You do NOT have to have your bow cased while heading to or from your stand so long as it is 1/2 after sunrise or 1/2 hour before sunset. Seeing as most bear hunting is done in the afternoon, u will be fine walking in uncased, but when done at the end of the night u will have to have in in a case. And PLEASE do not forget u need to wear blaze orange while u are heading to or from your bait sight while hunting. You do not need to wear it while in the stands, only while moving to or from the bait sight. Bill