Bear Calling in the Northern Zone

[Padre86]

Anyone here ever tried calling for black bear in the northern zone of NY (mostly referring to Tug Hill and the ADK's)?

 

I've heard that in certain areas which have similar vegetation and terrain to NY (western Oregon and Washington) calling black bear is a tactic used by some hunters, as traditional spot-and-stalk hunts aren't really feasible and baiting and hounding aren't allowed.

 

I was thinking of trying some calling this coming fall.  I'd be interested in talking to anyone else who has tried this method.

[corydd7]

I shot a bear last year in Orange County after he reacted to a fawn call. I saw the bear in a swamp walking away and he turned right around after the fawn call. Not the adk's but the call did bring him in.

[Padre86]

Were you using a particular call?

[corydd7]

Yes it's up at my camp but I can't remember the name of it.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

30 minutes ago, Padre86 said:

Were you using a particular call?

I would think that any distressed animal call would fit the bill. Like the ones used in Yote hunting. I would also consider using a honey burn. 

[Steve D]

Do you have a cassette player and speaker??

DKP132 Bear Cub Distress.

http://www.rpoutdoors.com/dekiprca.html

[Padre86]

21 hours ago, Culvercreek hunt club said:

I would think that any distressed animal call would fit the bill. Like the ones used in Yote hunting. I would also consider using a honey burn. 

Is that legal?  I thought using bait or attractants of any sort was not allowed in NY.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

9 minutes ago, Padre86 said:

Is that legal?  I thought using bait or attractants of any sort was not allowed in NY.

Scent is allowed. Honey burs are legal. You aren't setting it out to feed becasue it is being burned. the attractant is the sicky sweet smell of the burning honey. I think it is like a ounce and a half you can use. It's in the regs. 

[Padre86]

8 minutes ago, Culvercreek hunt club said:

Scent is allowed. Honey burs are legal. You aren't setting it out to feed becasue it is being burned. the attractant is the sicky sweet smell of the burning honey. I think it is like a ounce and a half you can use. It's in the regs. 

Thanks for the clarification.  I thought I had seen an article recently where it was said the DEC was about to, or at least was considering, banning the use of attractants for bear.  Maybe I'm getting my wires crossed.

Anyhow the exact language is here:

 

Quote

Big game may be taken with centerfire rifles, shotguns, handguns, muzzleloading firearms, bows, and crossbows during appropriate seasons and in areas designated (see maps, pages 24 and 25). You may use decoys, calls and attractant scents to hunt big game. It is unlawful to:

Make, set or use salt licks or other attractants, whether block, liquid or powder that contains ANY amount of salt, upon lands inhabited by deer or bear at any time of year.

So it seems attractants are allowed, though you can't use any solids, liquids or powers containing salt.

 

Also, I really like your Margaret Thatcher quote in your signature.  

[Padre86]

Also, just to clarify my original post: Does anyone here actually use calls when hunting bear in the Northen Zone?

 

I'd be interested in tagging along or meeting up just to observe another hunter's setup.  Finding bear, during the season, in the ADK's is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

This is a pretty good introduction to bear hunting in NY

https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/bbhunting10.pdf

 

 

[Padre86]

I've read that.  Thanks.

[Salmon_Run]

I'd start scouting in July and August for bear sign, it is really tough in the deep woods unless you can identify travel corridors. A few years back I found an old abandoned farm on state land and the apple trees for whatever reason were full of fruit and the bears were crazy about that. Last year the trees were barren and the choke cherry trees were bearing fruit and they were climbing the trees and stripping the fruit off.

I'm in Hamilton County and there is a good sustained population, they are not super big bears but they can be located. I have several trail cam pictures posted on here.

https://huntingny.com/forums/topic/39685-been-out-scouting/

 

 

To answer you question, I have never used any call but it sound intriguing to try....

 

Edited June 14, 2018 by Salmon_Run
url added

[Robhuntandfish]

23 minutes ago, Salmon_Run said:

I'd start scouting in July and August for bear sign, it is really tough in the deep woods unless you can identify travel corridors. A few years back I found an old abandoned farm on state land and the apple trees for whatever reason were full of fruit and the bears were crazy about that. Last year the trees were barren and the choke cherry trees were bearing fruit and they were climbing the trees and stripping the fruit off.

I'm in Hamilton County and there is a good sustained population, they are not super big bears but they can be located. I have several trail cam pictures posted on here.

https://huntingny.com/forums/topic/39685-been-out-scouting/

 

 

To answer you question, I have never used any call but it sound intriguing to try....

 

Hunted up there a few times in Indian lake area.  Never saw a bear but saw sign and bears while driving.  

[Padre86]

Yeah the bear up there seem hard to come by.  I have no problem finding them out of season (driving, hiking, camping).  But when the fall rolls around, they become ghosts.

 

I've tried identifying travel corridors and food sources, but I find those can change somewhat from year to year, and you could spend days sitting out in an area and not see a single thing.  That's why the calling tactic has my interest.  The trick is to find an area where I can sit and have a good 360 view of all the approaches; the bear tend to move quietly and the last thing I want is for one to creep up behind me with a curious interest. 

 

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who consistently bear hunts up there.  The success rate in the Northern Zone isn't that high according to the DEC.  For that kind of terrain in other states, baiting and hounding seem to be the preferred methods for hunting bear (the reasons for that become increasingly clear to me as I spend more time hunting up in the big woods).  I'd like to know if anyone here has regular success up there, and if so what their tactics are.

[mowin]

I called in a bear two days in a row while turkey hunting in the Catskills yrs ago. I was calling and filming a couple of friends and heard a noise behind me.  Luckily I was nestled into a down tree so the bear had to go around the top to get closer to me. That's when I spotted him at 12 yrds.  Pucker factor was definitely enhanced.  Lol