Bear Hunting Basics
Bear hunts are a popular sport in Alaska. It’s one of the many types of big game hunting that’s popular in this very northern state. People who don’t live in the area and aren’t familiar with bears may wonder why anyone would want to hunt a bear. But it’s actually a sanctioned activity to help keep the population down. There are several states in the United States where hunting certain types of animals is not only legal but encouraged to help thin the population on a regular basis.
Aside from the official reason for bear hunts, people enjoy doing it because of the excitement. Unlike hunting an animal like a deer that’s very meek and non-threatening, hunting bears has a certain amount of risk inherent in it. If you encounter a deer in the wild it will run from you. Many people don’t realize that bears will often go in the opposite direction too, but at times when they feel threatened by you they will attack.
That slight risk of being charged by the anima you’re hunting is enough to keep many people going on bear hunts. The potential excitement if something like that should happen and knowing that you’re hunting an animal that’s a predator itself gives many people a bit of a rush. Even someone simply baiting bears could be in the wrong place at the wrong time and encounter a hungry bear, putting himself at risk. It’s largely unlikely that you’ll face a bear in this particular way but it’s something that you can’t completely brush aside if you plan to bear hunt. Having one see you and come at you will be a frightening and exciting thing.
It’s also one of the reasons that someone inexperienced with bear hunts should never go alone and never go with anyone who’s not much more experience than they are. The inherent dangers might seem slight to someone hunting because they have a weapon, after all. Having a gun that can bring down a bear certainly can protect you. But there are other factors at play when you’re faced with an animal that large behaving in an aggressive manner. Will you have time to raise the weapon? Is the weapon loaded and ready to fire? And when faced with a charging bear, will you have your wits about you enough to raise the weapon and fire properly, hitting the animal in a way to stop it?
People do get injured on bear hunts. It’s not a terribly common thing but it does happen from time to time. To avoid that being you, try a guided hunt or find a very experienced bear hunter to teach you the basics and take you your first few times.
Also, be sure of the laws in your local area and how they regard bear-baiting. It’s illegal in some states where there is bear hunting and in others there are regulations about what kind of food you can use and how you can put it out.
Check you local state regulations for bear hunting rules and regulations before you hunt.
Black Bear hunting
For successful black bear hunting you need to master the art of bear-baiting. You also need to check with your state laws regarding this practice. It is illegal in some states and in other states there a certain restrictions and regulations that you must follow to do it in a specific way. Some states have outlawed it because they fear that practice will be abused and the bear population will be decimated. Others have certain restrictions and regulations to keep that from happening. You will need to check with both your state and your local laws to make sure that baiting bears is acceptable in your area and that you follow the rules while doing it.
Bear baiting when you’re black bear hunting involves putting food out to bait the bear. You’ll set up a baiting area where you put food to attract bears. Then the bears catch the scent of food and come to the area to feed. Then you hide out and check regularly for things like bear droppings and tracks. Once you find dropping and some tracks you know your bear-baiting is working and all you have to do is go into hiding and wait.
Bears are very much creatures of habit and will keep returning to the same spot over and over if there is food available. But choosing a good spot is necessary for this to happen. You want to put your bait out within a mile of some sort of water source. Bears typically need water immediately after eating so they won’t feed far away from a water source.
It’s also important to watch your bear-baiting station carefully. Don’t try to hunt the first time you see bears attracted to it. Let them become comfortable with it first. If they happen to catch your scent or become suspicious, they won’t return to that spot or they’ll return in the middle of the night. Let them become comfortable before you try to hunt.
Check your bait carefully to make sure that nothing is rotting or going bad because that will drive the bears away, as well. And follow the state and local regulations about what you can or cannot use for bear-baiting. There may be restrictions on the type of food you can or cannot use. Some areas might allow junk food and table scraps while others require you use only meats or fish. It’s a good idea to stick with one type of food when you’re black bear hunting to avoid a mingled scent confusing the bears or seeming unappetizing to them
Most of all, be patient. You might be tempted to take action the first time you see a bear. You’ll have far better luck if you don’t do this. Don’t get too excited and lose your advantage by letting the bear hear, see or smell you. If one bear decides to stay away from that spot, chances are that all of them will.
For the state Regulations on the bear hunting trip you are planning Click Here