Stalking Black Bears on Bait

[Bowwild]

I'm wondering if anyone here has ever hunted with or without a guide stalking baits for black bears?

I'm currently talking to a guide from Saskatchewan that recommends I hunt this way (with him). He is very far north hunting bears that are unhunted or very lightly hunted. He says these bears often don't leave the bait when he and the hunter stalk in . If the bear does leave they merely hide on the ground and wait for the bear's return.

He says bluff charges are common.

This is for my party of 4 for 2015.

[ron w]

Roy, your on the classifieds, put this on Pow Wow.

[Bowwild]

Whoops!  Sorry folks I thought I had the PowWow site open. Thanks for moving my topic.
Roy

[Tater]

I hunted Alberta a few years ago and late mornings and early afternoon we would go stalk a couple baits for something to do before the evening sit.
   Stalked in on a few Bears, none were shooters, later in that hunt I shot the Bear in my avatar but that was from an evening sit.

   It can be productive and pretty exciting being on the ground and up close and personal with a Bear.

[Bowwild]

By the way, I have nothing at all against the typical sitting in a tree stand over bait waiting and watching. It is just that this particular guide is very excited about the way he is recommending we hunt.

I'm a bit guide-shy right now after having had such a let-down in New Brunswick this year.

[centaur]

PM'd you. In a word, doing what you are thinking about is a real hoot.

[Pete McMiller]

Bet that'll make you feel alive.  Sounds like a blast.  My next bear hunt will be on the ground.

[cacciatore]

Roy this something I would like to do myself,keep me posted.

[ChuckC]

Just be 'vewwy vewwwy quiet !'

Chuckc

[DarkTimber]

I've done several times unintentionally.  I've ran baits mid day then went out for the afternoon hunt and found bears on the bait when I showed up.  It was very easy stalking with them being pre-occupied on the bait.  The bears were never large enough to shoot, but it sure was fun.   That was unguided here in Arkansas but I'm sure it wouldn't be much different anywhere else.

[Tradtical Commando]

Originally posted by Pete McMiller:
Bet that'll make you feel alive.  Sounds like a blast.  My next bear hunt will be on the ground.

I just did, and my man it was priceless!

[Bowwild]

Thanks for that detailed PM Centaur!

[TSP]

Never tried that.  But, why would a guide (or anyone) put in all the hard work of setting up good stand baits only to have hunters 'stalk' them for kicks and giggles?  Sounds like a good way to ruin the baits, not to mention ruining the stalker's day (bears don't always just 'bluff' when they're hungry, surprised or ticked off). Short of 'stalking' cubs with the Mama Bear hanging around I can't think of a better way to clean out the bowhunter dude gene pool than to send them sneaking up on hungry/competitive bears at active baits, lol.  

But if determined to do it you may want to wait until after dark to start the stalk... and dress up like a big bag of donuts.  Then it'll get REALLY exciting.    
   :eek:              

[Bowwild]

To clarify, this isn't my idea. It is the way a guide in N. Sask prefers to hunt. Apparently the location is so far north that the trees are very small making it difficult for tree stands.

I may be misunderstanding him as well when he refers to "stalking (or still hunting) the baits"?

He his very enthusiastic about the technique and reported that one evening he and 3 hunters brought 3 bears (dead) in from a round of this style of hunting.

[TSP]

I hear ya Bowwild and didn't mean to poke fun at you per se.  But, aside from the amusing scenes conjured up when thinking of trying to 'sneak up' on bait-feeding bears, I think the guide might really be underestimating the bad things that can happen.  I'm no black bear expert but have had a number of encounters with them while hunting whitetails and grouse, mostly in swamps and/or mixed growth apple country.  One thing I've learned is that it's definately NOT a good idea to surprise a bear.  If it were me, I'd opt for letting the bear come to me via a well-placed ground blind or tree stand.  That gives him a better chance to pick running away over feeling threatened if he spots you hunting him.  Even if you CAN stalk in unnoticed before being spotted (which is doubtful, especially in sparse cover), predicting how the critter will react once he sees you is a crap shoot...to say nothing of other bears that might be at or approaching the bait.  The question is, is the thrill worth the risk?

Whatever you choose to do, good luck!

[Greg Dearth]

What you are suggesting would be alot of fun. But keep in mind that a sow with cubs could get very interesting. She would most likely run the cubs up a tree and then try to run you off also. Just a word of caution. With that being said I still think it would be a blast trying. Good luck on your hunt and give us a report on how it turns out.

[Bowwild]

Another down side to this method is that I'd think it would be more difficult to judge the bear.  When bears are coming to bait while I'm in a treestand the opportunity to evaluate is better.

I have a very solid person to call who knows this fellow well.

[AkDan]

run you off?  If you come in on a bait and don't see that sow/cubs and she is on to you..expect something to unfold like this.

Though they're floating the concept is extremely similar!   Though you have an idea where they should be...you don't know where or if they're lounging in the brush.

   

its just something to consider when you're playing with bruins of any kind!   blacks included.   they are unpredictable even the 'unhunted' variety.

[Ray Hammond]

I believe under the right circumstances- like gas or mineral exploration areas in Canada, where you have open 'senderos' running off into the bush with lush grass, or on beaches, a spring spot and stalk hunt for bear would be a great way to go.

Spot the bear, make sure its what you are interested in with optics, and then use the wind to stalk in.

It aint a turkey shoot, you'll have to have skills and use your wind wisely. If I hunt bear again, it'll be that way.

I wouldn't want to try it in thick country where the bear has a better than even chance of detecting you before you see them...that could set up in some underwear-changing moments especially with sows and cubs being together...but like I suggested... done it a million times with pigs and it's the most fun you'll ever have with your britches on.

[tracker12]

If your close to 60 you have had a good long life.  Go for it what do you have to loose:)  Actually if you can get a good recommendation I would give it serious thought.  When I lived in CA we would stalk bears in the fall when they were in the pinion trees eating the ripened pine nuts.  It was a blast.  They would get so obsessed with the nuts that on blown stalks they would just run 100 yards and climb back up again.