Bear hunting newbie

[yorketransport]

Alright, I've decided to get serious about bear hunting this year. Deer and elk seasons just fall in to my busiest time of year at work (I'm a FedEx Ground Contracor). So I'd like to focus my energy on hunting something with an earlier season.

The problem is that I don't know anyone who does any dedicated bear hunting. Everyone looks at bear as a target of opportunity while hunting something else. So my question is what are some good resources for a newbie to get information from. Are there any particularly good books or videos out there? Any little push in the right direction would be appreciated. Thanks.

Andrew

[stumprat]

PM sent

[billythekidrock]

Everyone looks at bear as a target of opportunity while hunting something else.

Andrew

Blasphemy! 

[Michelle_Nelson]

  

[bobcat]

Read "Education of a Bear Hunter," by Ralph Flowers. He was a professional bear hunter for many years in western Washington.  See it here:

http://www.amazon.com/education-bear-hunter-Ralph-Flowers/dp/0876911696

[billythekidrock]

I second the Flower's books. Both bear books will give you some great local insight.

As for videos I always suggest "Calling Bears, They come to eat" by Wayne Carlton.
The bear videos by Jim Shockey are good for learning some behavior as well as judging.

[rasbo]

thers a book called when bears attack,good read if your a screamer,cause it does get close

[yorketransport]

Blasphemy! 

When I tell people that I want to bear hunt, most of them look at me like I'm crazy. Everyone just wants to know why I would want to hunt them. After all, aren't they dangerous?

If any of you are familiar with Backpacker's Supply in Tacoma, I was there making a delivery about 3 years ago and one of the employees was telling me that he had to turn back on a hike because there was a big bear in the area. When I asked him were he was, he told me and asked why I wanted to know. When I told him that I wanted to go hunt in that area, he went on a rant about how wrong it was for me to go brutally kill a defenseless bear. That guy wouldn't sign for any of my deliveries after that.  I sure was glad when he left.

I'll track down a copy of Ralph Flowers' book and check out some of the videos. Keep the suggestions coming! Thanks.

Andrew

[Sideswipe]

Yeah, I concur; read Flowers' books (3).  BKR put me on to them a couple of years ago.  I warn you, bear hunt'in will change you, are you ready for it?  There's something about hunt'in something that will turn around & hunt you.  What a rush.

[Kain]

I second the Flower's books. Both bear books will give you some great local insight.

As for videos I always suggest "Calling Bears, They come to eat" by Wayne Carlton.
The bear videos by Jim Shockey are good for learning some behavior as well as judging.

+1 on "Calling Bears, They come to Eat"  very entertaining and educational.  I will have to get those books now. 

[saylean]

Carlton is nuts....that blonde bear at the end of the video was WAY too close.

[follow maggie]

I'm going to try bear hunting this year for the first time.  Don't know anything about it except it's hard.  I'll try these resources you guys have listed.  Thanks for the help.

[Kain]

here is an article on bear calling by Wayne Carlton, he is the guy that did the video "Calling Bears. They Come to Eat". 

http://www.hunterspec.com/Updateable/update_display.cfm?pageID=1209&categoryID=12

http://www.hunterspec.com/Updateable/update_display.cfm?pageID=1219&categoryID=12

[Kain]

An article for calling bear in the pacific northwest.

http://www.gameandfishmag.com/hunting/big-game-hunting/RA_1008_04/

http://www.gameandfishmag.com/hunting/big-game-hunting/gf_aa106303a/

Couple other articles with info on calling for bears.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/article/article_read.asp?aid=145952&sid=3

http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/hunting/2007/09/calling-bears

[saylean]

When asked about why you hunt a "defenseless bear" here are a few things to say:

1. Bears are not defenseless at all. They smell several times better than us and are way stronger than us.

2. They are faster than us.

3. They have teeth and claws, when used, are extremely dangerous.

4. They can be dead quiet.

5. We have the most bears in the lower 48 states. Only Alaska has more than us.

6. We use the hide and meat. We do not just take the hide and waste the meat.

7. No animal in the woods are "defenseless". All have some sort of defense, whether it is camoflauge, brute strength, etc.

It is a kick to hunt something that can hunt you. It's addictive. If they have never hunted bears, they really have no clue or any room to talk.