Bear Hunting ?

[rugerbh103]

I have been seeing more bears in my area of VA. I have no idea how to hunt one. We can not bait here, and I dont know anyone with dogs. The only people I know who have killed one were deer hunting when one happened by. Any tips would be helpful. Thanks

[blueline]

Call them with a distessed rabit or deer cry, They will come in. Call often because they will lose intrest if you dont.  Let us know it will be exciting..

blueline

[Grant Young]

Bear are tough to hunt without using some outside attractant. The distress call may work-m I'd certainly try it. Like many other semi-predator species, bear cover a large range. Good luck in your endeavor- sounds like fun.   Grant

[robtattoo]

Are you allowed to do a 'burn' or is that classed as baiting?

[Tim Fishell]

Yup just fry some bacon at the base or your tree.  This will atract the bears and you'll have lunch too!!  

[Biggie Hoffman]

I've hunted bears in Virginia in the GW National Forest. We spot and stalked oak trees. Tough because the woods are pretty open but it can be done. Late blueberreis were another good food source.

[John3]

Good advice.. hunt the rough ground looking for sign. I would walk the bluffs, steep ground that people don't go to often...You will find Oaks that are "skinned" up from the bears climbing them. Turned over rocks where the bears were looking for bugs. Knocked down Poke berry patches,,,ect..  Bears leave good sign. Find that then set up on them like a whitetail...

Bear hunting is a good as it gets...

[rugerbh103]

Thanks for the tips. I was out for afew hours in a small strip of woods about 50 yards behind my house last night. I was watching a pair of does at sunset when a noticed a bear about 50 yards out on the trail. The deer were about 40 yards and had no clue I was there, but I would swear that the bear winded me and was gone. Maybe next time, it seems to be becoming a regular visitor, raiding bird feeders and trash cans in the neighborhood.