Hunting Bears...

littletoes

littletoes

New member
All right, they outlawed using baits, and hounds several years ago now, and so we are basicly still or stand hunters. I've been keeping a good eye on the berry patches, and can't think of any nut trees in this are or anywhere close. We're into fire season now, so care must be taken when in the woods too.

My question; Other than luck, what have you guys done in the past that helped with locating 'em? Any ideas?
 
Two things to try. 1) call the Game & fish and ask to speak with the officer that works the area you like to hunt. At least in AZ I've received exellent help. One time it took the guy a week to return my call but when he did I checked places he suggested and although did not see any bears, I did see evidence of recent activity.

2) Try a rabbit distress call or fawn bleat. It has worked for me and others in AZ.
 
Keep watching those berry patches and abandoned fruit orchards. I especially like watching the fruit trees planted during the homestead days that are now abandoned and near forested bear country. When you are watching these old orchards you are hunting over bait and since thats legal, all the better! Just be patient, mornings and evenings are best. Just think, now that baiting and hounds are outlawed you ought to have lots of bears around and sooner or later you will find one.
 

Most bears I have seen have been in or around huckleberry patches. Or other sorts of berries. Never shot one but I would use a caller as well...I am going to try my caller tomorrow eve.
 
We put on our hip boots and drive the same laurel swamps every season and usually manage to come across at least one bruin here in PA. Four years ago we killed seven including a 705lb boar. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Once you find bear fresh sign, camp on that spot. It or another will be back. You may have to sit every day for a week, but it will work and eventually one will come through.

This month my son and a friend sat on a cut for 5 days and I for two more and we got nothing, but two weeks later the first morning I was there we got one.
13 bears in 13 years is not too shaby.
 
Hey littletoes, I hunted for bear in Wa for 3 years and only saw one bear, unlike all the scat. It seamed all the berry patches had scat everywhere but never saw one leaving it. It seams that in order to see them try to get there early, first light or late at last light. It is frustrating seeing all the scat at the berries I know. Good luck and stick with it..Cameron
 
Some states that have banned baiting do allow the use of scents.Scents,used correctly,will produce in an area with fresh sign.
 
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