When setting up a stand next to a bait site for black bears, how close is too close?
I hope that when I draw my next bear tag, to use a trad bow.
In the past with my compound, I set up 18 yards. With a trad bow, I would like to be a little closer. Is 12-15 yards too close?
Also, would you rather be in a tree stand or blind? My baits have typically been in oak hardwoods so it is fairly open.
Spring time you can get away with 8 to 12 yards. Fall you'd be better off setting them a little farther. 15-20 yrds
If I was setting one up, it would be between 12-15yds, or maybe even a little closer!
Bisch
I hunted with Tom Phillips when I killed mine. I shot him at 6 yards on the bait and I could stand on the ground and reach up and touch where my feet were on the stand. He was dead 4 yards behind my tree stand, for a moment I thought he might come up the tree as he ran passed it. All Tom's stands that we baited were relatively close, some closer than others. Hope Tom chips in here as he really knows what he is doing!
Reach up and touch the platform from the ground. About 8 yards from the bait. Is about perfect in my opinion.
If yoire going with an outfitter I would ask them what they typically do. If you're worried about the 3yds difference, I would just set a target at 20yds and start bending that bow.
QuoteOriginally posted by LittleBen:
If yoire going with an outfitter I would ask them what they typically do. If you're worried about the 3yds difference, I would just set a target at 20yds and start bending that bow.
:clapper:
QuoteOriginally posted by Holm-Made:
Reach up and touch the platform from the ground. About 8 yards from the bait. Is about perfect in my opinion.
That's how my stand was on Bear Quest #9, shot was at 7 yards. :thumbsup:
My barrel was at 17 yards this spring. Killed my bear at 10 yards on his way to the barrel.
I set mine at 12 to15 yards, about 8 to 10 feet up. My hunting partner sets his at 10 yards. Works for us.
Yes, about twelve yards seems good to me.
If you're doing this on your own, just remember, bears are a little different in the spring than they are in the fall, they're a little more wary in the fall.
Don't get too high. My last bear was fourteen yard shot and I was ten feet up. The closer you are the lower you should be for good shot angle. Since you have some control with exact bait placement find the right spot for good entry and exit to the stand, wind location and background cover. Also consider using logs in a v shape around the bait to direct the bear position to broadside at the bait.
When you are in a tree a bear simply sees you as a non threat...I shot my bear at 10 yards with the bait at 20...simply put a grease jug at 10 and the bear came to see what was in it...baiting bears is not rocket science
DDave
All of my bears where shot from 12 yards . Stands were 15 ' and created the perfect angle to the bear . Close is better when in low light conditions .
Quote; I can usually take them at 20 yards ,but I always get them at 12 yards !( Garyism )
:archer2: :archer2: :archer2:
I've killed 6 of them. I don't recall ever shooting over 10-12 yards with my recurve.
my bear last year I could touch the stand platform while flat footed...and shot was 8-10yds away...barrel was 10-12 yds.
I asked for my shot to be closer than normal...so instead of moving the stand they moved the barrel closer. smart thinking.
The other hunters stayed out there in the 16-20yd range and most of them experienced at least one miss and a couple unrecovered bears.
Stay in your comfort zone and dont be afraid to ask for it to be made closer....even if you got to buy your own stand at Cabelas and then leave it with the guide when you depart as a thank you. :)
I set mine 12yards and my stands at 12 feet
As already stated, stand up 6-8 ft., bait 10-12 yds is great. I really prefer it when there's just enough room for the arrow to clear the bow! :thumbsup:
LD
I read somewhere you use the 12-12 rule. 12 yards from the bait and 12 feet up.
It probably also depends on the bear. I was 8 yards from the bait this past bear quest and flirted with a big boy all week who kept picking me out. When I did finally get a shot opportunity, he caught me drawing and away he went. I guess they don't get big by being dumb.
How many bear hunters here believe that the Bears know your there but do no feel your a threat since your in a submissive position in the tree?
This was my take during my three spring bear hunts in Canada.
I'm undecided about my Fall bear hunts in MN as I haven't observed very many bears. The ones I did see seemed to be much spookier of human intrusion.
We had a theory in our camp that was 8 yd shot no more than 8 feet high, 9 yards no more than 9 feet high, 10 yards 10 feet high we never went more than 10 feet after 10 yards. This created a good angle to easily get both lungs.
QuoteOriginally posted by Holm-Made:
How many bear hunters here believe that the Bears know your there but do no feel your a threat since your in a submissive position in the tree?
This was my take during my three spring bear hunts in Canada.
I'm undecided about my Fall bear hunts in MN as I haven't observed very many bears. The ones I did see seemed to be much spookier of human intrusion.
I've heard that theory before. My one bear hunt was on Bear Quest II and I shot a nice boar on the second night. He never acted like he knew I was there, but was never spooky either. He was close for 20 min and with swirly wind and a thermacell running I can't imagine that I was a secret to him. Bait was 20-25 feet from the stand and he was standing five steps from the tree base when I shot. At 5'6", I could stand and lay my bow on the platform.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/Fletcher610/DSCF0398.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Fletcher610/media/DSCF0398.jpg.html)
Is bear vision poor or is it as some have mentioned that they don't feel intimidated? I always assumed folks were higher up the tree. We have no bears here so I'm clueless. Good thread!
QuoteOriginally posted by Holm-Made:
How many bear hunters here believe that the Bears know your there but do no feel your a threat since your in a submissive position in the tree?
This was my take during my three spring bear hunts in Canada.
I'm undecided about my Fall bear hunts in MN as I haven't observed very many bears. The ones I did see seemed to be much spookier of human intrusion.
Most of the bears on my fall hunts in NH are much spookier than most of the bears I've encountered in Canada in the spring, Chad.
Over the last decade bear hunting has become increasingly popular in my area and I imagine in MN as well.
I used to get between 15 and 25 hours of bear video in NH while on stand for the season. Last year I got less than an hour with roughly the same time spent on stand.The bear population in my area is stable to increasing as evidenced from the night time cam pics.
Conversely on a spring hunt in MB in an area where the bears seldom see a human every one of the 17 bears I saw that week walked between ladder and the tree I was sitting in.
They all saw me and none of them spooked.
Of the few bears that have tried to get in the tree with me over the years they all, with the exception of one dominant sow, have been young boars whom either where the dominant bear on the bait or had been driven off the bait by larger bears. This would tend to support the subordinate theory but with the keenness of a bears nose I don't see how they couldn't make the distinction between human and bear.
As my one of my hunting partners says" They're bears who knows what they're thinking"
Baits went out today so perhaps this year will give us another clue.