- Monroe NY

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

I have shot several w/ the bow... My buddy took his first this season w/ the bow.

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

I have shot 9 bear with the bow and arrow. 4 with the compound when I was younger and now 5 more with the recurve. My biggest bear weighed 325lbs and scored 20 5/16 P@Y. All were shot over bait here in Minnesota, there's no other way to do it here in Northern Minnesota because of the thick woods and all unless you have access to a corn field or an oats field that there destroying. They only hit these fields for a limited time, just when the crops arestarting to mature, usually a 2 to 3 week period. My dad has shot bear in the mountains ofColoradodoing spot and stock with the recurve. You can't bait there but you can hunt off of your gut pile's.

RE: Speaking of bears........
 

Bears are on my list of game that I would like to hunt someday. I'd try both over bait and spot & stalk, just to have both experiences. I think spot and stalk with bow or handugn would be neat. I pretty much have to go out of state to hunt them due to our odd bear season.


I know when I was in Idaho and had a small cinnamon with a white chest patch strolling down the trail to me, I was wishing I had a bear tag. Or at least my camera.Honestly though I'm not sure if I would have shot it. While being a really beautiful, unique looking critter, it was on the small side.