Tag Archives: Black Bear Hunts

Hunting trips for black bear.

Black Bears & Grizzly Bears, The Difference is…

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Hunting Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear Hunting

There is no such thing as “a” bear. There are bears…plural. That is to say, there are different species. Most people are familiar with the polar bear. Some might have even heard of the Kodiak bear. For those that enjoy bear hunting, the two most commonly cited bears would be the black bear and the legendary grizzly bear. Is there much of a difference between black bears and grizzly bears? Actually, there are quite a few pronounced differences and those wishing to head out into the great outdoors to hunt bear need to know such differences.

Bear hunting is one of the more misunderstood sportive activities one could take part in. There are a great many complexities required to succeed with this type of hunting. The skills required are quite vast and many of them will center on how to make such a hunt a lot safer.

One other aspect that people do not realize is that different strategies need to be employed for different bears. In most regions of North America, the primary bear indigenous to the land mass would be the black bear. However, in certain areas, black bear live side by side with grizzly bears. (Granted, some of this co-existence is far from peaceful) Now, when you are hunting bear, you need to be sure as to what type of bear you come across in the field. In certain areas, black bear season and grizzly bear season may occur at different points in the season. Other areas may require you have two separate bear licenses for each animal.

Hunting Black Bear

Black Bear Hunting

And, most importantly, the way you hunt a black bear is different than how you would hunt a grizzly bear. Often, these differences are designed to take safety concerns into consideration. Black bears are dangerous. No one is denying that fact. However, grizzly bears can be even more dangerous and more aggressive. They can also be a lot more difficult to kill. Black bears have been hunted in states such as New Jersey with shotguns. Very few hunters would take such a risk hunting grizzly bear with such a weapon.

This is why it is so very necessary to be able to clearly determine the difference between a grizzly bear and a black bear. There are some definitive differences between the two. Here is a look at those differences:

Most people will say the main difference is that black bears are black and grizzly bears are brown. (Grizzly bears are commonly referred to as brown bears) Generally, this is true. However, not all grizzlies are brown. Many are jet black. And yes, some black bears are brown. And both of them can be…blond! So, you cannot always go by the color of the bears as the only way to tell which species they are. You need to look at other attributes to determine the differences.

Size would be a major factor. Grizzlies are huge huger on average than black bears. Yes, there will be the errant black bear that is large in size. And there will be some undersized grizzly bears. However, most grizzlies are in the 500lbs – 800lb range. Black bears will be in the 200lbs – 400lbs range. The average height of a grizzly is three feet on all fours and well in excess of six feet when standing. Black bear are decidedly smaller being 3 feet on all fours but rarely more than six feet when standing. Again, there may be exceptions so you cannot always go by size.
The key differentiating factors include the following:

The face of a grizzly will be significantly depressed. This is most evident in the eye/nose region. The ears of the grizzly will also be short and round. Black bears are quite different. The ears of the black bear are significantly longer and more pointed than a grizzly. The nose of the black bear is more extended.

The body of a grizzly has a large hump on the back. A black bear has NO hump. This is probably the most definitive distinguishing factor between the animals.

The claws of a grizzle are significantly larger than a black bear. It is certainly not recommended to get close enough to the bear to tell the difference. However, if you are examining bear tracks, the larger grizzly tracks will have pronounced claws.

Few single items can determine which bear is which. But, when you put all the factors together, you can make a perfect comparison.

Source: Outdoor Base Camp.com
The Bear Hunting Blog

Black Bear Hunting With Bait

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Bait Hunting for Black Bear

Black Bear Hunting With Bait

by Chris Larsen

Black bear range and populations are expanding as is the popularity of what was once a hunt reserved for a select few.  Bears are typically hunted utilizing one of three common techniques; over bait, with hounds, or spot and stalk.  In my home state of Wisconsin baiting is the most common method.  Bait is placed for several weeks before the season. Items such as candy, bread, pastries, pie filling and fruit are placed in hollow logs or holes in the ground covered with a rock.  As a precaution against the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, the rock (or other heavy object) is required to prevent access to the bait by deer.  Animal products such as meat and fat are not permitted.  There are also restrictions on bear baiting near public roads or trails.

At first glance, hunting over bait may seem unsportsmanlike, but it is common practice.  Bears are nomadic and don’t pattern the same way deer will.  To increase success, bait and stands are set in areas that offer heavy cover.  Bears won’t frequent open areas during daylight hours.

Hunters often get excited when they find their bait cleaned out day after day.  Veteran hunters know a clean bait pile is often the result of several smaller bears using the same bait area.  If the bait is being used but left unfinished, it’s a good sign your bait log is being used by one large bear.  A large bear will keep smaller animals out of his territory.  With today’s trail camera technology guesswork about the specific bears using your bait pile is a thing of the past.

Another common occurrence for bait hunters is a sudden drop in activity around the bait pile in the fall. After attracting bears during the summer it seems like they suddenly disappear.  As autumn leaves begin to drop, berries ripen and acorns and hickory nuts hit the forest floor.  Bears gorge on hardwood mast to pack on pounds for the winter hibernation.  Placing your stand and bait in hardwood areas will help keep bears close during this time.

Size restrictions are in place in many states.  In Wisconsin, the bear must measure at least 42 inches from the tip of the nose to tip of the tail.  It is also illegal to kill a bear that is with cubs.

Bear hunting can be serious business.  They are powerful animals and the methods for hunting them are unorthodox to many.  Obtaining a tag may take years in many states.  Accompany a more experienced bear hunter while waiting to draw a tag.  Keeping the bait log full takes a lot of work and the hunter with a tag will appreciate any extra help.  This experience can help the novice bear hunter be more prepared for their future hunt.

Source:  ForemostHunting.com by Chris Larsen
The Bear Hunting Blog

Tips For Black Bear Hunting Success

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Hunting Black Bear

Tips for Bear Hunting Success by Naomi K. Shapiro

By Naomi K. Shapiro

Bear hunting is quite different from most other hunting. You’ve got to mentally come in with a clean slate as to what you want to do to ensure your chances of maximum success. First off, you start your hunt months in advance. You do your scouting. You check out population density, stuff like that; and that is like most other hunting. But that’s often where the similarity ends.

With bear hunting you prep and bait your stand area. With bear, you want them to pattern you and that’s the total opposite what you do for other game, particularly deer. You want the bear or bears you’re targeting to get used to coming in to your bait station, and in close proximity to where your stand is located. You want to make sure the bear comes in every day, and that everything is always the same. You make sure your bait station is ready at the same time every day. You make sure that your bear uses the same path, same approach, same everything. This is the exact opposite of deer hunting.

When you get to your stand, bang on your tree; put the cover on your bait and the logs or whatever concealment you use back exactly the same way. Get the bear comfortable. The bear knows you’re there and gets used to you being there. And believe it or not that bear will come in to your bait station every single day, at the same time! Indeed, a bear will to come to your bait station within 10-15 minutes of your leaving, and that’s what you want.

OK, it’s the day you’re going to hunt. Bring along an extra person with you; family member, hunting pal, or friend. You’re going to do the hunting, and this other person is going to help you get started. When you get to your bait stand, you have your friend rebait the pile, while you climb the tree. That conceals the noise of your climbing up the tree. Don’t kid yourself, you will make noise and that can spook the bear. He’s not used to someone climbing up a tree. They’ve got superb hearing and smell. After you’re in your stand, and your partner has rebaited the station, that person leaves.

And what does that do? A lot! The bear hears you come in and also hears you leave. Except the person who left wasn’t you! That way the bear is totally relaxed and comes in within 10-15 minutes, just like always. On paper what I’ve just said sounds real good, and it does work, but some days a bear just won’t come in. What you need to do is play the wind when bear hunting… big time. You see the bear has one of the best noses in the woods. That’s how it found your bait in the first place. Bring a spray bottle of bear attractant scent with you, and spray it around yourself and your stand at different intervals. What this does is it keeps the scent aroma going out into the woods, while still concealing your scent. Many bear hunters lose their chance, when for whatever reason the wind direction suddenly changes, and instead of being upwind form the bear, you’re downwind, and that’s not good. Using this scent technique will at least provide you with some cover if the wind does change. And of course, you want to make sure that your stand is situated in such a way that from what you’ve scouted, you know will be in an upwind situation regarding the direction the bear is coming in to your bait station. You may indeed have to change your stand position, if you find that the initial site becomes downwind to where a bear is coming in.

What you need to do, particularly if you’re a bow hunter is bring the bear in to within 20 yards of your stand. Believe it or not, a bear kill zone is very small, and you must be accurate with your shot. With a rifle, you can be successful at 50 to even 70 yards or so, depending on your line of sight, and of course accounting for trees & brush and the like that may hinder or block your line of sight.

Novice bear hunters don’t realize the need to be mentally prepared to suddenly see a big bear within a few yards of where they’re located. People don’t see a lot of bears in real life. You’d better be mentally ready to see a bear standing right in front of you without any warming. You might think this wouldn’t freak you out, but it can, and often will. And while all of those “bear horror attack” TV programs or movies are not always accurate, those images might be ingrained in your mind. One big thing is that you often will not hear a bear coming. As big as they are, they’re very quiet in their approach. Be prepared mentally. It will help a lot.

Source:  ForemostHunting.com by Naomi K. Shapiro
The Bear Hunting Blog

Black Bear Dog Food Recipe

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Dog Food

Black Bear Dog Food Recipe

Black Bear Meat- A Healthy, Natural Dog Food.

Black Bears are abundant in the province of BC, but for most hunters the meat isn’t something they are interested in eating, and quite frankly I don’t really have a taste for bear meat either. Having been in on a recent black bear hunt my friend was not interested in processing the meat, so he gave it to me under the premise I would use it to make a natural and healthy food for my dog.

Bear Meat is safe for humans when cooked to specific temperatures, so I really couldn’t see any reason that it wouldn’t be fit for my dog, when cooked properly.

I hit up Google and started looking for some basic dog food recipes, and what to include for veggies and the like:

  • Bear Meat
  • Carrots
  • Mixed Grain Rice
  • Celery
  • Sweet Potatoes

It seemed to be widely suggested that you mix your meat and veggies in a 4:1 ratio. 4-Parts meat, to 1-Part veggies.

The process was pretty simple as goes as follows.

1. Cut up bear meat. I took my time and cut most the fat off the meat and then trimmed it into thin strips that would easily fit into my Waring Pro meat grinder.
2. Cut up veggies (Carrots/Sweet Potatoes/Celery) and put in big pot of boiling water. Boil till they are somewhat soft.
3. Prepare Rice – I bought a big bag of mixed grain rice from Costco. I think I used about 6-cups of rice and the appropriate amount of water.
4. Grind up meat.
5. Put meat in pot and boil outside! – I let mine go for about 3 hours, and there was 40lbs of meat or so in the first batch.
6. Once meat is cooked, stir in veggies and rice. Let cool.
7. Once cooled, scoop into Ziploc bags or containers of some kind and freeze.

Your average back bear should easily provide 200+ lbs of natural, healthy dog food that your pet will love. Your only problem is going to be finding freezer space!

Source:  BC Hunting Blog
The Bear Hunting Blog

Continental Inland Black Bear

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Saskatchewan Black Bear

Continental Inland Black Bear

Because of its very adaptive nature, black bear distribution originally spanned the entire North American continent. However, due to over hunting of these bears throughout the late 1800′s and early 1900′s the black bear can now only be found in about 15 U.S. states, most all Canadian provinces, and some central regions of Mexico.

The smallest and most common bear on the North American continent is the American Black Bear. Growing to an average 5 feet in length and weighing between 200-300 pounds (some weighing as much as 500 pounds), these bears are also among the most pursued by hunters. Not all black bears are completely black however; cinnamon, brown, and even blonde are very common.

Because of the reclusive nature of these bears, estimating this population can be a very difficult task. Additionally, bears can travel great distances in search of food, sometimes crossing agency and political boundaries, making the task even more daunting. It is estimated that at the time of the first American settlers the population of black bears was at around 500,000. Today that number is said to be much higher, closer to 700,000 bears throughout the current home range, despite it being much smaller.

Black bears can be found in a wide variety of habitats across their home ranges. Although these bears prefer larger forested areas with a lot of underbrush, they have also been documented on ridge tops, in tidelands, agricultural fields, swamps, and even the dryer sage habitats of the far western states. Black bears typically hibernate in dens throughout the winter; finding shelter in hollowed out tree cavities, under larger logs and rocks, caves, and some shallow depressions. The bear will usually not eat, defecate, or urinate during hibernation. However, black bears do remain at least somewhat active, female bears even give birth and nurse their young during this time.

Once spring arrives, black bears will emerge from their long sleep to venture out in search of food. Most commonly the carrion from winter kills, including deer, moose, elk, and smaller animals. Along mountainous home ranges, these bears can be found searching the southern slopes at lower elevations, where the sun will remove snowfall amounts at a faster rate.

Source: BearHunting.com
The Bear Hunting Blog

 

Pope & Young Record Alaska Black Bear with Longbow

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Black Bear Hunting in Alaska

P&Y Record Book Alaska Black Bear Taken With Longbow.

Two hours in the tree-stand, seeing nothing but squirrels, I picked up movement far off in the trees. My heart started racing and then … disappointment. Two adolescent grizzlies rolled into the baits, took a whiff, then trotted back off into the woods at the sound of a boat on the nearby river.

Not 20 minutes later movement caught my eye again. This time it was black.

I knew right away he was a big one.  He came in slow, studying the surroundings, huffing the air, following the same path the grizzlies came down. He waddled over to the bait barrel, then walked right under my tree-stand.

He turned and moved back towards the baits. I leaned forward, to make a quartering away shot, but he heard my movement and stopped. He looked up at me, then sat down and stared. It felt like an hour went by, but it was probably just a few minutes. He turned to walk away and showed broadside. Then everything blurred. All I remember was staring right behind his shoulder. All I could see was the 3D archery target I’d put hundreds of arrows into over the last three months. Before I knew it, my Easton was buried in his ribcage.

Alaska Black Bear Hunting

Congratulations Tyler Freel on your P&Y Alaska Black Bear

Practice Makes Perfect:  Back in February I decided I wanted to kill a bear with a bow. Hunting bears over bait doesn’t present the most challenging rifle shots.  I set a goal for this season to fill at least 2 of my 3 bear tags using a bow. Until this bear, I’ve never taken any kind of big game with a bow, even though I’ve been target shooting bows most of my life.

I began practicing with a 60 lb. maple long bow. I made the bow myself, a few years back, as an off season project and was itching to try it on something big. I shot the bow for at least an hour every day for the last three months. I even got a black bear 3D target from Rinehart, which ended up being a much bigger help than I anticipated.

After setting baits last week, I was practicing with my homemade bow and it snapped in half. One too many, I guess.  It was pretty disappointing, and what with the Yukon freezing and me having to change hunting plans, this bear season wasn’t looking very good. I had another commercial longbow, so I started practicing with that.

After checking the trail cams Friday night and seeing several good, my buddy Josh and I settled into our tree stands at about 7pm. He followed me with my Canon DSLR and I strapped on an HD Drift Cam. As you can see in the above video, I think it paid off.

When we walked up on the dead bear, I couldn’t believe it. It’s one of the biggest black bears I’ve ever killed. I was lucky to have such a chance. Pope & Young black bears need to make 18-inches, and I think there’s a very good chance this one will. I wager it’s close to 19.

One down with the longbow. I hope to draw some blood with the compound next. Bear season is in full swing and I have two more tags and a huge smile on my face. What a great way to kick off Live Hunt 2011!

Watch Tyler’s Video by clicking here
Source: Tyler Freel and Outdoor Life
The Bear Hunting Blog

A Black Bear Hunting Question with Outdoor Dan

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Black Bear Hunting in Minnesota

A Black Bear Hunting Question with Outdoor Dan

Q. I am going black bear hunting this fall with my bow at an outfitter in Minnesota. Do I need special equipment?

A. I recommend that you talk to your outfitter well in advance of going to make sure they have everything ready at your bait site. Most outfitters already have placed stands and baited your site in advance of you getting there as well as having your shooting lanes trimmed out for you.

I use the same setup with my Mathews and Muzzy broad-heads bear hunting that I do on my other big game hunts.

Just make sure to wash your clothing in a good scent-away detergent, plus spray down
before you go to your stand with a good scent eliminator. Other than that I would bring a ThermaCELL for the bugs and a good pair of optics. Black Bears have very good hearing and a great sense of smell; you will be hunting within 15 to 18 yards of your bait, so it will be a close shot.

Source:  The Des Moines Register
The Bear Hunting Blog

West Virginia Bear Hunters Association

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Bear Hunting in West Virginia

West Virginia Bear Hunters Association

If you would like information or would like to become a member of the West Virginia Bear Hunters Association, please click the link.

As you all have probably have heard now that Gary Knapp has stepped down from the president position. He has done a great deal for us in his last 30 plus years fighting for us dog hunters. I myself and others have seen him in action, fight for us. I am sure he will continue to fight; it is in his blood I believe. He probably just won’t be playing such an active role now. As I would like to think him on behalf of the West Virginia Bear Hunters Association, for everything he has done in the past and also in the future.

I would like to thank everyone for giving me this opportunity. I know I have a big set of shoes to fill and will do my best to fill them. We still have a bumpy road ahead of us. I have had the opportunity this past Thursday to go out with bear biologist to locate a sow and her cub. Unfortunately we were unable to locate her she had moved out of her den. The cub was also not there which he should have been. Well I guess you can say we had a good walk and training for me before I hit the woods for training season. As training season now comes along please remember that you represent something bigger than just yourself. You represent all bear hunters. How people see what you do is how they see us all. I am just asking you to be polite and respectful whenever possible.

Thank you
Eric Beck
WVBHA PRESIDENT

Source:  WestVirginia Bear Hunters Association
The Bear Hunting Blog

Wisconsin State Record Black Bear Found Dead

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Wade Brockman with Record Book Bear Skull

Wade Brockman of Tomah makes his living as a cranberry grower. Aside from work and family, though, he says his life “revolves around hunting.”

So it should come as no surprise that Brockman was in a tree stand on his farm Nov. 28, the last day of the 2010 Wisconsin gun deer season.

He didn’t see a deer, didn’t fire a shot. But he did bring home a trophy that day, one that is now officially of historic proportions.

While Brockman hunted out the deer season, a worker combined corn on another part of the 800-acre farm.

The worker found a large, dead animal in the field and reported it to Brockman.

Considering Monroe County has lots of cows but relatively few bears, “you know what I was thinking,” said Brockman, 35.

What Brockman found not only surprised him but has caused a revision to the state – and likely world – record book.

The animal was indeed a very large, very old black bear. It had been dead for perhaps two months, said Brockman, so no weight could be attained.

However, since bear records are based on skull measurements, he obtained a permit from the Department of Natural Resources to legally take the bear into possession.

The result? The bear’s skull measured 23  5/16 inches, a Wisconsin record.

If accepted by Boone and Crockett, it would rank third in the world, said Brockman.

Both Boone and Crockett and the Wisconsin Buck & Bear Club have categories for “pickups,” animals found dead from vehicle collisions, for example.

The bear tops the 22  12/16 bruin taken by gun hunter George Spaulding in Washburn County in 2002.

The skull was officially scored by a panel last weekend in Wisconsin Dells, said Steve Ashley, director of records for the Wisconsin Buck & Bear Club.

It will be listed as the Wisconsin record as soon as Ashley receives the paperwork, likely in the coming days.

The world-record black bear scored 23 10/16 inches, according to Boone and Crockett records. It also was a pickup, in Sanpete County, Utah, in 1975. It is owned by Cabela’s Inc.

Black Bear Hunting

Brockman said the bear’s teeth were worn down to the gum line. Based on its skull size, most estimates place the animal’s live weight at over 600 pounds.

There were at least three bears killed in the 2010 Wisconsin bear hunting season that weighed over 700 pounds. None of the skulls was as large as the one Brockman found.

Adding intrigue to the story of the record-breaking animal: The huge bruin had gone undetected in the area.

“We have seen some smaller bears on the farm,” Brockman said, adding that in addition to the time he spends hunting and working on the farm, he has several trail cameras on the property. “But no one had seen anything this large around here, ever.”

Bears have been increasing their distribution in Wisconsin, with sightings becoming more common in the southern two-thirds of the state.

Hunters killed a record 5,040 black bears in the 2010 Wisconsin hunting season, according to the DNR.

Brockman said his rural neighborhood was accustomed to a wide range of harvests from the land, but the record bear has created a stir.

“There’s a sense of awe that this big bear was living near us,” Brockman said. “I’m a big shed antler hunter and spend a lot of time looking around the land. But I never would have imagined we’d find something like this.”

Source:  By Paul A. Smith of the Journal Sentinel
The Bear Hunting Blog

Coastal Island Black Bear Hunting

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Coastal Island Black Bear Hunting

Giant Coastal Black Bears in Alaska

Alaska is considered to be one of the premier regions in the world for big game hunting, and those who have already tried their hand at hunting elsewhere come up to Alaska to see if they can really make it. One type of big game that is popular and plentiful to hunt is the black bear. The Prince of Wales Island, located in Southeastern Alaska outside of Ketchikan, is one of the best areas to harvest black bear. This Coastal Island black bear hunting yields success rates of almost 100% for hunters, due to the plentiful nature of the bears here as well as their legendary size.

A black bear that is harvested during Coastal Island black bear hunting season can be over eight feet in length and up to 350 pounds or more, making this truly the region to harvest larger bears than anywhere else in North America. Most of the bears in this area will measure over six and a half feet, and their skulls are usually over twenty inches in length as well, making them massive trophies. This species is now recognized by Safari Club International as a separate trophy category. However, bears are not the only draw for nature enthusiasts who wish to see something truly unique. The Alaskan wilderness teems with life, however, and you may also spot whales, bald eagles, black-tailed deer, and wolves during your adventure.

For the most successful Coastal Island black bear hunting adventure, you will need to have access to tents that allow you to plant yourself directly in the thick of the woods here. If you have no experience with hunting big game, it’s highly recommended to use a professional guide for this purpose. Boats are also needed to hunt in between different small islands off the Alaskan coast. While hunting in some regions will consist of baiting the bears, most hunters here will choose to spot and stalk their prey the old-fashioned way.

This makes Coastal Island black bear hunting more adventurous and exciting than other types of hunts. Not for the faint of heart, this pits man against nature in an up close and personal way, and can be an excellent bonding opportunity for fathers and sons or groups of friends who are interested in taking part in something unique from other types of hunting. Alaskan black bear hunts take place during two seasons, either the spring or the fall, when black bears are most on the move.

The Bear Hunting Blog