First bear hunt coming up this spring any tips?

[bearsfeet]

A bit of back ground first...

Hi everyone I am a new member to this site. I have been hunting traditional for about 4-5 years and love it. I am 23 and look forward to learning all I can in all aspects of this wonderful sport!

I am going on my first bear hunt this spring in eastern Oregon. I will be going with my father who will be rifle hunting. (this is his 50th birthday gift from the family) There is no baiting in Oregon so we will be doing spot and stalk. I have never been around bears much other a few during elk season. I would love any info on how people have had success weather it be spot and stalk calling. Some people have been telling me that they are much easier then deer or elk to put a sneak on and others the opposite. Would like to hear what you guys think.
Also wondering if I could use a 47lbs or would I need my 60lber?

Thanks,

[DHR]

Hey bearsfeet,

good luck with your hunt.  Are you guys self guided or going with an outfitter.  If self guided learn as much as possible about the habits of bears in your area that time of year.  First step is finding them.  I can't really comment on stalking difficulty relative to deer or elk, too many variables but maybe someone else can.  As for a bow if you shoot them equally well I'd take 60#'s, but I know bears have been killed cleanly with 47.

just a few thoughts...

dan

[Bill Carlsen]

At that time of year around here mosquitos and black flies are hunt spoilers unless you have a Thermacell. If bugs are a problem get one of these..you will be glad you did.

[FerretWYO]

To stalk bears to 50 yards is not to hard the last thirty can be tough. The wind will get you 9 timese out of ten. Watch it close.

[Dave Alaxanian]

Thermacell is an absolute must, but it only works if you are stationay (spotting) and there is not a brisk wind-- Bears  are not quite apt at figuring out what you are IF YOU DON'T MOVE-BAT AN EYE AND SAY GOOD-BYE---good luck--I've been on 10 bear hunts with my son (New Brunswick) and just the chance to spend a week with him makes the trip--any bears taken will only be "icing on the cake."

[bearsfeet]

Never hear of or used a thermacell what is it? And the area we will be hunting there is giong to be a lot of time using the glasses!

[Sharpend60]

I too was wondering about the spring bear hunt.

Calls of any use?
I heard somewhere that there are not a good idea in the spring, not sure why...

[JimB]

Bears have better noses than bloodhounds so you have to have the wind right every time to make it work.The problem is,in the mountains,the wind can be very fickle,especially in the afternoons.

There eyes aren't great but at times can pick out a human form at quite a distance,especially if you are standing up or moving.

They should be on the fresh new grass in early spring.After a few weeks out of hibernation,they gradually include insects and larvae into their diet and meat when they can get it.You will see fresh rocks rolled over and stumps torn open when this happens.

If it is very dry country with few water sources,it pays to locate springs etc as bears will need to drink every day.You should find tracks at these springs.

I haven't done much calling but have friends who have.Most are calling bears that have already been spotted.Maybe wind and lack of cover makes a stalk impossible.You may be able to call the bear to a more suitable position.I think Fall may be better but late May should work as bears start to hunt deer fawns and elk calves.At any rate,calls normally don't spook bears.They may respond or they may totally ignore them.Wayne Carlson has a video on calling as does Woodwise Calls.

Bears have heavy shoulder and leg bones but their skins are thin and ribs aren't heavy.I'm sure you could kill one with 47# but I would want the arrows tuned well,broadheads razor sharp and arrows of decent weight.Bears are notorious for weak blood trails so an exit hole is a very good thing.You want to only take shots that you are sure you can put right in the pocket.They will go down quickly with double lung or lung/heart shots.Statistics show that with anything less,however,most bears are never recovered.

Properly hit,most bears don't make it 100 yds.The only one I shot with an arrow was heart/lung shot,ran full tilt and piled up in 13 yds.That was a Schafer 57# recurve and it blew through the bear like butter.Many times,you will hear a death moan as it expires,but not always.

Spring bear season is a great time to be out.We are lucky as not many States have a Spring season.It is my favorite hunt.10 power binoculars are a must and a good spotting scope will be a big plus.My friends like evenings best but my trail cameras show bears moving from early morning to late evening,all through the day.The trail cameras are in the timber though so maybe it is different there.Have fun.

[John3]

Stalking bears is the most fun I've ever had bowhunting..!

Bears will be on the first "new" green that has sprouted in the spring.. Look for the green grass and you will find bears.

When I get close I take my boots OFF. No noise whatsoever. Bears can be lazy and will sit on their rear ends and graze like a horse.  Wait for the bears eyes to be blocked and close the distance.

A single lung hit bear will NOT be recovered. Only broadside double lung shots and the bear will not go far.  Aim mid body 8" circle behind the shoulder will equal a dead black bear every time.  If the shot is not perfect let it go and don't shoot. I've seen way too many horror stories of poorly shot bears never being recovered..

Good luck and let us know how the hunt goes.

John III

[John3]

Let me add to forget any calls... You don't need them.  

Get up high and glass or sneak along any logging roads/trails... One of those corners you sneak around you will see bears feeding along the ditches on the new grass...

I get excited just thinking about putting the sneak on a bear just spotted.  LOL

[bearsfeet]

Thanks for all the great tips guys.
I am getting very excited for this hunt!

[Jerry Wald]

I have shot alot of bears....they can smell through rocks..have pretty good eyesight.

Wind is your biggest enemy....swirling wind especially.

I glass and then try to get down wind....I always try and get above them during the day when the air is moving up the ridges.

This will be a time to test your nerves alright....there is nothing like a stalk on something that can turn on you and outrun you.

So be careful. Your heart is going to be racing (pretty normal)..then you have to just take a breath and make your shot.

Tree stands just don't do it for me, but your personal safety is probably better there.

Have a great timeand post your results good or bad. It helps everyone out.

PS I made a four hour + stalk on a huge cinnamon bear once...only 100 yards away and when I finally got 35 yards away I had to just sit there and watch him. He would give me a shot. He had a crest of a outcropping between me and him and I could only see his back (now if I was Fred bear then maybe I could have lobbed on it there on a half draw, but I am not fred Bear.

So the time goes by and you are pumped. Then he finally start to work his way up the slope and I am about 10 yards above him and about 25 yards beside him.

He winds me...crap....he turned towards me and then turns quick and starts runing down the hill into the trees.

So I started my long trip to the horse again. Sometimes that's how it turns out...sometimes you have a more exciting story.

Jer Bear

[Bowwild]

I've hunted and killed black bears twice with bow. Neither were spot and stalk. At least Oregon is one of the states with higher bear densities. LIke others have said, have as good local information as you can get about what the bears should be doing when you are on your hunt so you can concentrate on those places (feeding areas).

They say Native Americans claimed when a leaf falls...the Eagle sees it, the deer hears it, and the bear smells it. You'll have to be more scent-free than a falling leaf.

Jerry Wald ... thanks for conjuring up images of Mr. Bear bagging that Stone Sheep!

[bearsfeet]

thanks for the help. Looks like we are going to head out around the first of may. Ill check back with ya'll on how it went.

[Rik]

If you are not shooting a bow under 60 pounds, do yourself a favor and shoot your bear with a Snuffer broadhead.

No animal on earth can soak up blood like a spring bear (thick, fluffy hair).

A Snuffer will make two holes so large, even a New York City Girl will be able to follow the blood trail, in the dark, with her eyes closed.

One other tip, rather than shooting tight behind the shoulder, it's better to shoot bears in the "center of the center." Do a little research on that phrase, you'll get the idea.

P.S. Spring bear is even tastier than elk. Six weeks and counting here in Idaho. Six weeks and counting. . .

[bearsfeet]

I have never tried any bear meat but look forward to it.
My bow will be 47# I'm going with zwicky eskimos. 200 grains with the adapters and fly like darts! I will have to search that thinks for the help bud.

[David Mitchell]

Bear meat, like any other meat, can be delicious if handled properly in the field and kitchen.  Cook it thoroughly like you would pork.  I shot my bear last year with a 48# Hoyt Dorado and had great penetration using a big Zwickey Delta two blade.  Bear was down in about 5 seconds.

[Terry Lightle]

Main thing ,have the time of your life.

[manfromthepast]

Spot and stalk black bear hunting can be extremely exciting. Lots of good info by other posters above. The best information I was ever given was by a pretty sharp old outfitter in BC that told me that more stalks are blown by bowhunters going too slow than by going too fast.  Bears have great noses, winds can be fickle, and bowhunters dawdling around in that "close but not close enough" area will get themselves busted all too frequently. That has been my personal experience as well. 10 to 15 yard shots are possible and your bow/arrow combo should be fine with proper shot placement. Enjoy.

[BowMIke]

As mentioned before. Google Thermocell and be sure to have one. They are a lifesaver when the bugs are bad! Bear meat is similar to beef, but perhaps a little sweeter. Remove all fat and cook thoroughly, they can have trichinosis(like pigs), but cooking well will take care of that.