I was elk hunting last week....it had been slow for me so I decided to predator call into a canyon with lots of brush and creek...rock crags...looked very cougar-ish/bear ish.
Call for about 45 min or so, didn't hear much, one squirrel way down the way going nuts...I had hope but nothing materialized.
Since this was near the end of the day, and I had called a bit elsewhere, I decided to call it quits early on the stand and got up to walk back to the truck. I get back to the loggin road shortly after I stop calling and what do I see....a nice chocolate color phase walking up the hill from me 100 yards or so around the corner. I was bow hunting, no shot and he wasn't hanging around.
The point in this....call for an hour then stick around. I honestly believe I quiet calling too early and left the stand. He may have been sitting and watching the brush, who knows. I always learn something hunting bear....sometimes I just have to learn it a few times!
Best of luck to the rest of the bear hunters out there. Its a great time for bear at the moment.