Learn all the secrets of black bear hunting
The black bear can be found across the North American continent and is protected by many laws which led to an increasing population in the last decades. The hunting activity has suffered some great changes over the last years and hunters have to plan well ahead a black bear hunting expedition. In many areas, laws prohibit the use of hunting dogs which makes the experience even more difficult for hunters. However, these laws have a positive side, populations have grown significantly and bears can be found easier.
There is a wide variety of hunting techniques that are suitable for black bears. We shall start with the most important one, the calling. The key to calling these animals is to do it without any interruptions until the bear is in the fire range. The most attractive sound for these animals would be the one made by two bears fighting for food, like blowing and/or chomping. Expert biologists say that using cub distress calls is not very efficient, or any other predator that sounds similar to these sounds. The black bear mothers are attracted by any type of sounds which are familiar with the sound made by a cub. Mothers are so sensitive to this and even the sounds of a red tailed hawk will make females react immediately. Also, females confuse rabbit-in-distress calls with the sounds of a cub in trouble; in this case, the female will send her cubs investigating the area.
Calling is not all there is to in when it comes down to black bear hunting as there are other ways to approach this matter, like scent management. This topic is very important which is why experienced hunters recommend having clean clothes and avoid wearing them in campsite areas. Just as important, avoid smoking and use cover scent so that the bear will not feel something disturbing.
Searching for black bears can become an easier task by looking for berry pieces or fruit orchards. Other locations would be putrid logs loaded with insects. Pre-season exploration will amplify your success rate. You have to look for tracks, broken stems droppings or twigs close to seasonal food provisions. We and expert hunters do not recommend using tree stands as they are quite dangerous. However, if you do want to use them, remember at all times to secure yourself to the tree by using a safety belt.
Another efficient method to hunt black bears is trapping them but this procedure is forbidden in many states across US. More than that, many states only permit certain traps to be used so extra attention should be given to this aspect. You can buy these traps from your local sporting goods store or by going online as there are many shops which deal with these kinds of products.
Another major component of black bear hunting is the hunting dog. Using a highly trained black bear hunting dog will most likely increase the efficiency of the hunter but training such a dog can be very difficult plus there are not many dogs that are suitable for this kind of activity. Some of the most popular black bear hunting dogs are: American Bulldog, Karelian Bear Dog, Mountain View Cur, Native American Indian Dog, Plott Hound and the Redbone Coonhound.
Not that popular due to its high level of difficulty, bow hunting is likable to some experienced black bear hunters. These hunters usually use a longbow/compound and a draw weight of minimum 55 pounds at 28 inches. Heavy arrows are used because the bear has a very rich cartilage and penetration can only be done with such arrows. As far as the broadhead is concerned, it should be very strong and sharp so that the likelihood of remaining in one piece will be higher when it will penetrate the strong muscles.
Regardless of the method of hunting used, baiting should play an important role in all situations. The best areas for placing baits would be along the area where they usually roam: a heavily timbered forest in the near vicinity of agricultural areas; near rivers/streams and near low grounds. The baits should be placed at the beginning of the black bear season and the more you place, the greater the chances.
After catching a bear hunters have 2 options: mount it or prepare a black bear recipe. As far as the first option is concerned, there are a lot of taxidermy companies across the United States that do a great job at mounting a black bear. If you want to try something new in the kitchen, have a look at several bear recipes, like the beat meat loaf or the black bear stew.
We will end our article on an interesting side, presenting what we think to be the most interesting black bear facts. First of all, the world record for the largest black bear caught: 902 pounds / 409 kilos (male); 520 pounds / 235 kilos (female). The black bear is one of the most intelligent animals in the world and has a very developed sense of hearing and smell (that is why we mentioned before that odor is very important).
