Spring Bear Hunting Basics

Marked by iconic teeth, claws, strength, and resolve, bears represent the vast and rugged continent of the United States. Perhaps the most overlooked season by hunters across the country, spring bear season offers opportunities for hunters to get in the field. With the widest natural geographic distribution of any North American big-game animal, black bears can be found in nearly 40 states. Predominately residing in forests, the species is thought to have a total population of around 800,000.

Despite burgeoning populations of the game animal, liberal hunting regulations, and relatively little competition, the spring bear season is on the back burner for many hunters. However, in general, black bear tags are readily available and cheaper than most deer or elk tags. Bear hunts present the unique sense of adventure found in any deer or elk hunt but without all of the pressure and high costs.

Spring Bear Hunting

In the spring, bears emerge from hibernation groggy, malnourished, and vulnerable. Spring bear is a great time of year to get out, burn off some winter fat, test your hunting gear, and help the local whitetail population. Largely, bears are extremely hard on spring calf and fawn population growth.

Black bears are increasing in population throughout the United States. At the same time, residents of black bear states will find acquiring tags fairly easy, either through lottery draws or over-the-counter sales. Non-resident black bear tags for hunters residing in states without a bear population are abundant and easily acquired as well.

Why Hunt Bears?

In the United States, biologists believe there are more black bears now than before European settlement. Conservative estimates peg the continental bear population at 800,000, compared to the pre-­settlement number of 500,000. From this, states offer more opportunities to hunt black bears now than at any time in previous generations. Conservation efforts by the National Wildlife Federation for black bears have been effective and, in most areas, black bears are increasing and can sustain hunting seasons.

Accordingly, when hunting black bears ethics come to play. As is true with all hunting situations, at the time of a shot, it is imperative that the hunter makes every attempt to place a shot that will be quick and effective. In order to make a quick kill, the hunter must be proficient with his firearm or bow, understand their personal effective range, and have an understanding of basic bear anatomy. Hunters must understand that bears are built differently than deer and other big game animals. With heavy bones, hides, and fat layers that inhibit blood dripping to form a good trail, an injured bear is difficult to track. Therefore, proper shot placement is essential.

Black Bear Habitat

Between March and June, depending on the snow line and weather, bears naturally arise from their winter slumber. Bears tend to live and hibernate in the dense forest, but usually after waking from their hibernation, they are drawn to any open hillside facing south. As soon as a bear wakes up from their winter slumber, they immediately seek out food. The easiest food for these omnivorous mammals to get are new blossoms, flowers, berries, tree buds, bugs, grubs and anything in between.

Because of their versatile diet, black bears can live in a variety of habitat types. They are found in Alaska, much of Canada, and the contiguous United States, and extend as far south as northern Mexico.

Black Bear Diet

The key to finding bears is locating their feeding areas. As omnivores, black bears are opportunistic feeders with a wildly varied diet. Based on location and time of year, favorite food items vary and are almost too numerous to list.

Common staples include hard such as acorns, beechnuts, and hazelnuts, pine nuts. Fruit such as cranberry, huckleberry, bearberry, salmonberry, buffalo berry, and wild strawberry. Insects and insect larvae such as yellow jackets, bees, ants and beetles.

Largely, black bears are able to kill adult deer and other hoofed wildlife but most commonly prey on deer, elk, moose, and other hoofed animals when the prey are very young. They are able to kill livestock, especially sheep. Bears are very attracted to human garbage, livestock food or pet food, or other human-associated foods like fruit trees. Bears using these human-associated foods can quickly become habituated to them and this commonly results in the bears being killed as nuisances. This is true for bee hives as well, as bears are very attracted to honey.

The Four Most Common Methods for Hunting Bears

Hunters primarily use four methods to hunt bears: baiting, calling, spot-and-stalk, and trailing with hounds. However, different states regulate when and where some of these practices can be done. Those who bow hunt spring bear often see the least regulations.

1. Spot and Stalk

Spot and stalk hunting is easily the most rigorous and demanding form of black bear hunting. The method is well suited to open or semi-open spaces, where a hunter can locate prey at a distance before stalking into effective killing distance without alarming the animal.

When spot and stalking black bears, apps like HuntWise can help uncover different hunt areas and access points as well pinpoint the best times and optimal conditions. HuntWise also allows you to drop a marker where a bear or signs of a bear are spotted. Along with topographic and 3D maps, HuntWise can help uncover slopes and spaces where black bears are likely to be hiding.

2. Baiting

Baiting bears, and baiting in general, is one of the most controversial and misunderstood forms of hunting. Although baiting has been around for millennia, many people have a misunderstanding that it’s inhumane, takes little effort, and is cheating. However, for many hunters, baiting is the most popular and effective method for bagging a spring bruin. When done properly, baiting increases the odds of success and gives the hunter an opportunity to accurately evaluate the trophy quality of the bear before taking a shot.

Before you attempt to set up a bait site, ensure it is legal in your area. Every state is different. Some states also require a special permit to hunt bears over a bait site.

3. Calling

As is true with foxes and coyotes, bears may be lured in by the sound of a predator call. Fawn bleats, injured-rabbit sounds, and even turkey calls have been used successfully to draw bears. Bears are opportunistic feeders and respond favorably to the call of a wounded animal, or a prey animal that might offer an easy meal. When calling, persistence is key.

4. Trailing with Hounds

Hounding involves hunters and guides using packs of radio-collared hounds to pursue bears. Hound hunting goes beyond buying a specialty breed of hound and cruising the woods in an attempt to tree bears. Besides the basic gear essentials required to participate in the hunt, such as a pack of trained hounds, a dog box, GPS collars for all the dogs, and radios, there is a process the Houndsmen follow to get the bears in the tree. For more on bear hunting with hounds using HuntWise, read here.

The Chase, a HuntWise film in collaboration with The Untamed, Vortex Optics, and Bowga Hunting captures the spirit of hound hunting and highlights the divisions between hunters.

The spring bear season is an exceptional time of the year to get out and enjoy the great weather and sights. Additionally, the black bear season is a great opportunity to test out new gear for upcoming hunts in the fall. For someone looking to dive into western hunting, while cutting the expensive costs, bear hunting is where it’s at!