Spring Bear with a bow?

[huntinkid20]

Dreaming of being selected. Im going into the draw with 8pts this year. I'm in for SE units. Has anyone had any luck harvesting a spring bear with a bow? I make and shoot my own bows (longbow) and would love to hear of anyone getting into bow range of these spring bears. I know they tend to move alot. I am not opposed to a rifle and will have one with me as well if I draw. Lets hear some up close stories!

[jrebel]

Couple years ago during my mother in laws spring bear hunt, I had a small color phase at about 5 feet.....Is that close enough?   

[KFhunter]

This |--|  close

Fall, bow.

He was laying down behind this tree, I couldn't go up, or down to get a shot due to brush, so I waited here over an hour as he was shifting around, finally wind got me.

You can see his ear in this pic

[trophyhunt]

Killed several in the SE area, had only 2 around 60 yards, it’s a dream of mine to arrow one as well. Tough to do in those hills, lots to carry having both weapons, unless your buddy carry’s the gun.

[huntinkid20]

Couple years ago during my mother in laws spring bear hunt, I had a small color phase at about 5 feet.....Is that close enough?   

I think so 

That's awesome @KFhunter. Tough to make that situation happen. Being stuck is the worst.

[huntinkid20]

Killed several in the SE area, had only 2 around 60 yards, it’s a dream of mine to arrow one as well. Tough to do in those hills, lots to carry having both weapons, unless your buddy carry’s the gun.

Steep and deep for sure  . Hoping to trick... I mean convince a friend to carry the gun. 

[Timberstalker]

I've had several opp's in the Blues up close, but it happens awful fast and I've never had the bow with me when I was close enough.  We did kill one in 2016 at 21 yards, with a gun.  It was the perfect scenario for a bow harvest as well.

As was mentioned, they move a ton, so that makes it tough. 

Best of luck.

[Machias]

Out of nine bears taken so far 5 with a compound bow, 3 with a rifle and 1 with a longbow, all of them, even the three rifle bears have been under 20 yards.  Seven have been over bait though.

[ch1pnasty]

Ive Harvested bears with a compound bow both on the ground and from a tree . one encounter I could have probably used my recurve . totally doable .
good luck

[Jonathan_S]

Sometimes bears can get really close.

[Rem14]

They can get very close!! Had an encounter last year bear hunting. Getting dark headed out to the road waiting for my ride, heard  something coming my way on the road. By now it is dark and the bear was running straight for me. I yelled , the bear did a four wheel drift sideways , at  8-10 ft. from me and off into the brush. Laughed  about it later about almost getting run over by a bear.

[HillHound]

Out of nine bears taken so far 5 with a compound bow, 3 with a rifle and 1 with a longbow, all of them, even the three rifle bears have been under 20 yards.  Seven have been over bait though.

Definitely much easier in a controlled environment where are you know the bears are going to be coming in and sticking around for a while. I am definitely shot some bears with my rifle that would’ve been in bow range. But all of them were so quick cause that there’s no way I would’ve had time or a shot with a bow. I would try it in a state like Idaho that allows bating but other than that it’s going to be pretty tough. Call with how much they wander even seeing which direction they go would be hard to cut them off.I am sure it has been done though. Maybe when I can’t afford any more taxidermy bills cause I will give it a try to. Until then I’m sticking with the rifle

[Machias]

Two of my rifles shots were with calling, both of those I could have easily used my bow.  Plenty of time and plenty close enough.  Also through the years I've passed on several bears within bow range that was not over bait.  It's certainly MUCH harder, but then that is the point of using the bow, just another type of challenge.  For me it is certainly way more exciting to shoot a bear at 15 yards than it is at even 100+ yards.  That type of hunting does not excite me much at all.  Not knocking anyone else, only speaking for myself.

[huntinkid20]

Some great experiences being shared, I appreciate it! I think calling will be a great tool to get one in close.

Keep the stories coming!! Any success stories out there of spot and stalk bears with a stickbow?

[Shawn Ryan]

Shot a bear last September with a compound. Had an idea the bear would come back the same way as it had the night before. 20 yards. Obviously not a spring bear; I don't know how much different their behavior is from spring to fall.