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- Like a lot of other wild creatures, black bear often follow traditional game trails
when traveling bout their ranges. Prospective bear hunters should keep this in mind
when establishing their bait sites.
- In lightly pressured areas black bear often visit bait sites during the mid-day
hours. This is especially true in the spring, when the bear rut is underway.
- It’s always a good idea to watch single, mature bear for a few minutes before taking
your shot. There’s a possibility that the bear could be a sow, and her cubs could
be lingering in some nearby thick cover.
Notice the bear marks on the poplar tree.
- Male black bear often leave claw and bite marks on trees near bait sites. Hunters
can sometimes use the height of these “marks” to judge the size of the bear that
are frequenting their baits.
- A mature black bear may approach and leave a bait site several times before finally
walking all the way in. It’s usually best if you wait for a bear to get to the bait
before taking your shot.
- If you happen to shoot a bear, pay close attention to where the animal runs after
the hit. Even fatally hit bear—especially fall bear—seldom leave behind profuse
blood-trails.
- Black bear often visit many of the same bait sites year after year. Therefore, and
barring any drastic changes in the environment, once a bait site is “active,” it
should continue to be hit every year.
Here is a shot of our secret bear baiting mixture that the bears can’t refuse.
- Black bear have an incredible sense of smell. What’s more, older bear are notorious
for completely circling a bait before coming in to feed. Obviously then, hunters
need to take very precaution to control their odor.
- Black bear possess only mediocre eyesight, but they aren’t blind. Bear can and often
do detect even slight movements. Hunters should wait until a bear looks away before
attempting to draw their bows or raise their firearms.
- Archers should take only broadside or slightly quartering-away shots at black bear.
Provided they’re hit in the right spot, arrow-shot bear will succumb rather quickly
to their wounds.
- Don’t be upset if the first bear that walks into your bait site is small. Keep in
mind that several bear could be working your bait, and the longer you wait, the
greater your chances you’ll see the “big one!”
- Hunters must be able to keep their nerves in check when a bear “magically” appears
at their bait. For through their appearance might suggest otherwise, even huge bear
can walk through the thickest cover without making a sound.
- Black bear are not the aggressive, ferocious beasts far too many people believe
them to be. For the most part, bear are quite timid and will go out of their way
to avoid contact with humans.
- Black bear are fond of a number of bait items, including meat, fish, grains, pastries,
bread, cookies, candy and fruits. To keep a big bear interested in a particular
bait site, use a variety of these and other bait items.
- Novice hunters often have trouble accurately judging bear size. Whenever possible,
try to put something near your bait site (like a 55 gallon barrel or a large log)
that you can use for referencing bear size.
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