Who has bear hunted and did you like it

[BAK]

The talk regarding black bear hunting sort of piqued my curiosity.  How many of you have actually ever hunted bear, and if you did, did you enjoy it?  Why or why not?   

[BAK]

I'll answer my own question.  I have hunted Black bear both in MN and Canada.  I have not been fortunate enough to have had a shot, but I'd go again in a heart beat.  I thought it was damn exciting.   

[JakeD]

I have been on one bear hunt.  I got lucky and killed one the last 30 minutes of my hunt.  I'd do it again in a heartbeat.  It was definitely different from deer hunting and I really enjoyed it.  We don't have very many bears around home, so it was fun to see and hunt something different.

[supernaut]

I buy a bear tag every year here in PA.

I have never had a chance at or even seen a bear during our bear season bow or rifle. But, I always have hope!

Going on a black bear hunt with my recurve in Canada or Maine or ? is something I AM going to do in the next couple years.

[cacciatore]

I have hunted bear in Saskatchewan a couple of times,I saw lot of bears and both times I was blessed with my trophies. I would come back for try on a big boar.

[JamesD]

BAK,
   
     I went on my first bear hunting trip last month. We had a blast!!! We have already arranged to go back in 2024.

[Pine]

My favorite big game. 

[dnovo]

I’d go every year if I could. I’ve been about 5 or 6 times. I hunted spot and stalk in Alaska off a boat we lived on for 5 days. I killed a small to average sized one there at 8 yards in the bush. Really cool hunt. I’ve killed a couple more over bait in Canada including my last one a monster at 410#. Bear hunting is a blast.

[Cory Mattson]

YES I went bear hunting.
YES I enjoyed it.
Hunted with some guys who ran Plot hounds mid 70s and loved that! 
Ran my own bait and got a bear off it in 1980
Stalked 11 after that and up until 1986
Then 1990 to 2005 hunted baits - ran my own baits and camps - saw hundreds and shot a few
Been a few times since with close friends but haven't shot one in a while.
Ya got me thinkin now might go this fall.
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[two4hooking]

I've done a lot of hunting for them, but not any shooting.  Maryland makes it tough with a week only October season, with no bait, no scents, no dogs allowed, not much chance to blunder into them unless there is a problem bear.  I've had them chew my turkey decoy in the spring gobbler season but never get sight of one during the short week even if I am lucky enough to draw a tag.  I've tried calls also but no luck.  Fun but frustrating when Sika rut is in at the same time. 

[Trenton G.]

Yes, this past fall was my first experience gear hunting and I absolutely loved it! I would do it every year if it wasn't so difficult to draw a tag!  It took a lot of work to balance everything out while going to school, but I loved having an excuse to go to the woods every single day to run baits and such. I also really enjoyed just sitting and watching them. When deer hunting, generally I see a deer and it maybe be around for a minute or two and then it's off. With bear hunting, I would have bears in front of me for an hour at a time so there's constant entertainment. Along with that the meat is fantastic!

[Kelly]

My all time favorite animal to bowhunt. Yes I like it and hope to do it again a couple times before I pass. Have hunted them in WI, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho plus Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Hoping to try some new places soon.

[Deertaker]

I really like it! had an amazing time! Love watching so many bears and when the one you want finally comes in, wow does your heart start to pump!

[ozy clint]

I hunted bear in Alberta on a hunter host hunt with a friend back in the fall of 2018. Had a great time hunting field edges and stalking in the wheat.
Managed to ambush a good boar on his way to a field. Shot was 10 yards as he walked past me.

[Bowguy67]

Bear was something I’d done yearly for a long time. Was prob my fav hunts. Totally different than the hardwood ridges I typically sit on,
Each morn id fish smallmouth, shoot a bow,  listen to moose grunt, loons cry, ravens sounding like Pterodactyls. At dog camps ready dogs, check strike baits. On stand hunts, ready them. Most guys like to sleep in. I require not too much sleep. Leaves lots time for practical jokes. The percentage of success was high so it was always relaxed environments. Nighttime was watching the northern lights, drinking a beer around a campfire if a northern camp.
 I skinned for two of the camps camps so had to work when success smiled on someone and was often in camp for weeks and would go home with 10-12 grand in my pocket. I was a taxidermist so bear hides, fish, skulls, coyotes or wolves could be in my truck or on a skin table. Really fun times and all a business trip. Life was terrible back than!

[Bowguy67]

Yes, this past fall was my first experience gear hunting and I absolutely loved it! I would do it every year if it wasn't so difficult to draw a tag!  It took a lot of work to balance everything out while going to school, but I loved having an excuse to go to the woods every single day to run baits and such. I also really enjoyed just sitting and watching them. When deer hunting, generally I see a deer and it maybe be around for a minute or two and then it's off. With bear hunting, I would have bears in front of me for an hour at a time so there's constant entertainment. Along with that the meat is fantastic!

The meat is fantastic. Bear is one of my fav meats. Glad you mentioned that

[Bisch]

I’ve been bear hunting twice. Once I got a bear and once I didn’t get a bear. It was fun both times. I would bear hunt again.

Bisch

[STICKBENDER98]

YES!!!!  It is a rush like no other, I have been fortunate to have taken one here in the UP of Michigan, filmed my buddy shooting one out of the same bait set 3 years later, we were putting in for points to be able to draw a tag.  I went to New Brunswick with same buddy and we were both fortunate to take bears there also. It always amazes me at how quiet an animal that weighs so much can move so quietly.  While in stand in NB, I had a sow with 2 cubs come into the bait, it was so comical watching them sit right down at the barrel and have a good ole time, the sow never came into the bait, she stayed back and kept an eye on things while they ate. I would go on another bear hunt in a heart beat!!!


Jason

[Sam Spade]

When bear hunting,  just seeing one is worth it! I never hunted them 'pay for play' so it was extra special.  I hope to go on a paid hunt soon though, as I need a break!!!

[STICKBENDER98]

My wife sent me this a week ago yesterday on my way to work, she was so excited to watch it walk through our yard!!!


Jason