Black Bear Hunting

[Big_Steve]

So I found out recently that I will have a chance at hunting a black bear this fall. My friends family own land in central PA and we will be making the trip later November. How many bear hunters are out there? I have wanted to take a bear since I was a kid watching them back home. This will be one of the best hunts of my life I believe, regardless of a kill or not.

P.S. All tips, tricks, Ideas, Strategy, accepted.

[piebald buster]

You've got the right attitude. It's great to get the chance to go but, the main thing enjoy yourself regardless if you get one or not. All of us in a group that went to Maine to bear hunt had that attitude. And we were blessed with each one of us making a kill. Good Luck.

[mwezell]

Hey Big Steve! Congrats and good luck on the bear hunt! I went to Maine a few years back and hunted them and had a blast. I don't know about Pa. but in Maine we hunted over bait piles. There are 2 things that the guide said not to do....don't get between a mother and her cubs and don't get between any bear and it's food!! I can't really describe the feeling that I had when it got too dark and I had to get out of my stand near a bait pile having heard a bear off to my right for some time before dark. My stand is between the sound and the bait!!! Mostly nothing to worry about but it's easy to say that from where I am right this moment.
The best tip I can give if it's legal in Pa. is to take a bunson burner and some honey. The idea is to burn some honey on the burner till it puts off a plume of smoke and wait...It'll drive'em crazy. It worked for me. Just remember, you will have to leave that spot at some point and the hair on the back of your neck will stand straight up or you just have nerves of steel. Keep your eyes peeled as they won't make a sound if they are at the least bit nervous. Their feet are cushioned so heavily that a broken twig or the like is muffled out so you most likely won't hear it coming. The Indians call them black ghosts because they seem to come from nowhere.
Good luck, have fun and let us know how it goes.-----Mike

[piebald buster]

He's right. While I was in my stand over bait, It seemed like my bear materilized out of no where. I still don't know how he did it because he came in from about my "2:00" position while I was facing the bait. And while I watched him come in to my bait I could not hear him walking.

[ng270]

Hey Steve, I'm in central PA. Whereabouts are you hunting?

I have bears in the back yard from time to time (mostly in the middle of the night, though). You probably already know this, but no baiting (or honey burns, or attractant scents) are permitted for bear hunting here in PA. In fact, it's illegal to intentionally feed bears anytime, in or out of hunting season.

The only legal methods are still hunting or drives. Are the folks up here in PA bear hunters? If so, I'm sure they will get you set up well. If not, let me know. I'm far from an expert, but I've taken a couple of PA bears, and I can at least help you know what you might expect. Are you coming up for just the rifle hunt, the archery hunt, or both?

[Louhunter]

I have a couple of friends who deer hunt PA every year. They tell me that the majority of bears are taken incidential to deer hunting. They always have a bear tag, because you never know. I have hunted bears in Canada, and have hunted other state that have healthy bear populations. The above hunters are correct, they just appear. I think that having bears around add to the excitment of the hunt. Good Luck, have fun.

[C.L.Button]

Just smear some Blueberry Pancake syrup behind your ears. The Bear will find you. :D

[ng270]

They tell me that the majority of bears are taken incidential to deer hunting.This can happen in the northeast corner of the state, but most of the state does not have concurrent deer and bear seasons. This year, some of the concurrent areas have been cut back so that you can't shoot a bear during the first two days of the deer gun season. If your friends are nonresidents and normally hunt in WMU 3D, you may want to tell them to double check the new regs before they buy a bear tag this year. If they are only here for the first couple of days, I'd hate to see them buy a tag they can't use.

Also, it's not really true that most of the bears taken are incidental to deer hunting. More bears are killed in the 3-day rifle season than during the deer season in those areas with a concurrent season. Don't get me wrong; it's worth getting a bear tag if you are deer hunting in those areas where it's concurrent. If the bear is what you really want though, I'd hunt the 3-day bear season. JMO. :)

[Louhunter]

Thanks ng270. I have not talked to these guys this year, but they are PA residents so I am sure they are up-to-date on the regulations. I have not hunted with them we just work for the same company (Blue and Sells Computers) and talk hunting every once in a while.

[ng270]

Gotcha now, Louhunter. I know some of the residents here bought tags first with intentions of being able to use them the first two days of deer season, then read the regs :eek:, and are kinda ticked about it now.

[Valley Station]

ng270,
What Pa counties you bear huntin'?? I use to hunt some over in Forest and Venango. Allegheny National Forest.

[ng270]

Most of my bear hunting is a little east of there in Tioga County on state forest land. I've also hunted locally (for me) in Mifflin and Juniata Counties. I've never been as far west as the Allegheny NF to hunt, but there's a ton of good bear hunting across the whole northern 1/2 of the state.

[Shelbyhunter]

I am going to Ontario in 2 weeks for my first Black Bear hunt. Hopefully, I can punch my new RAGE broadheads through an 18 inch bruin!

[turkeytalker]

I am going to Ontario in 2 weeks for my first Black Bear hunt. Hopefully, I can punch my new RAGE broadheads through an 18 inch bruin!


Remember Shelby,i want the full report on this place !Good luck

[piebald buster]

Good Luck Shelby, fill us in on the hunt when you get back. :)

[Shelbyhunter]

thanks guys, Hopefully, I will bring back a nice hide from a good size black bear. I am also pumped up to catch some super size walleye, pike and smallies.

[piebald buster]

Now your talkin' :)