WISCO
Well-Known Member
I recently had to change to a new property to hunt because my old on is too far of a drive. I've scouted the new property and set up some cameras and discovered this property has an abundance of black bear on it. The old property I hunted I would be lucky to get one bear on camera a year, so I never was concerned about running into them. The new property I am getting tons of black bear pictures and some sows with cubs. I know a little about black bears as far as they are most active early morning and later in the evening, the same time I will be going to and from the stand. I know most black bears with turn tail and run at the sent of a human or if they hear a human, and I know to talk and make sure bears know you are coming to not catch them off guard but making noise isn't what most deer hunters want to do walking into their stands. I plan on getting some bear spray and I always have a sidearm. Do you think walking in with a bright flashlight will be enough to notify bears of my presence or should I be talking as I am moving through the woods? These woods are pretty dense and most of the time you cant see far. Secondly I will be doing some ground blind hunting in this location as a saddle isn't an option all the time, When would you want to notify a bear of your presence if you were sitting in a blind? Would you want to make noise / talk as soon as you see him or do you sit quietly hoping he passes by? If anyone has experience hunting in locations with black bears like this I would sure love to hear your opinions / knowledge.