black bear hunting book recommendation

[VAspeedgoat]

Well, this year I have determined that because I am not taking a trip I will have to find adventure near home. So I have decide to make a significant effort to tag my first bear. In Va it us legal to use hounds, but I dont have any and would rather not do that. It is illegal to bait and spot and stalk in dense eastern forests is not usually an option. I have decided to go into this similar to how I have approached my hunts out west. Step one had always been to read several books. To save some time and money I was curious if any of you had suggestions. I am finding that books that dont emphasize bait, hounds, or spot and talk may be hard to find. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

Maybe if not a book, then a magazine article or a research paper. Heck I'd settle for anything. So far the only advise I could get was to look for bear crap and then hunt near it. My friends all have dogs or just hope to see one while deer hunting.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

Not sure about a book but as far as tactics I would try to identify fall food source, (berries, acorns, ect.) scout those areas and look for sign, then once the season begins I would hunt those sources and use predator calls.

 

[406LIFE]

I'm not familiar with any books, but there is a magazine: http://www.bear-hunting.com. I would also just search youtube vids and the myoutdoortv.com site for shows.

 

[Washington Hunter]

http://www.lulu.com/shop/douglas-bo...nting-tactics/paperback/product-22043082.html

 

[matt meyer]

Is calling an option. Fawn distress and other calls can work

 

[VAspeedgoat]

Ok, I've ordered two books one of which is mentioned in this thread. I have also started doing some youtube research and reading up on calling bears. So far a lot of what I have read has been in spring or very late summer. Have any of you tried calling in early to late fall? Also, most articles recommended a mouse squeak or fawn bleat, any advise?

I may need to make this a new thread but thought I would start here.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

I think the key is to use a call that mimics a sound that they might hear at that time of the year/area... so probably rabbits in the South West, elk fawns in the spring in the Rockies, not quite sure what would be the best in VA but I would give a fawn distress a try... maybe even bring a couple and do some trial and error. I personally have had no luck with a rabbit call in Montana but called in 2 bears this spring with an elk calf bleat.

 

[TheSurveyor]

Wllw1313. Just curious did you spot a bear and call to it to bring it closer or did you call blindly and have a bear come in?

 

[Deleted member 28227]

Wllw1313. Just curious did you spot a bear and call to it to bring it closer or did you call blindly and have a bear come in?

I found that complete blind calling doesn't work all that well because the sound of the call doesn't carry all that far a buddy and I spread out on either side of a large meadow maybe 1/2 a mile apart and we couldn't hear the call that well even when we were wailing on it...aggravating factors: in the mountains, windy, ect.

Both the bears I had come in were semi blind as in I hadn't spotted them but had found tons of sign in the area, had spotted bears in that area in previous seasons, and was there right as first light. Basically I had a good idea there were bears in the area... also both times I had been calling for in excess of 45 min before the bear came in... on the second one I called then hung out for 30mins or so and the bear burst through the brush at 15 yards as I was packing up to go.

 

[TheSurveyor]

Thanks. I was sold on calling until I watched a episode of Fropro Fur Takers on YouTube. They were in BC driving logging roads. They would spot a bear and set up and call. Not one bear actually came to the call. They all looked and ran the other way. Good to hear some first hand experience. I still may give it a shot.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

I found that complete blind calling doesn't work all that well because the sound of the call doesn't carry all that far a buddy and I spread out on either side of a large meadow maybe 1/2 a mile apart and we couldn't hear the call that well even when we were wailing on it...aggravating factors: in the mountains, windy, ect.

Both the bears I had come in were semi blind as in I hadn't spotted them but had found tons of sign in the area, had spotted bears in that area in previous seasons, and was there right as first light. Basically I had a good idea there were bears in the area... also both times I had been calling for in excess of 45 min before the bear came in... on the second one I called then hung out for 30mins or so and the bear burst through the brush at 15 yards as I was packing up to go.

Were the hunts in the sprin or fall. We are fall only in Va, I'm not sure if it makes any difference.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

It was in the spring in Montana, that said my brother in law has killed two with a bow in Colorado calling them in during the fall. I tried rabbit calls the season before last on a bear that I had spotted to try and was trying to bring into bow range, but booked it similar to what Surveyor was alluding to on that show. I then switch to a diaphragm elk call and just horrible "distressed" elk sounds.

I think the key is to find a call that mimics something the bear is expecting to hear and associates with food. I've never hunted back east but I imagine a rabbit or some sort of baby deer noise would work?

Though the key is to get yourself in the bears home range or near their food source.