Archery Bear Question

[Todd Alexander]

I'm taking a couple days (this Friday and Saturday) to hunt PA bruins with my bow.  I'm hunting the big woods of Clinton County (Sproul state forest).  I was intending to take my Lone Wolf, get up a tree and stay there.  I'm second guessing myself so I thought I'd ask for advice.  The first day is archery only and the second is rifle (I'll proudly be carrying my stick and string).  The thought of hunting on the ground, particularly if it's a little wet and quiet, is appealing.  I haven't hunted bear much and have never bagged one, gun or bow.  Some of you seasoned bow hunters give me some insight.  Maybe on a "quiet" day still hunting into the wind makes sense.  Maybe the fact that the rifle hunters will be out on day 2 makes one of the options more logical.  Maybe "stalking" a bear, regardless of conditions reduces my chances greatly of success.  Looking forward to hearing your opinions.

[juneaulongbow]

I've killed one bear. It was on the ground, spot and stalk and there's nothing like it. I don't like trees much... I say go for it on the ground.

That said, I lived in Alaska at the time and spent 6 years hunting bears before I got one.

[bornagainbowhunter]

With rifle hunters roaming, I would be in a tree.  On the bow only day, do what you will get the most enjoyment out of.  If you have not done your homework on sign for stand placement, I would scout and roam.  If you have done your homework climb a tree...

BAB

[damascusdave]

One big advantage of being in a tree is that can often see the animal for quite a distance once you arrow it...because of their hide and fat bears often do not leave much of a blood trail even on a solid hit...with only two days to hunt I would have a gun along on the second day as an alternative for following up a less than perfect hit...and never assume a bear is dead until you can reach out and touch an unblinking eyeball...a friend once went to drag a dead bear by the hind foot out from under a tree...it got up and ran away

DDave

[Todd Alexander]

ttt

[Cookus]

Find the thickest piece of cover you can find to hunt... Bears in WV hole up in the thickest stuff when the guns start booming!

[Todd Alexander]

ttt

[bigb3303]

Can they hunt with dogs? If they can be on the ground so you can hear what way they are going. That's how we do it in my part of tn.

[Todd Alexander]

No dogs here in PA, no bait either.