Black bear without baiting

R

rkr

Regular
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
Anyone here ever hunted black bear without baiting. I’m hunting in dense forest with limited visibility but there are some high points where I can see far away.
I know all the pro arguments but I don’t hunt over bait.
I have extensive experience with deer, moose and elk and never had to bait.
I know it’s doable and I’m looking for someone who successfully harvested a bear this way.
Cheers
 
I’ve harvested just over a dozen boars since 2017, not a single one over bait (illegal here)

What would you like to know? I’ve shot them from 10 yards to 300. April May and June. September and October.

My favorite meat for hamburger. Makes amazing chilli. Hamburger helper. Meatballs. Etc.

I’m going to guess you’re in Ontario? West of you the bear hunting is really really straight forward haha
 
As stated food source also they can be driven like deer and still hunted not that hard if you know the country. Shot some big boys in old farm orchards one at 10 feet that one was a hair raiser came in from behind didn't hear or see him until he popped a apple. Woke me up in a hurry. Baiting takes the sport out of it for me. Nothing wrong with bait just not my thing.
 
RyoTHC said:
I’ve harvested just over a dozen boars since 2017, not a single one over bait (illegal here)

What would you like to know? I’ve shot them from 10 yards to 300. April May and June. September and October.

My favorite meat for hamburger. Makes amazing chilli. Hamburger helper. Meatballs. Etc.

I’m going to guess you’re in Ontario? West of you the bear hunting is really really straight forward haha
Click to expand...
I’m in Ottawa area and we have some really nice forests here in the QC side.
I managed to see and get deer many times without ever baiting.
I’ve never seen a bear here though. How the heck I can find them. I’ve seen lots of signs but never the bear.

I hunted in the west and yes, it’s another ball game. Not unusual to see bear by the side of the road.
 
There’s bait planted by hunters, and then there’s natural bait. Those are the only way to hunt bears.
Natural bait can be berries, fish, or anything else they like that is plentiful. Otherwise trying to locate them randomly is about like sitting in the middle of nowhere waiting for a unicorn.

Most places that don’t allow baiting are suited to spot and stalk since the terrain naturally has openings, rivers, or mountains with naturally occurring areas when bears habituate.

As mentioned by some others: find their food, and you found your site.
 
Success on bears without using bait depends entirely on the terrain and local food sources. In Boreal forest regions, you can go months in good bear country and never see a bear. Early season in blueberry country is your best bet, September choke cherries can be very good, acorns are not a practical (in general) food source for hunting. Agricultural fields, especially oats, offer a good opportunity to get on bears. In the spring, green-up in cuts, clover fields and along waterways with a Southern exposure are good locations. There is also, calling tactics that can work... I have taken a dozen bears or so by spot and stalk, and three by calling, but approximately 70 by baiting. Bait is simply a manufactured food source, and honestly, in thick Boreal woods, your only reasonable option. Do not think that baiting is like "shooting fish in a barrel," not true, particulalry if you are focusing on mature boars... they are extremly wary creatures, as evidenced by harvest statistics. Do not equate taking a deer without bait, to taking a bear without bait... they are completely different animals and operate in completely different ways... plus the game densities are not even close to the same.
 
Baiting bears is not legal up here, so it is spot and stalk only for me. I heard that you can call them too like you would call coyotes or similar… Hope some one chime in on that
 
I’ve called a few, got bored with bait and stalking over the years.
Distress fawn or calf calls depending on where you’re at and what’s available!
Use lots of scent.
Always be ready, they like to sneak in behind ya.
I’ve arrowed a few nice 6ft boars this way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DGY
warzaw said:
As stated food source also they can be driven like deer and still hunted not that hard if you know the country. Shot some big boys in old farm orchards one at 10 feet that one was a hair raiser came in from behind didn't hear or see him until he popped a apple. Woke me up in a hurry. Baiting takes the sport out of it for me. Nothing wrong with bait just not my thing.
Click to expand...
After reading my post I guess I am hunting over bait just didn't put it there still laughing about my post. Beechnuts are are great source of bear food. Also small ponds will attract bears in hot weather shot a few that were laying in water to cool off .
 
  • Like
Reactions: DGY
I have called in a significant number of black bears and grizzlies over the years. It’s a lot easier to do when you can watch the bear and gauge his reaction. Probably 20% of bears will come in fast, 20% will take an hour or so to meander over towards you, and the rest simply will ignore you completely. Fairly often they will show up within 10 feet and you didn’t know they were there, so calling blind can be pretty exciting at times.

Sometimes they come in breaking brush, loud and angry, the rest of the time they just simply appear. If you hang a white strip of cloth on a branch, sometimes they show up right there.

One thing to be real cognizant, though, is if you are calling and a sow with cusb hears it she will quite often chase the cubs up a tree and then come in loud and fast trying to run you off. If you were calling blind, you won’t know that she had cubs.
 
Seen randomly like other game when I'm out in the boonies. And attracted by calls.⚠️

Recent fatal example: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/brit...-grizzly-bear-attack-east-kootenays-9.6954326

ifAvT6k.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: DGY
In Fall I use spot and stalk. The areas are green with grass, Saskatoon berries or abundant rose hips.
I use trail camera's and watched 6 bears. Shot the second largest. The largest stank too much. It is still around.
They like salt lick's too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DGY
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom