New to Bear

[Badsmerf]

Hey guys. Never hunted bear, but coming around to the idea after watching some hunts and opinions on meat quality. What are good things to knows before going into the woods next year? I don't carry a sidearm, is that something I should consider? What is the deal with spring bear hunts? Why did they close it and why is everyone so upset? What do you do with the meat/fat? Can I mix the fat with deer/elk for burger and get a good product?

[logola512c]

There's a good book, written by a member on here, called "The Ultimate Guide to Black Bear Hunting" by Doug Boze.  I got back into hunting about 5 years ago after taking a long time off, and that book was very helpful.  As for bear hunting, you can sum it up in one easy sentence -- Assuming there are bears in the area you are hunting, if you can find what the bears are eating, you will eventually find a bear.  I suspect you can spend a lifetime fully understanding that one sentence.  And then after every 2 or 3 times you go out looking for a bear, go back and read the book again. I've probably read it about 10 times, and probably have absorbed maybe 20% of the information in it...  Good luck.

[Alchase]

Plus there are five clickys at the top of this bear Hunting sect that also have a to. Of great info in them.

[dilleytech]

If your going in with archery then a side arm is probably a good idea but if you’re rifle hunting then your rifle is a much better defensive weapon which is a very very un likely situation to get into black bear hunting anyway.

One thing I would recommend is really give blowing on a predator call a try. Specially if you’re seeing fresh sign. It will work eventually

Over all bears seem really dumb and blind in comparison to deer for example. The hard part is finding them.

[logola512c]

If your going in with archery then a side arm is probably a good idea but if you’re rifle hunting then your rifle is a much better defensive weapon which is a very very un likely situation to get into black bear hunting anyway.

One thing I would recommend is really give blowing on a predator call a try. Specially if you’re seeing fresh sign. It will work eventually

Over all bears seem really dumb and blind in comparison to deer for example. The hard part is finding them.

"The hard part is finding them."

Especially if hubris rears its head...

2018 --  me -- 1 bear
2019 --  me -- 2 bears
2020 -- me -- 2 bears
2021 -- me thinking I might know something about bears -- tag soup...

[X-Force]

If your going in with archery then a side arm is probably a good idea but if you’re rifle hunting then your rifle is a much better defensive weapon which is a very very un likely situation to get into black bear hunting anyway.

One thing I would recommend is really give blowing on a predator call a try. Specially if you’re seeing fresh sign. It will work eventually

Over all bears seem really dumb and blind in comparison to deer for example. The hard part is finding them.

"The hard part is finding them."

Especially if hubris rears its head...

2018 --  me -- 1 bear
2019 --  me -- 2 bears
2020 -- me -- 2 bears
2021 -- me thinking I might know something about bears -- tag soup...

That’s what I love about hunting. Every time I think I got this… I look at my play book and ask myself what happened.