Spot and stalk black bear

scruffee

scruffee

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Gents, with the border closed and travel restrictions, my spring turkey trip has been cancelled so I will focus on local hunts this spring. I usually bow hunt bear over bait with good success but would like to change it up this season and try to do a spot and stalk hunt. This is a thick cover area with little elevation. I've e-scouted a bunch and have identified clear cuts, river edges and swamps. I was thinking about starting early, mid/late April, since I have nothing better to do, but I normally don't hit the woods until the first or second week of May when baiting.

Those of you who have done it, do you have any tips to share?
 
Around here in the spring when you find the food and water you find bears, south facing slopes and drainages as well as higher roads with grassy ditches and creeks. It’s not hard to find bears around here though, they’re all over the place.
 
Think the trick will be to get in bow range. Bears aren't stupid and lots of little hints to give them a heads up. They won't be moving much till things green up and that's gonna be a while.

Grizz
 
All the above, spend some time in the pickup watching for green area's and bear #### on the roads next to green area's, then come back late in the afternoon on foot looking for them. I usually carry a set of moccasins to put a quiet sneak on them once I've found a likely candidate with the bino's.

Watch the wind, they can't see for #### but they can certainly smell.
 
I remember back in BC as a kid the pole lines were often seeded with clover and they were bear magnets. We had a lot of fun glassing from a good vantage point then stalking.
 
It ain’t hard to stalk them with a bow. They can hear and smell real well. So stay downwind and wear quiet footwear. I usually take my shoes off and sneak up in my socks.
 
If the area you're hunting wasn't harvested last fall try to find some standing oats. They might even feed on swathed canola I'm not sure. Other critters seem to. I've never had anything on cams before mid may but it's still nice to get out. They seem to really love dandelions so keep an eye out for lush areas with lots of them. I'm going to try this year too but probably will be rifle hunting.
 
A typical opinion, ensure you pay attention to the wind. Bow hunting is exciting. Southern slopes and green areas is a good start.
 
savagelh said:
If the area you're hunting wasn't harvested last fall try to find some standing oats. They might even feed on swathed canola I'm not sure. Other critters seem to. I've never had anything on cams before mid may but it's still nice to get out. They seem to really love dandelions so keep an eye out for lush areas with lots of them. I'm going to try this year too but probably will be rifle hunting.
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I'm looking at hitting a provincial park this year, away from AG fields. I wasn't very clear in my OP, I usually bow hunt over bait but I will take the rifle on this spot and stalk hunt.

I've e-scouted and found some spots that look good, a few hydro lines, rivers, swamps. One spot I actually really like I would probably canoe in/out of the area.
 
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Have found good sign and got my last one in an area that was cut the prior year. New growth and sometimes an abundance of berries :) Now snow, kindly melt already.
 
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