Late Fall Black Bears

[gps2]

Over the past six seasons, friends and I have had some outstanding success with spring bears in Ontario and Quebec, as well as September bears in Ontario. Hunting over bait, we've killed bruisers by working hard, and it has been lots of fun. Now to try something new...

The fall season closes November 30, and I got to thinking that a black bear at the end of November would be near his max size and maybe even have a coat more like a spring bear than an early-September bear. Best of both worlds! Last fall, we put out a set in the middle of November using proven baits at a proven location but it seems we were too late. Just raccoons and birds. The logical thing to do is move it up a little earlier, say November 1, and try from there.

I'm curious, have you actively hunted bears late in the fall in S. Ont and what was the latest you found them still feeding? I'm looking for insight specifically from bear hunters, as I expect to hear stories about incidental bears someone may have seen while deer hunting, etc. While I'm sure bears may still be seen out and about, I need to know when they actually stop feeding. Thanks!

 

[DVXDUDE]

Depends on the year and the acorn crop in my area. But most of the biggest bears I've seen on camera is late October, after my meat scrapes ( beaver).

But less leaves on the trees and more on the ground I found they were always night pics, but I'm hunting hardwoods on the edge of big spruce bush

 

[brybenn]

I hunt end of September usually and the locals where I hunt tell me by mid October most bears have denned up. Best of luck

 

[sebastien leroux]

Here in QC I'm hunting in hunting unit # 5 and we do have bear in late November. If you are not too far north in ONT you should see the same activity.