As the days get longer, temperatures rise, snow starts to melt, and the green grass shoots start to appear, so do the bears. Depending on the geographical area and weather, the end of April and into May is the time of year to which bears emerge from hibernation. Like the bears, spring bear hunters also rise up from their winter slumbers in hopes of getting a chance at harvesting one of the waking bruins. In this edition of Korth Group Outdoor Education we will explore a few key tips and tricks on spring bear hunting, specifically black bears.
What to look For
TRACKS
Tracks can be easiest to spot on gravel service roads or dirt game trails. It is best to search for tracks after rain or a wet spring snow as the ground will be soft and easier to identify the shape of a bear track. Older tracks that are exposed to moisture after the track was made or as time progresses will not look as defined. When a track is found it can be fairly easy to determine the physical size of the bear based on the size of the track. If you measure the distance across the width of the front pad in inches and simply add 1, you will have a pretty good idea of what the bear will square in feet (the average of width & length of the hide).
Scat/Droppings
Once black bears are out of hibernation they will have a variable diet. In the spring their diets will consist of high nutrient vegetation, in the summer time they will be eating mostly berries, and the fall will present more nuts and acorns. Understanding how close a bear would be based on the freshness of the scat depends on the moisture content remaining in the droppings. Fresh scat will have a high moisture content which means that the bear is potentially close by. If so, search for nearby open areas where vegetation is growing up as the bear would migrate towards food. Dry scat is old scat and it is likely that it is more than a day or two old which means the bear could have vacated the area.
Differences Between Boars And Sows
Bears a typically challenging to identify. Not only the sex but the size as well when glassing them from a distance. Generally, boars tend to be larger in size throughout their body profile that sows. They will have a longer and more rectangular snout with longer necks and longer walking strides. Sows on the other hand, typically have a shorter pointed muzzles with smaller overall frames. Where it gets difficult is smaller boars can easily pass as a sow just because of it’s juvenile features. If the regulations in your area only allow you to harvest one or the other, extra care and attention to these attributes must be taken to ensure the right sex is being harvested.
Food Sources
Once bears emerge from hibernation they are motivated by food. Their bodies have gone months with little to no nutrition and need to be replenished. As grass shoots appear with warmer weather it will draw bears to sit and feast. Normally south facing slopes, pipelines, and other cut lines where water run off can reach is where the first greenery is present. Black bears especially, will migrate to these areas to source there first bites and remain in the area as long as they need to gain back their energy. With the first grass shoots also comes dandelions which are magnets for black bears as they are rich in vitamins and nutrients to get their weight up from not eating for a few months but also to clean out their systems from a long winter of hibernation.
Burn areas in forests are great spots to sit and glass for bears. This presents a big open vantage point where greenery can flourish as more sun exposure is present due to the lack of the canopies from large trees. These areas are also easier to pick out the black colour of bears when it is contrasted against the green landscape.
Types Of Bear Hunting
The most important thing to keep in mind when getting closer to a bear for a shot is to play the wind. Bears have an incredible sense of smell compared to their other senses, especially when just coming out of hibernation. You are always going to want to make sure you are approaching the bear from a downwind position. With that being said, it is still important to conceal your figure with camouflage/your surroundings as well as remain as quiet as possible. The combination of managing these three attributes will provide you with more success in your spot and stalk encounters.
Baiting
When hunting over bait it is still important to conceal your scent, sight, and sound however, bears can get distracted by the buffet assortment that is presented. When it comes to what to use for bait, bears are members of the pig family so they are interested in really anything edible, including cereal, sweet feed, donuts, bread, meat scraps, beavers, etc.
Executing The Shot
SHOT PLACEMENT
Bears are not built the same as deer and other ungulates as their chests are compressed when observing from the side. Broadside or “quartering away” shots are the best for penetration of the vital organs as the shoulder and leg bones protect the heart and lungs when the near front leg is in the rearward position in stride. It is best to aim roughly 4-6 inches behind the shoulder on a broadside shot for the most lethal outcome.
USING THE CORRECT BULLET/BROADHEAD
Bears have thick hide, dense bone, and depending on the time of the year can have up to several inches of fat. To ethically take down a bear one must ensure that the bullet or broadhead that is being used is capable of deep penetration to drive through to the vitals. Monolithic projectiles like Hornady’s CX bullet or sharp fixed blade broadheads are always good choices to ensure the vitals are reached from majority of different shot angles.