What would you do next?

[Korichnovui]

Hey all,

I'm a new hunter that is interested in hunting some bear. My brother-in-law is an experienced hunter and he took me deer hunting this weekend to a "feel free to hunt" area. It was an area near a cabin that belongs to our family, and it's an area known to have black bears. While we were there, we saw tons of bear sign. Mainly lots of bear poop, probably from more than 1 animal (we are guessing just because of the sheer amount we came across). Most of this stuff was found on a steep hillside with sparse-to-medium cover of pine and other trees, wild apple trees, blackberry and other berry bushes.

My brother-in-law knows nothing about hunting bear and has little interest, so he's no help to me. How would you go about hunting this area for bear, in the future? Any tips?

[dscubame]

Number one thing imo to keep in mind is bear have something like 7 times the nose of a bloodhound so the wind is the most important factor.  Bear are blind so they use the nose, don't worry about them seeing you it is the wind that will determine whether you see the bear.

[xXLojackXx]

I'll be happy to join and assist you on a bear hunt. Theres only another 4 weeks left though so if you're going to get after it, you should jump on it quick. Feel free to PM me with questions. I need to go back and get my second bear before it ends.

[Bullets_n_Octane]

I'm hopin to run across one this weekend... here's hopin! Good Luck , I've yet to take on in the last 16 years ...

[Korichnovui]

Do you try to "still hunt" a bear ie actively find one, or do you stake out a spot?
What criteria would you use to choose such a spot?
What is the best time to find a bear?

[lokidog]

Do you try to "still hunt" a bear ie actively find one, or do you stake out a spot?
What criteria would you use to choose such a spot?
What is the best time to find a bear?

I think finding a spot where you can watch over a feeding area would be more effective than just plodding through the woods looking.

[Machias]

Me, if the scat was fresh, I'd find a good vantage point near decent cover, watch for a while, very early or late, and then after a while I would trying predator calling one in.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Me, if the scat was fresh, I'd find a good vantage point near decent cover, watch for a while, very early or late, and then after a while I would trying predator calling one in.

Do you try to "still hunt" a bear ie actively find one, or do you stake out a spot?
What criteria would you use to choose such a spot?
What is the best time to find a bear?

I think finding a spot where you can watch over a feeding area would be more effective than just plodding through the woods looking.

 

[xXLojackXx]

Bears this time of year are constantly eating to prepare for the winter/hibernation. Therefore they care constantly moving. Go to the area that has all the sign in it, get a shootable yardage away and sit and watch. The bears will be back at some point. Look constantly, the bear i shot this year was in a spot i had glassed 3 times, looked back 20 seconds later and a bear was standing there. I swear they can appear out of nowhere    Be there as long as you can, and your chance of harvest will go drastically up.