First bear hunt

[NewHunter24]

Plan on going for my first ever bear hunt this August. Never hunted except deer season last year where I had no luck. Don't really know what to do besides following what info I can find randomly online.

Rifle is chambered in .270 win, I found a few boxes of ammo recently for target practice before the season starts. Also found a box of 150gr winchester power points I plan on trying out for bear. Just recently got a M&P Smith And Wesson .40s&w, have some ammo to practice with that & plan on getting some different better constructed ammo for carrying while I hunt.

The place I'm hunting is super wooded with a ton of brush. (Near the steel Bridge in mason county). What exactly should I be looking for while bear hunting in areas that are heavily wooded? Lots of videos & talk is about getting up high and glassing but with limited visibility I don't think that would be possible.

My plan was to just walk the trails and scout out the area as much as possible while looking for anything they may be feeding on. Not really sure where to go from there though.. lol

[JakeLand]

No need for a pistol as you got your rifle , blackberries when they get ripe is where the bears will be. You find old roads covered in blackberries you’ll get bears or hillsides where patience and timing you’ll connect

[Skyvalhunter]

What happens if hes too busy eating the blackberries to see the bear?

[Jpmiller]

I tried calling bears last year and it's my new favorite. Didn't ever seal the deal but boy oh boy is that exciting. No real advice as I'm still figuring calling out but that would be my recommendation.

[huntnnw]

or I would move to the mountains to where you can glass. I personally would not hunt bears in heavily wooded areas. A low percentage hunt versus getting up in the mountains

[Machias]

 

[NewHunter24]

Would like to go further up into the mountains but need to stay closer to home so I can be home to help the wife with bed time for the kids and stuff. I guess I'll just explore the area up there and try to find some open hillsides and food sources. Bringing a fishing pole so might just go fishing in the creeks up there while I hunt. 

Any reccomendations on a predator call? Would be cool to try it out. Also do you carry bear spray while hunting?  Just worried about the bears with cubs, if they get close will a shot  into the ground usually scare them off?

[7mmfan]

Would like to go further up into the mountains but need to stay closer to home so I can be home to help the wife with bed time for the kids and stuff. I guess I'll just explore the area up there and try to find some open hillsides and food sources. Bringing a fishing pole so might just go fishing in the creeks up there while I hunt. 

Any reccomendations on a predator call? Would be cool to try it out. Also do you carry bear spray while hunting?  Just worried about the bears with cubs, if they get close will a shot  into the ground usually scare them off?

Don't over think it. Bears are just like any other animal, they're far more afraid of you than you are of them. I've come into close contact with lots of bears and only one time had an issue with a sow with cubs and that was in early spring. By fall the cubs are very mobile and mom usually just scoots out if they know you're around.

[Teepee96]

Would like to go further up into the mountains but need to stay closer to home so I can be home to help the wife with bed time for the kids and stuff. I guess I'll just explore the area up there and try to find some open hillsides and food sources. Bringing a fishing pole so might just go fishing in the creeks up there while I hunt. 

Any reccomendations on a predator call? Would be cool to try it out. Also do you carry bear spray while hunting?  Just worried about the bears with cubs, if they get close will a shot  into the ground usually scare them off?

Would recommend bearmanric's calls if it's something you're interested in. Bought two of them last year and had one work great for us.

[NewHunter24]

Thanks guys! I guess I just need to get out there as much as possible and practice shooting before the season starts and not over think it. Appreciate all the help from this community!

[hunter399]

Would like to go further up into the mountains but need to stay closer to home so I can be home to help the wife with bed time for the kids and stuff. I guess I'll just explore the area up there and try to find some open hillsides and food sources. Bringing a fishing pole so might just go fishing in the creeks up there while I hunt. 

Any reccomendations on a predator call? Would be cool to try it out. Also do you carry bear spray while hunting?  Just worried about the bears with cubs, if they get close will a shot  into the ground usually scare them off?

No need for pistol or bear spray.
With that said ,myself I've always keep what I call a safe zone.
Example would be let's say 20 feet.
At 20 feet I let off a warning shot in the dirt or in a tree next to them. As long as there stoped I just keep doing that every few minutes till they run off. If they continue coming towards ya and look as if there not gonna stop ,shoot it.
NEVER TAKE ANY CHANCES.
20 ft is about my safe zone ,others might varry.

[Machias]

Any reccomendations on a predator call? Would be cool to try it out. 

Bearmanric and Rainshadow1 have excellent calls.  I personally like a raspier call.  Thing is you need to think about a few things when you try your hand at calling.  Being new, would be best if you had a partner, if not, I'd still go try it.  Before you call, consider a few things that will make you more successful, which in turn will keep you trying.  I blind call quite a bit, but I don't really recommend it for someone just starting out.  Why you ask?  Because when I blind call I get a bear in about every 20 try's, give or take a try or two.  Most new guys give up long before that.  I stick with it, because I know it works.  Lots of guys give up long before they have success.  If you look for smoking hot fresh bear sign and call in those locations, your odds go WAY up.  If calling by yourself, pick a spot with protection from behind.  Lots of times with small to mid-sized bears you will never hear them slip in.  They may even come in, look the area over and leave, without you ever knowing they were there.  I've had several bears come in, and as I slowly turn my head they are standing there staring at me from 15 yards or less.  I personally always carry a sidearm in the woods, but not really just for 4 legged predators, I carry for the 2 legged ones as well.  I've only had one small sow get aggressive after she came in and I tried to get her to leave.  I ended up pepper spraying her.  Put a watch out in front of you and call non-stop for up to 45 minutes.  I always put a watch out in front of me so I can see how long I've called.  Calling non-stop can be tiring, so 20 minutes can sometimes feel like an hour.  Really try and put some emotion into your calling.  Good luck!!!

[zwickeyman]

Any reccomendations on a predator call? Would be cool to try it out. 

Bearmanric and Rainshadow1 have excellent calls.  I personally like a raspier call.  Thing is you need to think about a few things when you try your hand at calling.  Being new, would be best if you had a partner, if not, I'd still go try it.  Before you call, consider a few things that will make you more successful, which in turn will keep you trying.  I blind call quite a bit, but I don't really recommend it for someone just starting out.  Why you ask?  Because when I blind call I get a bear in about every 20 try's, give or take a try or two.  Most new guys give up long before that.  I stick with it, because I know it works.  Lots of guys give up long before they have success.  If you look for smoking hot fresh bear sign and call in those locations, your odds go WAY up.  If calling by yourself, pick a spot with protection from behind.  Lots of times with small to mid-sized bears you will never hear them slip in.  They may even come in, look the area over and leave, without you ever knowing they were there.  I've had several bears come in, and as I slowly turn my head they are standing there staring at me from 15 yards or less.  I personally always carry a sidearm in the woods, but not really just for 4 legged predators, I carry for the 2 legged ones as well.  I've only had one small sow get aggressive after she came in and I tried to get her to leave.  I ended up pepper spraying her.  Put a watch out in front of you and call non-stop for up to 45 minutes.  I always put a watch out in front of me so I can see how long I've called.  Calling non-stop can be tiring, so 20 minutes can sometimes feel like an hour.  Really try and put some emotion into your calling.  Good luck!!!

Great advice Machias. Same with Rattling Deer. Most people try it a couple of times and give up but I know it works so I keep at it

[elkrack]

Machias is spot on! It’s really fun to call bears you’ve already spotted. I’ve had bears running in my direction as soon as that first note hits them. One in particular was a big sow that had 2 cubs in a clear cut 500 yards off. I figured good practice to see how they reacted. When she closed the distance to 350 yards I stopped calling. She stopped running instantly. I started calling after a minute or 2 and she was very cautious but slowly coming my way. I took another 1-2 minute break and started calling again and she started running away. Emotion is important

[bkaech]

Don't go up to bigger mountains, there are enough people up there already (like me, he he). I would just focus on Food, likely berries in the fall, or anything else that a bear might eat. They love cascara tree berries if you have any of those around. If you find lots of good fresh bear sign then sit on the food source they can be very habitual to a good food source. Otherwise try to cover ground walking logging roads with food on the edges and bear sign around is a good idea, but don't forget, Keep the wind in your favor!

[Twispriver]

One thing that most people don't consider when hunting the wet side is feral, or wild fruit trees. The fruit might not taste good to us but the bears like it and they're in bloom right now and easy to spot if you're out in the woods. Mark their location, go back to clear shooting lanes and build blinds and be there when the fruit starts hitting the ground.

[ASHQUACK]

And always remember a bear will hear you or smell you long before they ever see you.

[7mmfan]

One thing that most people don't consider when hunting the wet side is feral, or wild fruit trees. The fruit might not taste good to us but the bears like it and they're in bloom right now and easy to spot if you're out in the woods. Mark their location, go back to clear shooting lanes and build blinds and be there when the fruit starts hitting the ground.

this is a great tip.

[Keith494]

Check out The Ultimate guide to Black Bear Hunting be Doug Boze. Its a great book and helped me get my first bear.

Other than that, find food, find bears. Find an area with fresh sign and go there as often as you can. They'll show up.

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[wags]

I know you are anxious to get going on the bear hunting, but if it were me, I'd use the month of August to scout high country (alpine and sub alpine) for huckleberry (blueberry) patches. Then hunt these areas when they get ripe; usually late August or early September. You'll have much better luck imo than trying to find bears in the thick lowland brush.
Plus, hunting the high country is an esthetically pleasing experience. Of course hunting this country will require some hiking.