I just got my tags and renewed my lease on my hunting land ($200/ year for 200 acres). I saw a 300+ pound black bear in the spring and would like to get him. Because I have never hunted black bear before, even with a rifle, I want to make sure I am doing this right. So, I have a few questions:

How far away should I set the bait? What kind of bait should I use? Any other tips and tricks or hunting black bear.

Well, you could start by talking to some of the people in your local hunting community that have experience at this. I could tell you a story how a guy on a whim and at the invitation of a great friend asked him to go hunting bear. This guy did just that. He was primed for the great black furocious bear only to be blessed by probably one of the most majestic mountain bucks he ever seen. Funny that guy was me, and boy did I wish it was deer season.

But anyway, talk with locals that have experience bear hunting. Most guys would be willing to share their information. And I would imagine you have a little time on your hands prior to your Bear HUnting Adventure. Recently I decided to invest in as much information as possible. I purchased a book by Richard P. Smith called, "Black Bear Hunting". It is packed with alot of information, and probably more than you can remember. It is very well written and gives excellent tips on bear signs, strategy, baiting, dog hunting, and much much more. It helps to go into the woods with at least some knowledge on the subject. The one most important chapters in this book covers how to field judge a bear. I think this would definetly be something to delve into. It helps to know your not taking a sow from its cubs and passsing it up for that big bruin. Invest the few dollars for this book. I know you won't be sorry.

Hope this helps you in the quest for your bear. I can't hunt for another year and a half cause I am stuck in the desert. Maybe you can tell us about your success. I could live vicariously through you.

Thanks for the tips. I always ask people about it and have read the tips in the bear hunting manual that you get when you buy your tags, but I have not picked up any books, so I will look at the one you recommended. Any other tips?

By the way, in Minnesota, I can get a black bear permit every year. The zone I hunt in has not filled its quota for black bear permits in nearly 25 years. Pretty cool.

Another thing, What do you use a bear for once you kill it? I am going to use its claws and large teeth to make a necklace (because it will look bad ass). I don't want a rug, what else can I use the fur for? What is the best way to get rid of the meat? There are a lot of nasty diseases in it and by the time you cook them out of the meat, it tastes and feels like a log.

As for the meat I turned it all into burger. Not bad for a spring bear but fall is better. So what doe you have for special equipment for baiting. When can you start baiting and are there any restrictions to baiting in MN.
Here's what I used for the spring bear hunt just to the north of you. 2 barrels, 250lbs rolled corn(with mollasses), 250lbs of oats and 70 gal of used cooking grease. Of the 2 barrels one had a removable lid and the other did not. In the barrel with the removable lid drill 4 small holes 1.5-2"fill with bait, grease and put the lid back on. The second barrel had was chained to a tree, had a large opening at the top and 2 small holes at the bottom. This provided easy access to food where as the previous barrel made sure there was alwasy bait at the sight b/c it is more difficult for the bear to get. Now in the barrel with the big hole...... fill the hole with logs. This is a strike indicator. When you walk into the bait to check and the log is moved then you have a bear hitting it. It took awhile for my bait to get hit.......... be patient. You might want to try a stink bait to get them to the bait. A beaver carcass, some fishor rotten chicken should work. Although your bait with all the grease warming in the sun should get to stink pretty quick. Set up your stand 20yds off to the side
Make sure to set the bait in a secluded spot or the bears will be in later than you want to be shooting or can legally be shooting.

Schultzy is your go to man for bears! He's from your state and he know's his chit. He's our resident bear man, and his track record speaks for itself! He's killed some great whitetails as well!

There are a few restrictions. You can't start baiting until mis August, but I put some bacon grease on a few logs around the site just to see if he was still hanging around (Nothing too big). Other than that, there is not much you have to worry about unless you go to certain areas (which I am not). I will give those ideas a try. Thanks.

Thanks, I'll try to contact him.