Calling for Bear

[Top ramen]

I have been hunting the Adirondacks for years and my father has been hunting for decades before I was thought of. These past few years, my brother, Brother-in-laws, nephews, and now my son are going. Needless to say, we have never bagged a bear- just lot's of beer and good times. We typically are out for 3-4 days. A few shots have been made through the years without connecting- Running shot after scaring them up.

I am getting an itch to actually bag one of these bear this year.

 

I tried honey burns, scent covers, etc.

 

I own an electronic caller that I use for coyote, and an electronic motion device- Should I consider switching tactics (or actually using a tactic) and call for a bear this year.

 

Thinking of a dying / distressed rabbit, or fawn in distress (not sure if it would work in fall)

 

Any experience?

 

 

[Doc]

It doesn't bother you to be calling in a hungry meat eating predator of a few hundred pounds that is coming in expecting to eat whatever it finds? ......lol.

 

I watch a program on the History Channel that shows guys hunting Alaskan kodiak bears, and occasionally they use calls on them. I'm thinking these guys better have eyes in the back of their heads.

 

But seriously I believe that calls do work on bears. Of course bear in mind that the only experience that  I have ever had is from watching TV.

[MACHINIST]

From my research they say early mornings and late evenings are better for calling in bear.I have also heard that the guys that cal them in let the caller play continuously for a hour or so before they get a response most times.Just like coyote calling start on low volume and raise it after a little bit.The other thing is dont switch sounds and stay with one distress call.I used fawn bleats,never got a response but I did try it.

[AaronBlaine]

perhaps I should try yodeling!

[AaronBlaine]

no seriously though how do you hunt a bear?  I think it really comes down to just getting extremely lucky as far as hunting on public lands.  I hear of guys getting em all the time however even sterling had an incident where someone was baiting a bear. Shot it and dragged it onto state land claiming he took it on sterling property.  If anyone has any good bear hunting tips lets hear em!

[Red]

Look for some bear tracks and scat once you've found that hunt the thickest and nastiest stuff in.that area or follow the tracks if they are fresh

Edited August 25, 2014 by Red

[Top ramen]

I do have a spot in mind. There is a beaver dam that usually has multiple piles of scat. I suspect that the extensive beaver meadow is crossed at the dam.

I also heard of calling a long time and if I stop that the bear may turn off completely to the call. I may also use my mojo outdoors motion device with rabbit scent on it.

I will report my experience.

[VT Outfitter]

I have only taken a few bears in my life. One with a rifle during deer season that I saw moving through the open woods on its way to bedding I believe. The other was with a bow, hunting over a natural food source of apples at the bottom of the mountain and beech nuts on the ridge above with a beaver pond and thicket for cover between the two food sources. I found bear sign while scouting for deer season and it seemed that the bear was spending a lot of time in the area. So basically I hunted that bear like I would a whitetail. I am not sure about calling them in. I know they can smell a meal 5 miles away so maybe trying scents. Good luck.

[nyantler]

Have a friend that went hunting bear for the first time... was in the woods 10 minutes... made a few fawn bleats with his grunt call... and was surprised to see a bear running directly at him.. he aimed at the bear and fired... the bear fell and skidded towards him on the ground, stopping just 5 yards away... he couldn't find any evidence of where he hit the bear.. but the bear was dead... after getting it home and butchering it he discovered that the bullet had entered the eye and scrambled the bears brains... lucky shot for a guy shooting out of self defense..LOL... Doc I think you got it right about calling something in that is looking to eat whatever made the call!!

[AaronBlaine]

yea that's some pretty wild stuff right there lol I couldn't imagine turning around and seeing that! It would be a good time to have a side arm in the woods with you just to play it safe!  like a big ooldd d eagle lol

[Futuretrash]

@nyantler Hairy moment dude! Check pants for escapees!

[AaronBlaine]

lolol

[philoshop]

Trying to mouse-squeek a fox w/ a horned owl in a nearby tree can get pretty exciting as well. Be prepared.

[AaronBlaine]

oh man tell us the story! philoshop