Bear hunting

[ATbuckhunter]

Okay so I decided to give bear hunting a shot this year for the early September season. I'm planning on going to the Catskills, but I've never hunted bear before so I'm not sure how to go about it. How do you suggest I hunt them on public ground in the mountains? I was thinking about trying to find some pinch points and travel those. The property I deer and turkey hunt in 3J is part of the early bear units, but there are rarely any bear that stay into the fall. I did stumble on a nice set of bear tracks about 20 yards from my turkey blind this season so ill defiantly be keeping an eye on that to see if he sticks around until September. Thanks for the help guys. 

[The_Real_TCIII]

I think you'll need to find a big time food source and just sit on it. Blueberries would be a good one, beech, acorns, local restaurant grease trap...

[ATbuckhunter]

I think you'll need to find a big time food source and just sit on it. Blueberries would be a good one, beech, acorns, local restaurant grease trap...

That's also what i was thinking. Treat it a lot like deer hunting. 

[Daveboone]

Even better, look for crops: corn, apples, etc.  Get out early (summer,) to scout. Most bears in NY are stumble upons. Keep in mind mast trees aren't allways productive. If you don't find a source, or active signs, move along. Slowly moving along fruit/ nut bearing ridges or hills, especialy scouting the trees themselves: not unusual for bears to nest up in a productive tree, gorging themselves. We have frequently found the scratch marks from the bears shimmying up mature beech nut trees. plan ahead for how to get one out of the wooods....they are miserable to drag, twisting, turning and catching on everything in sight.

[ATbuckhunter]

Even better, look for crops: corn, apples, etc. Get out early (summer,) to scout. Most bears in NY are stumble upons. Keep in mind mast trees aren't allways productive. If you don't find a source, or active signs, move along. Slowly moving along fruit/ nut bearing ridges or hills, especialy scouting the trees themselves: not unusual for bears to nest up in a productive tree, gorging themselves. We have frequently found the scratch marks from the bears shimmying up mature beech nut trees. plan ahead for how to get one out of the wooods....they are miserable to drag, twisting, turning and catching on everything in sight.

Ya the plan is to try and find some beech or acorn tree stands that are producing and maybe hang a stand there. I'd be surprised if there's any soft mast on public ground in the catskill mountains. Another thing I did was find areas that have had high bear harvest the last few years and concentrate on those areas. My friend said he'll put me in a spot in guaranteed to get a bear, but we'll see if he actually does that when it comes down to it. Also i plan on skinning and quartering the bear out in the woods and packing it out like that in a couple trips up and down the mountain. Thanks for the advice!!

[turkeyfeathers]

My friend said he'll put me in a spot in guaranteed to get a bear, but we'll see if he actually does that when it comes down to it.

No such thing as a guarantee as you know. That statement is the kiss of death and jinx unless he has you hunting the Buffalo Zoo of course.

[kpkot]

No such thing as a guarantee as you know. That statement is the kiss of death and jinx unless he has you hunting the Buffalo Zoo of course.

I think the only bears they have are 2 polar bears... might be able to tell the dec they are albinos?

[ATbuckhunter]

No such thing as a guarantee as you know. That statement is the kiss of death and jinx unless he has you hunting the Buffalo Zoo of course.

I thought the same till he and his father both got bears the first day of the season in that spot. 

[the blur]

My wife saw a bear.... on the side of I-80, in PA. Just munching & digging on the side of the highway.

I told her if she ran it over, I would have a nice rug.

[Bowguy 1]

If you live near North Jersey come here. They're everywhere. I'll even show you a few spots

[ATbuckhunter]

If you live near North Jersey come here. They're everywhere. I'll even show you a few spots

I actually live in the 5 boroughs so I live pretty close to NJ. When is the bear season for NJ? Edited June 8, 2016 by ATbuckhunter

[Two Track]

Have have seen bears in 4 spots of public hunting lands in the early bear season zone in Orange county.

 

Bad-part is the Palisades commission doesn't allow firearms until Nov. 1 in Sterling Forest, which is where 3 of those spots are.

 

I have had 3 encounters and a sighting in the distance of single bears while out turkey hunting this Spring.  I am seriously considering a bear hunt for the first time (just don't tell my wife).

[turkeyfeathers]

Have have seen bears in 4 spots of public hunting lands in the early bear season zone in Orange county.

 

Bad-part is the Palisades commission doesn't allow firearms until Nov. 1 in Sterling Forest, which is where 3 of those spots are.

 

I have had 3 encounters and a sighting in the distance of single bears while out turkey hunting this Spring.  I am seriously considering a bear hunt for the first time (just don't tell my wife).

So you don't think she'll notice the bear skin rug in front of the fireplace ?

[ATbuckhunter]

Have have seen bears in 4 spots of public hunting lands in the early bear season zone in Orange county.

 

Bad-part is the Palisades commission doesn't allow firearms until Nov. 1 in Sterling Forest, which is where 3 of those spots are.

 

I have had 3 encounters and a sighting in the distance of single bears while out turkey hunting this Spring.  I am seriously considering a bear hunt for the first time (just don't tell my wife).

I heard they have a lot there, especially closer to northern Jersey. I just don't feel comfortable enough to hunt them with a bow only just yet. 

[Bowguy 1]

I actually live in the 5 boroughs so I live pretty close to NJ. When is the bear season for NJ?

Firearm bear is In Dec for 6 or more days. Oct this year will be the first bear bowhunt since the 50s or 60s I think but don't quote that. It's gonna run 3 days, than 3 w muzzleloader. Bears are one of easiest animals to kill w bow usually expiring under 40 yards w even 15 yards being common. Not sure why but they die easy.

You wanna see spots pm me n I'll show you areas to try.

You can even bait if you stay on ground but there's so many you prob wouldn't need to

[ATbuckhunter]

Firearm bear is In Dec for 6 or more days. Oct this year will be the first bear bowhunt since the 50s or 60s I think but don't quote that. It's gonna run 3 days, than 3 w muzzleloader. Bears are one of easiest animals to kill w bow usually expiring under 40 yards w even 15 yards being common. Not sure why but they die easy.

You wanna see spots pm me n I'll show you areas to try.

You can even bait if you stay on ground but there's so many you prob wouldn't need to

I really appreciate your very kind offer! I might just take you up on it. Ill pm you in a little while. 

[Bowguy 1]

If anybody else needs ideas for NJ let me know. Way too many bears. Tons of land. Id be glad to help cause we need the population lowered

[BizCT]

If anybody else needs ideas for NJ let me know. Way too many bears. Tons of land. Id be glad to help cause we need the population lowered

Can u hunt weekends in NJ for bear with rifle in December?

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[Doc]

Back in the mid 80s, I went bow hunting with a couple of buddies down in PA. The area that we hunted bordered up to a corn field. There was a couple of bear trails into that field that was as defined as any deer trail that I have ever seen. The corner of the corn field looked like somebody was testing out a roller there (about a quarter of an acre, flattened). All the corn was laid down flat with bear scat everywhere. I always figured that if a guy could find that sort of set-up during bear season, that would be as good a situation as you could ever find. There were obviously several area bears working that field, and spending a whole lot of time there. Seemed to be as good as baiting.

[Bowguy 1]

No rifle in Nj. Slugs or muzzleloader n only Sat