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Black bears are typically timid creatures who avoid human contact. It is this elusiveness, as well as their striking appearance, that make black bears a prized trophy for big game archery hunters. Black bears are a common step-up for bowhunters, as the equipment used to hunt deer is also used to hunt bear. In addition to proper equipment, bowhunters must know how to track the bear, how to eliminate their human scent to avoid detection, and to familiarize themselves with the bear's anatomy so they can execute an effective kill shot.
Imagine yourself taking a peaceful stroll through the forest, enjoying the splendor of nature, when suddenly you spot a bear. The prospect is terrifying, but it is a real danger for any nature enthusiast. Bears are much larger and more powerful than humans, and are fully capable of not only attacking, but killing and eating a human being. If you are caught unaware, unarmed and alone by a bear, there are a few safety techniques to help you escape unharmed.
Bears rely on their keen sense of smell for locating food. Bears are also attracted to sweet smells and will not hesitate to eat an easy meal. Baiting is extremely effective for bear hunting but not legal in every state with bear hunting. Homemade bear baits are easy to make and prepare in the field.
Obtaining a Maryland bear tag can only be done via lottery draw. Through bears inhabit many rural areas across Maryland, only Garrett and Allegany counties have a sizable enough population to allow hunting. Since 2004, when the state held its first bear hunting season in 51 years, hunter success rates have averaged around 10 percent. So while success is good, completion for permits is steep, with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources averaging close to 14 applications for every available permit. (See Reference 1 and for all steps.)
Hunting black bear with a bow requires a quick kill. Black bears move extremely fast. If the arrow does not pierce the vitals, the bear can easily disappear to suffer a slow death. In order to prevent poor sportsmanship on your part, there are a variety of measures you can take to ensure a quick, clean kill. In the ethics of hunting, few things pain a hunter more than an animal escaping injured to suffer a slow death because the hunter made poor choices.
Black bear hunters use baits to attract the bruins within shooting range. The baits also help position bears so hunters can take a good shot. In states where baiting is legal, hunters begin setting baits before the hunting season begins so the bears establish a habit of hitting the baits. During the hunting season, hunters sit in stands or ground blinds over or near the bait, waiting for an animal to show itself.
In states where the method is legal, bear hunters place baits in the woods to attract their quarry. They typically sit in an elevated stand and watch over the bait, hoping a bear comes to it during the hours hunters can shoot. Hunters use a wide variety of baits to attract bears, but the common denominator among them is their strong smell. While bears likely can smell the bait from long distances, it is best to bait in areas you know hold bears.
Grizzly bears are large dangerous animals. A powerful firearms cartridge is required to dispatch one whether in a hunting situation or for self defense. Many hunters have been seriously injured or killed by these bears because, in a majority of instances, the caliber of cartridge was inadequate. There are many calibers available that are highly recommended for handling these tough bruins.
When field-dressing a black bear you must approach the downed animal carefully and ensure it is dead, warns the Hunting Canada website. Before beginning the process, tag the bear. Prevent meat spoilage throughout the process by avoiding the use of water; it may contain bacteria that would contaminate the meat. According to Hunting Canada, field dressing a black bear may take up to an hour for a beginner. Having additional people with you will help make the process easier.
Hunters in states with black bear seasons can purchase black bear hunting licenses through their state wildlife department or designated license outlet. Owners of black bear hunting licenses need to learn their hunting rights and restrictions as regulations vary from state to state on bait stations, bag limits and season length.
Using harvest data, Bowhunter Magazine estimated black bear populations across the U.S. and Canada at approximately 1 million animals for 2009. While black bears exist in most areas across North America, some areas support much greater populations than others. Black bears are opportunistic and omnivorous. The highest concentrations usually exist at locations where timbered land and forage is abundant.
Bagging a black bear can be a memorable experience for both novice and skilled hunters. Hunters who want to commemorate that special kill can learn black bear taxidermy through online, person-to-person or instructional guides. Taxidermy requires patience, fine motor skills, coordination and an eye for design and detail work. Black bear is advanced taxidermy work, so those with no experience in this hobby may want to take introductory taxidermy classes to grasp the basics before working with large animals like black bears.
In the mainland of southeast Alaska, black bears are open to firearm and bow hunting, and baiting is legal when proper protocol is followed.
In Canada's province of Saskatchewan, black bears of both sexes may be hunted by archery, muzzle loader, shotgun or rifle. Canadian residents may hunt for black bear alone; non-residents are required to hunt with a licensed outfitter guide.
Hunting hogs and bears with pistols is rarely recommended, and in those rare cases it is only recommended for highly experienced marksmen and hunters. They are both extremely dangerous animals.
The black bear (Ursus americanus) is a popular game animal in many parts of North America. According the North American Bear Center, male black bears can reach weights of up to 500 pounds and may stand as tall as 7 feet. Black bears come in a variety of color phases, from the standard black to brown or blond. A wide selection of rifle calibers may be used to take black bears, depending on the style of hunting.
Encountering a black bear in the wild is a memorable experience. The American black bear is the smallest, but most common bear of North America. Once prevalent across the United States, the bear's range has been restricted by development and agricultural practices to heavily forested areas where their populations still thrive. Whenever hiking in bear country, be mindful you may encounter a bear around any turn. If you do encounter a bear when hiking, there are several steps that you can follow to protect both yourself and the bear and escape with only a memory.
Black bear hunting in Oregon is a popular sport enjoyed by both local residents and those from outside the state. Knowing when and where to go for hunting black bear is a good start to ensuring a good hunting trip. There are other things you can do to make your trip enjoyable and rewarding.
Black bear hunting is regulated by state. The states provide a set number of licenses per year which can fluctuate depending on the population of bear in any given year. In recent years several western states narrowed bear hunting to one season per year. Now those and other states are seeing bear numbers increase and hunters not reach the maximum allowed to be killed during individual seasons. Hunting policies in several states are being reconsidered.
American black bears (Ursus americanus) are a primarily nocturnal species, however, they do come out during the daytime on occasion in search of food. While they are smaller and less aggressive than grizzlies and other bear species, hunting black bears is still incredibly dangerous, and you should only attempt it if you have the help of an experienced guide.
New England is one of the most popular areas in the U.S. for hunting black bears. A solid population of bears range from the northern-most Maine forests to the Berkshires in Massachusetts. Vermont has one of the densest black bear populations anywhere in the U.S. Several states have very long hunting seasons running from August through November.
The idiom "loaded for bear" means to be ready to the point of being overprepared. Yet, when hunting black bear, a large and often ferocious animal, this kind of overpreparation is probably warranted. Hunters have a number of weapons they can select from, all of which command a serious amount of firepower.
In the northeastern United States, predator game hunting is growing in popularity. Hunters from the area and around the world use guns and bows and arrows as they pursue predators such as coyotes, mountain lions and bears. State agencies allow hunting of predators in designated locations.
With an estimated population of about 27,000 black bears, Minnesota has one of the highest populations in the United States. According to a study published in the April 2007 issue of Ursus, the journal of the International Association for Bear Research and Management, the bear population in the Gopher State doubled between the late 1980s and 2001 leading to an increase in bear hunting licenses.
Black bears are found in virtually every part in the United States, and are legal targets during hunting season. Black bears tend to have a very large range, and oftentimes black bear hunters prefer to use dogs to help ensure a successful outing.
Hunting black bears in New York state is the primary population management tool for the 6,000 to 7,000 that have now spread across the state, from the Adirondack Mountains into the central sections of New York. Despite the social need that hunting fulfills, only one bear can be harvested per hunter per hunting calendar year. All hunting laws and regulations must be followed.
Washington offers a variety of options for big-game hunting, including elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and black bears. Black bear seasons take place in the spring and fall and offer a unique opportunity at harvesting a trophy. With populations of black bears throughout the state, residents and nonresidents have several options for hunting black bears in Washington.
Canada is known for big-game hunting, especially big black bears. Hunters have several opportunities throughout the country--from New Brunswick, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan--to harvest a trophy for a reasonable price. If you are looking for a high black-bear density, Canada is the place to go. According to Blackbearkingdom.com, New Brunswick has the biggest bear population per square mile of any Canadian province.
Bear hunting is still a popular sport in the rugged, mountainous terrain of northern Idaho. Hunting guides work in the Sawtooth Mountains and other regions, allowing avid hunters the chance to track these animals with an expert. Idaho has fairly nonrestrictive hunting laws, making it one of the easiest states in which to pursue this sport.
With 75,000 to 100,000 black bears, Ontario Canada is a world famous destination for bear hunting. Most black bear hunters consider Ontario heavenly for two reasons: the shear abundance of large (up to 600 pounds, but many at 400 pounds) black bears, coupled with a plethora of hunting camps, outfitters and guides. The beauty of Canada's wild landscapes doesn't hurt either. A resident or nonresident hunting license is required to hunt black bears in Ontario.
From providing food and clothing to native Americans, to providing trophies for current hunters, Ursus americanus has a long history in North America. More commonly known as the black bear, the animal is found on most of the continent, including a huntable population in New Hampshire, with an estimated 4,800 animals. On average, hunters harvest 8 to 10 percent of the population every year. In 2007 and 2009 New Hampshire hunters bested that average with harvests of 615 bears in 2007 and 754 animals in 2009.
More than 11,000 permits were allocated in 2009 for hunters to pursue black bear in Michigan. The Department of Natural Resources closely manages the growing bear population so the species can provide recreational hunting opportunities. Approximately 90 percent of the animals are found in the Upper Peninsula with the rest in the northern Lower Peninsula. Michigan's bears reach up to 400 pounds and can live 20 to 30 years.
Black bear hunting in Wisconsin is an example of careful management leading to a booming population. Controlled hunting led to a statewide harvest success rate of 63 percent in 2008 with at least 72 percent of hunters in the three northern hunting zones finding success.
The state of Montana is home to many types of large game, including black bear. In fact, some areas of Montana boast black bear populations as high as one bear per square mile. It's these kinds of odds that attract both veteran and amateur hunters to the state of Montana for black bear hunting year after year and season after season.
Black bear hunting can provide memories that can last a lifetime. But hunting black bears also can be dangerous, turning the excitement and memories into a nightmare. Following hunting regulations and using common sense can reduce your risk for injuries or death while hunting black bears.
Hunting black bears is legal in West Virginia, but strict restrictions apply to anyone wishing to take place in the hunt. These laws exist in part to control bear poaching, but they also help wildlife managers maintain and control the bear population, which can become a nuisance to humans.
Colorado is a known for producing trophy bull elk and mule deer bucks, but an overlooked big-game species is the black bear. Black bear hunting is important to Colorado's economy because it provides income from tags and tourism. Black bears can be found throughout the western two-thirds of Colorado in terrain such as the San Juan Mountains and San Luis Valley.
Ursus americanus, the black bear, symbolizes the wild qualities of Georgia, according to the state's Wildlife Resources Division. Bears have suffered highs and lows during the last 200 years, but are at a level that allows a hunting season. Every fall, hunters take to the woods in an effort to bag a bruin for a rug in front of the fireplace.
No matter where you live, chances are you know someone who enjoys hunting as a recreational sport. And if asked, most hunters probably would be thrilled with the prospect of hunting a black bear in the open woods.
Black bears inhabit as many as 40 states and most Canadian provinces and have become a popular species among hunters. The most common and effective way to hunt bears is to set out bait piles of foul-smelling food and wait for bears to come to the pile to eat. Read on for black bear hunting tips.
Black bear hunting in Alaska has specific regulations that hunters must know before they go into the field. These laws concern such aspects of black bear hunting as baiting, age limits and tagging of bears.
Stumbling upon a black bear in the wilderness can be a terrifying experience. Just remember, it is more terrifying for the bear than it is for you. Black bears (truly wild bears) are instinctively afraid of human beings. There are some things to keep in mind, however, to make sure you have a great story to tell, and not wounds to nurse in a hospital.
Learn how to identify black bears and situations when they might appear in this free survival video that teaches you about wildlife biology.
The hard part about scaring off a black bear is mastering your own fear. This is especially true if you didn't grow up in a rural area or have little experience with the animals. While a black bear can look intimidating, you need to remind yourself of a few things. First, black bears tend to be timid unless starving or ill. Second, even cats can startle a black bear into running away.
If you are camping or hiking, you may want to know if there are bears in the area. There are many signs to look for, but the droppings, or "poop," they leave behind can tell a lot about what they've been doing. Learning to identify scat can help keep you a safe distance away from the local bears.
