Beware The Bear!

Your exposure to potential danger when dealing with black bears depends on whom you talk to. Even though blacks are shy and evasive and would rather run than stand and fight, statistics indicate more people have been mauled and killed by blacks than by any other member of the bear family. While this may be because there are more blacks over a much greater range, it should convey a strong message.

One of the reasons we do not generally see the black bear as a threat is the image we often see. Smoky with his friendly messages, children's teddy bears, the "tame" bears encountered in our parks give us no idea as to how strong and fast a bear can be.

Black bears are not very aggressive unless cornered or wounded -- the species is not known to be especially irritable or quick-tempered. The wild card is that blacks are totally unpredictable. When aroused, a black bear displays several threatening gestures. This could include a moan, blowing sound, extension of the lips or lowering of the head and ears, usually followed by a charge.

The real danger comes when the black bear attacks. While the grizzly rears up to swing and swat with its forearms and rake its opponent with its claws, a black bear charges its antagonist on all fours like a dog. Swiping blows with the forearms and furious biting with formidable teeth causes a lot of damage. Clamping jaws onto its victim, the black bear will hang on tenaciously, biting deeper until the opponent is dead or disabled.

Understandably, sows with cubs are extremely excitable and often vicious. Placing yourself between a sow and her cubs is one situation you want to avoid. Old bears, injured bears, even very hungry bears, are irritable and ill-tempered. A bear startled at close range may launch into a protective rage. Any black bear deserves respect as potentially dangerous. They certainly have the equipment to cause you a lot of grief.

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Let's Find Black Bears

Hunter's always get excited when they spot fresh bear sign during a hunt. Most of the time however, all it will tell you is that a bear has been in the area. Because a black bear has an uncanny ability to keep out of sight, it's not likely you'll spot the animal. Keep in mind it is not so much the specific type of habitat that keeps black bears in a region. Blacks rove over a large block of country, need a large amount of forage present and stay in the vicinity of snarled thickets.

Probably 90 percent of black bears taken annually are bagged at random by hunters after other big game -- bear season just happens to be open. Because deer and black's commonly use the same ranges, deer hunters collect most of them. Even though the majority of black bear hunting is not done intentionally, thousands of hunter's do score regularly.

While black bears do occasionally venture from the forest into open areas, this animal requires cover -- with at least portions of it dense. This includes a broad diversity of range. Depending where you hunt for blacks, this might be swamp, mountain forests and meadows, heavy black timber or mixed woodland. Your best chance at spotting a black is to hunt the edge, where open areas meet thick cover.

Food is key to locating blacks. Choice areas to hunt black bears are berry patches, abandoned orchards, barley fields, campsites and game trails running parallel to rivers and creek bottoms. Alder and willow tangles along any water, standing or running, is invariably used heavily by bears in their home territories. In mountainous regions, river channels and the grassy slopes adjacent are favored by this animal.

The remains of game-kills often produces a bear, if you can get there before the mob of scavengers that are inevitably drawn to a kill. Often black's raid remote ranches or camps for garbage, poultry or even livestock. These bears gain a reputation as pests through such raids and tend to hang around the area. It's not easy to discourage a black from exploiting a convenient food source. As a result the bear is usually captured and relocated or killed.

In spring, bears are hunted as they emerge from hibernation. Seek out any patch that has been cleared of snow and the first blades of grass have appeared. Bears eat these tender green shoots to recondition their digestive systems after the inactivity of hibernation and are often found on these patches.

A bear marks its presence plainly as it occupies and forages over a specific territory. Tracks reveal themselves in mud, dust and snow. The only track a black bear print might be confused with is that of the grizzly. The difference is, a black has smaller claw marks and the hind foot is up to 4 inches wide and 7 inches long -- a grizzly's track is much larger and the stride is longer.

Watch for sign on the trunk of trees. When a bear climbs a tree, each claw sinks into the bark. These eventually show as dark scars on a lighter colored bark. If tree scars are abundant they may indicate that this is prime bear country and a search for fresher sign could be called for. Rotten stumps or logs will be shredded where they've sought ants and grubs. Broken limbs on fruit and berry trees indicate where black bears have been foraging. Look for droppings. In the springtime, while the bears are feeding on new growth vegetation, scats are left in large piles. Once a bear is on more solid food, the droppings will be firm, 1 1/2 inches in diameter and in pieces several inches long. Again, bears are great travelers. Don't spend at lot of time working a single area unless you have bait set out. Keep moving. Boars and sows are not generally found together except during mating season. Bears are not known to be sociable animals except in special situations, such as a spawning run. They are brusque individualists and any adult bear seen is prone to be alone.

Methods of hunting black bear vary widely from state to state and province to province. In some areas no hunting is allowed using dogs. Other zones allow baiting, but not with an old horse or cow destroyed for that purpose. Stands can be productive in certain situation or even cruising back roads in remote country. Check your local game laws carefully prior to a hunt. Know what methods of hunting are within the law and make an effort to find out the most productive bear hunting tactics in the area you plan to hunt. You'll find the exercise is well worth your while.

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Dogs And The Chase

In some areas of the continent, black bear are hunted with dogs. The major reason for using dogs is the nature of the habitat encountered. The terrain and foliage are such that a hunter without dogs wouldn't stand a chance at bear. A pack of tough, highly specialized hounds is required for bear hunting. Hunting with dogs makes for a dramatic, demanding hunt.

In some areas there is no dog hunting allowed and where it is legal, there are not many trained packs. Because a trained pack is the heart of this method, you will normally need to book a hunt with an outfitter to experience this type of hunt. If you decide this is the type of hunt you want, be careful of shady operators. Check references. It is fairly expensive and the outcome is rather uncertain.

If you decide to try this venture on your own, keep in mind the expense of training and keeping dogs. It also takes a lot of one's time and the dogs suffer a high mortality rate when a bear is coursed. Furthermore you need a location that has a large enough bear population to make it worthwhile. Do yourself a favor if this is the type of hunt you want and book with an outfitter who specializes in running bears with dogs. As well, bear are often hunted with dogs used for other game -- such as cougar.

When bear are hunted with dogs, the animal is either run past the hunters, brought to bay, or put up a tree. This is one type of hunting where almost any legally used firearm is suitable. After the thrilling chase is over, shooting the treed animal is rather anticlimactic.

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Hunting Over Bait

Hunting over bait is one of the most successful methods of black bear hunting. This is done almost entirely in springtime, as soon as ravenous bears have come out of their dens. Baiting, or hunting over a natural bait, is not legal everywhere, and there are spring seasons in only a few states and provinces. However, if it's legal and you have access to good bear country, you can set this hunt up on your own.

Let's look at some different ways to approach baiting. First of all, locate a bait station and your downwind stand. This can be as simple as a clump of bushes with a clear view of your bait, to a tree stand in close proximity. A tree stand is well worth the effort. When conditions are right and you have a bear sneaking up to your bait, the elevation will feel that much more secure. It also gives a better field of view in typical overgrown and tangled bear habitat.

If it's allowed in your area, the bait can be an old horse or cow destroyed for that purpose and hauled in, or maybe a pile of freshly caught trash fish or perhaps even a dead big game animal that died during the winter. Garbage dumps -- from winter lumber camps for example -- that are abandoned before spring thaw are good bets for a bait location. Bears hang around them after coming out of dens, eating grass that sprouts in the area and digging in the dump for discarded food.

The best method of baiting is to use a barrel. Use a steel 45 gallon drum and cut two holes in it, one near the top and one close to the bottom. Make them large enough that a bear can just get a paw in, not their head. With two chains, secure the barrel tight to a stout tree trunk. For bait, fill the barrel with old bakery goods, molasses, jam, butcher shop discards, over-ripe fruit, fish guts and just about anything else you can get. Don't be too selective; bears aren't. Once you've filled your barrel with the concoction, fasten the top securely and leave it alone for a few days. If you have the time and resources, more than one set-up will give you a better chance at the bear you want. Some barrels will be visited, some won't, but once a bear has visited a bait barrel, it's likely to be back.

The best time of day to hunt over any bait is the last two to three hours before dark. Set yourself up in the spot you've selected and be prepared for a long and lonely vigil. The secret to success is your ability to remain absolutely still. Bears take a long time coming into a bait barrel; testing the air for scent, watching for movement, alert to any danger signs. They move noiselessly and with great stealth. Usually, the bear will be at the barrel before you're even aware of its presence. When you bring your rifle around, do it slowly and with great care. The slightest detected movement will send your trophy off instantly. It may take a couple of nights to bag your bear, but it'll be worth every minute.

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The Float Hunt

Along the Alaska coast, blacks are hunted the same as browns along coastal rivers. A boat is used to cruise the shoreline. The same method can be used on inland rivers in just about any black bear country. This type of hunt can be very effective, especially early in the spring when the trees are just beginning to leaf out.

Timing is important; too early and the bears won't be out -- too late and the foliage will conceal them. As long as you have a boat that can safely navigate the river you've chosen, you're in business. Try to pick a river that has long, gradual slopes running up from it -- with heavy cover and numerous open meadows present.

To start your hunt, run upriver for two reasons. First, once you've reached a starting point, you can cut your engine for a leisurely float back to base. This allows you to hunt silently and glass the slopes constantly. When a bear is spotted, it's a simple matter to put in to shore and begin your stalk on foot. This will likely involve some climbing, but you're after game you know is there.

The second reason you always start your hunt upriver is in case of motor trouble or even the possibility of running out of gas. If your floating with the current, eventually you'll reach your camp. Downriver from your home base is a long way back.

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Still Or Stand Hunting

Still hunting for black bears, especially in fall, is largely wishful thinking. They are simply too wary. Even in spring when bears are really on the prowl, you cannot cover enough ground to be at the right spot at precisely the right time except by chance. Hunting along old logging or wilderness roads in spring is sometimes successful. Glassing slopes or hunting along stream channels may yield a bear, but even that possibility is remote.

Very rarely, a stand beside a well-worn bear trail may bring an opportunity. Even with a number of hunters spread out on stands in prime habitat where a bear may pass within range, you're generally wasting your time. Still hunting and stand hunting for black bears is usually a fool's game; however, if you still insist on still hunting or stand hunting, do it in front of a bait barrel.

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... on to Chapter 4 - Rifles, Cartridges & Optics