Some of what the 'scat' looks like depends on the bears diet; the photos show that; the first might be downing some dog food or bear bait; the second looks like the bear was feeding on choke cherries.
Bear scat dries from the outside in; so break it apart and see if its wetter or drier in the middle. If its consistantly wet its probably a fresh pile;if its dry -as it looks in the top picture above it probably is newer too- break the sections apart to find out if they are wet inside.
The same bear can have different looking scat; I will bait with popcorn and then dogfood; and check to see where the bears are - because the sudden change to dog food ( with grease on it)because the scat will be normally look looser; and light brown.
Meat eating bears will have dark scat more often than not.
If you want to see if the bears are watching you -and can legally bait; put whole oats in with other bait. Bears don't digest the oats and if you feed them oats ONE day; you can date the scat really easy.
Put a knuckle on it to see if its warm; if it is; get ready.
when baiting; the bears will go downwind and lay up; always there to scent you ( in a up and down area like Idaho); with wild berries and winter kill; they will do the same thing; so if you find bear scat; stop and look downwind.
When I stalk; I look for bears; but I have found more looking for bushes waving when the wind is not blowing. Bears like to lay on their back and strip off snow berries and other berries; and I have stalked up and tapped them on the nose with my bow tip.
Keep in mind my will states that I am to be cremated and my cremains to be mixed with honey and left where I bear hunt... what ever happened to Brian? "He's where the bears $hit in the woods".
Bears move really fast; I remember a study that showed the average bear traveled 40 yards in 2.5 seconds; so if they come after you either stand your ground and act bigger; or curl up and take your chewing. Your not going to have much time to do this- so keep an arrow on your string when your close- arrows don't penetrate well on an incoming shot; but often they will bite at the arrow - giving you time to nock another; or push your hunting buddy to the ground and take off running
It sounds like your spot and stalking; that might not end up with a high percentage total broadside shot. Might; might not. If you don't hear it crash or the death moan- mark the spot; and come back with someone that you can trust.
I track and the rule is the guy following immediately behind me has a shotgun and IF the bear charges; I yell "bear" and hit the ground flat- giving the shooter a safe area for the shot.
Sometimes bears will go a distance; and then turn back and lay up next to their blood trail.
So; keep looking off to the left and right too.
And the other thing that might happen is that other bears eat bears; and you can; and I have - been tracking a bear and got real close to a bear eating the dead bear that was hit.
I once was tracking a spring bear with my son; who thought he had killed the bear. He had not; he had given it a buzz cut and a sore area; and I found it as my coleman lantern was fizzing out.
It stood up in front of me at less than six feet; and I turned to see my son had his gun over his shoulder. I drew and fired my 6 shot .357 at it six times.
I used to be a competitive shooter with a revolver; in fact THAT revolver; and yet- at six feet I missed the bear twice of the six shots.
It was standing; and eye level to me; and I still missed twice- so really be careful - anyone can miss; and I proved it. It was a 6 1/2 foot 18 plus inch bear too.
When I stalk I like to do it when its really windy- in the fall the berries fall from the wind; and not only do the bears find berries on the open ground; but often drunk birds.
I move very slowly and on trails; and into the wind; and only go through noisy stuff when the wind blows hard.
Its really fun. You use eyes and nose for this sometimes more than anything; as bears can be so silent it is incredible.
Good luck; don't stick your finger into the scat; if the bear kills you; the coroner could rule that you stuck your finger where you shouldn't have: and the bear killed you.
That would NOT be a good 'goodbye story' for any hunter
Topic: how to age bear scat (Read 2541 times)
