DO BLACK BEARS ROAR?

[LittleHunter]

Me and a buddy of mine when up to the hills on Saturday bear hunting going and looking at some areas that i have seen bears in. Not finding any sign of any bears being in the area for a while went looking for a new area looking in lower elevation near water found some fresh sign but now bears so later that evening we went up to the higher country and glassing the opening we finally spotted one with the spotting scope about a mile away or so.

Wanted to get a better look at the bear couldn't tell how big or if it was a sow or boar from that distance so the hike was on but before we go to where we seen the bear we bumped another bear i believe didn't get the best of look at it in the thick timber but we heard it making woofing and popping sounds like a bear but I'm not a expert. So we decided to sit on a high point in a clearing near by where we bumped what we think was a bear because i don't think that it saw us just caught are sint and wasn't to sure of us and it didn't sound like it moved off to fast and there was fresh sign every where. Stumps tore up old logs rolled over and big rock turned and scratch marks on trees where the back was removed and we even found a tree where a bear was rubbing on. black hear all in the bark and it kinda smelled like wet dog. Do bears have a smell? I don't know never shot one.

 After about a hour of sitting there we finally heard a nose and it was loud but sound like it was below us back in the timber about 70 yard and were sitting about 150 yard away from the timber. We were thinking it was some of the free range cattel at first but after five Min's we heard it again and we could tell it wasn't a cow. After about two Min's we heard it again and about ever min after that for 10 Min's straight and a bunch of loud ruckus branches breaking.

We heard one from another location up wind futher witch sounded like it was up the draw in the timber about 350 yards. I'm not going to lie the hair on the backs of are necks were sticking up and i think i even piddled in my pants a little but it was getting dark pretty fast and were hearing this roaring back forth and all this ruckus of branches breaking from one another and it seemed like the one from up the draw was getting closer.

We were both just sitting there with the rifles ready hoping what ever was make all the noise would show its self in the clearing. We sat their until we couldn't see any more and the roaring is still going back in forth so we decided to head back to the truck a quick as we could. While on the long hike back to the truck we were talking about we were hearing not really know what we just heard or what was really going on.

But we came up with think we stumbled on a mature boar and or a sow with cubs and smelled the presents of another mature bear and was not liking it at all and they were challenging for territory or something like that because it didn't sound like eather one of what was roaring was backing down but I'm not expert but that's what it sounded like to me but still not really sure. So my question is have any of you guy or gals every experienced this sort of thing before in the woods or can confirm that if it was even bears roaring back in forth. I have never heard a bear make that noise well not a black bear. Just wanting what your thoughts are on in.

I just got in to bear hunting four years ago with a few of my buddy's with non of really knowing what were really doing. From you experts that harvest bears year after year. What do you look for in a area what vegetation or water sources near by or is there a time of the year that's better or even day or do you look in higher or lower elevations? Any help would be mutchly appreciated.

[Kc_Kracker]

i got to say it, its really hard to read when its one endless paragraph, i think im cross eyed now    break it up a little and im sure people will reply, it just hard t read. when you hear snapping and popping sound its my exp. your VERY close and they are becoming offensive or making threats.

[LittleHunter]

Sorry about that. Didn't realize it from posting it from my phone until i got on the computer. It made me go cross eyed. I'm not the best writer or speller but i hope the change help. So you think what we bumped was a bear? What would you say about the other noises?

[JackOfAllTrades]

But we came up with think we stumbled on a mature boar and or a sow with cubs and smelled the presents of another mature bear and was not liking it at all and they were challenging for territory or something like that because it didn't sound like eather one of what was roaring was backing down

Just about any animal will designate a home turf so to speak if they feel threatened or just to establish dominance. A young sow with cubs will certainly posture, grunt/snarl/chatter teeth, bluff charge, make noise in the woods when she wants to notify all others that she smells that she's boss lady around her cubs. I've seen older sows not give a rip until another bear gets too close. Same with sows that are pushing their yearling cubs away. Sometimes a year old isn't too happy to leave. They'll bawl. I've heard what I suspected as boars, make similar advances of dominance over the other. Yet, I've seen five or six in the same berry field within 40yds of each other without a care. Most people don't get to hear what you heard. You've happened upon a good bear spot. Keep your scent to a minimum, enter the area from down wind. Hunt the snot out of it.  Yes, bears smell. Wet dog is a good description.
 
-Steve

[Turner89]

I haven't heard a bear roar yet.......im sure they do. I have heard them snap their teeth.     As far as bear sign....... I look for........you described it in your post.  You have a good spot.

[WildlifeAssassin]

Yes black bears roar. From my experience it is usually a male saying back off.

[LittleHunter]

Cool thanks guys. So the noises we heard were defiantly from a bear. I was hoping that there was someone else out there that has experienced it to.

[bassquatch]

It was probably Bobo trying to attract a Squatch 

[shrek]

Katie perry does...

[LittleHunter]

Has any one had any luck using a predator call? If so when is the best time to use one?

[Bullets_n_Octane]

Since my usual tactics are turning up zero bear anywhere I hunt I used a call last night. I sat in one of my old honeyholes yesterday and tried using a "Cottontail in Distress" call just to see what would pop out... and for the second time since Saturdays Archery Deer Opener, I called in a big Bobcat... still have never had a Bear come in using any predator calls, but I almost always get a Bobcat or a 'Yote. Depending on where you're hunting, a predator call is basically a dinner bell for ALL predators, so always watch your back when calling.