Idaho Black Bear Hunting Tips
- Black Bears love to eat carbs - they need the energy and are looking to
store fat. That's why they frequent garbage dumps. They are
looking for pizza, pasta, pastries, bread and and junk food. A variety
of foods are used at baiting stations, but carbs are a good choice.
Bears do not like rotten meat and will only eat meat if it is a fresh kill.
- Black Bear have a very powerful sense of smell, about 250 times more
powerful than humans. Black Bear know what people smell like, and they
are very sensitive to perfume, smoke, deodorants, and other human smells.
It is a good idea to wash your clothes twice, and the second time, only use
water in order to rinse out all the detergent. If you smoke, bring a
nicotine patch with you so you don't go crazy craving a cigarette. A
black bear can smell a cigarette miles away. And remember to use
unscented deodorant, soap, shampoo. And make sure you boots don't
smell like stinky boots.
- You must stay very still during your bear hunt. Bring a mint
flavored throat lozenge with you in case your throat gets scratchy.
You don't want to cough on the stand. If allergies are a problem, take
medication starting a few days before your hunt and each day of your bear
hunt to keep you from sneezing.
- Black Bears love the scent of mint. Use mint flavored gum and
brush your teeth often. It may actually attract the bears!
- Bear are not very vocal animals, but calls are used to hunt bear.
You must be very cautious if using calling techniques that may make a momma
bear think her cubs are in danger. You may be the one in danger.
Idaho Bear Hunting Techniques:
- Spot & Stalk: The most common and perhaps one of the most exciting
methods for Bear hunting. Make sure you have a high-quality set of
binoculars. You will want to make sure you are in good physical shape
for any spot and stalk hunting trip. If you are not use to hiking in
high altitudes, do your best to prepare yourself by walking at an incline
and spending time out of doors. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself
hydrated and also to avoid an altitude headache while bear hunting.
- Still Hunting: The key to any successful still hunt is pre-season
scouting and knowing the routine of the bear. Your pro hunting guide
should be very helpful in this area. Keep in mind that bear forage
through the day on berries, ants and other edibles. Plan you hunting
position near berry patches and other areas the bear might be feeding.
- Calling Techniques: Once a bear is spotted, or you think you have
a bear in earshot, the calling techniques are more effective. Predator
distress calls and fawn bleats can be effective on fall bear. Big boar
bears looking to fatten up for the winter my respond to these types of calls
with impressive aggression.
- Tree Stand: Due to the bear's powerful sense of smell, tree stand
hunting can be very productive. It is best to know the route of the
bear so you can place your stand in a heavily trafficked area, and place
your stand fairly high, 25-30 feet. Use safety straps and harnesses -
that's a long way to fall!
- Baiting: Many hunters prefer using baited sites to insure some
hunting action. If you are limited on your time, as most hunters are,
you may want to consider this. Keep in mind the kinds of foods that
bear like to eat. They have a 'carb' tooth!
- Bear Hunting with Dogs: Several pro outfitters, especially in the
western states, have trained dogs to locate bear and "tree" them. If
you are lucky, you'll find a big bear on a limb.
Interesting Facts about Black Bear:
- Big ears mean small bears. It takes a bear about 3 years to grow
into his ears. If the bear appears to have big ears, you may want to
pass on that one.
- The largest American known black bear weighed 805 pounds.
- The fur of a black bear falls out and grows back each year.
- The American black bear moves up to 35 miles per hour and can also swim and
climb trees with ease.
- Black bears consume up to 40 pounds of food a day when food is abundant.
- Black bears hibernate for up to 7 months in a year.
- Black bears live up to 20 years in the wild and even longer in captivity.
- Black bear cubs weigh about a half pound at birth and grow rapidly by feeding on
the mother’s milk and, they weigh as much as a human infant after a few months.
Bear Hunting &
Black Bear:
(Ursus americanus)
 Black
Bear Range
Physical Description
American black bears can be black, brown or cinnamon in coloration. Many
black bears have a white splash on their chest. Their faces look delicate and
small and are covered with a thin layer of brown fur. The black bear has very
big hindquarters with short, strong limbs, which makes them walk slowly. They
have rounded ears. When walking they have a gait similar to that of human beings
as their heels and soles touch the ground as humans do. Black bears are 36 to 40
inches at the shoulder and they average six feet in length.
Average Weight Range
Mature black bears range in weight from 250 to over 600 pounds, although
record book weights have been over 860 lbs.
Range
Black bears are commonly found in the woodlands of North America. They are
currently found in northern Mexico, 32 states of the United States and
throughout the Canadian provinces excepting Prince Edward Island.
Habitat
The American black bear usually inhabits heavily wooded areas and is
sometimes found in scrub forests.
Common Hunting Methods
Black bears are pursued with rifle, archery equipment and black powder. It
is always wise to glass or watch black bears and pattern them in the morning
before hunting them in the evening. Black bears normally follow the same route
to feeding areas in the evening. Tree stands are usually 10 to 15 feet high and
are located at an average shooting distance of approximately 15 to 18 yards from
baits for bow hunters. Portable stands are recommended for rifle or bow hunting.
Dogs are also utilized for bear hunting in some areas.
Hunting Challenges/Values
Black bear hunting is very popular. The meat is can be prepared many
different ways, while the hides are frequently made into rugs.
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Grizzly
Bear:
Grizzly
Bear Range
Physical Description
Thought by many to be the “king of bears, ” this bear has a big head, small
rounded ears, and a short tail. "Griz” also have heavy sturdy bodies, strong
muscular legs, and a very distinctive muscular shoulder hump. Brown-colored
claws on the front paws, which are used to dig for food, are large strong and
slightly curved, and make them easily distinguishable from other bears. The
claws on the front paws grow to be three inches long and the claws on the back
paws grow to be 4.5 inches long. When standing on all four paws, brown bears
measure four feet tall at the shoulder and are about 6.5 to seven feet long.
They have a gait similar to that of a human being when walking because their
heels and toes make contact with the ground in a similar manner as humans.
Average Weight Range
Mature male grizzly are formidable in size, typically weighing 350 to more
than 950 pounds. Their size and weight depend on the climatic conditions and the
availability of food. A female generally weighs one half to three-quarters as
much as a male.
Range
These magnificent bears live in North America, Asia, and Europe. The population
of brown bears in Northern America has dwindled significantly with the majority
of the remaining bears being concentrated in western Canada and Alaska but other
small populations of griz are found in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington.
Habitat
Favorite habitat includes open meadows, grasslands, river valleys, plentiful
cover, and mountain forests. Coniferous forests provide good habitat for brown
bears, but wherever they are found, water sources will be close as they use
lakes, streams and rivers to drink and fish.
Common Hunting Methods
Brown bears are hunted mid April until early June and the first few weeks in
September until late October. Seasons are dependent on the area and many regions
have only a spring or fall hunt, instead of both. Spot and stalk methods are
used when brown hunting in both seasons. Hunters use rifles, both conventional
and black powder, bow and handgun, but a minimum caliber of .338 is recommended.
Hunting Challenges/Values
Hunters should be very careful when hunting brown bears; mothers with cubs
should be avoided, as they will go to any length to protect their cubs. Brown
bear hunting is a popular sport for trophy in places like Alaska, and they are
also harvested for their meat.
Interesting Tidbits
Brown bears consume about 80 pounds of food a day during summer and early
fall.
Brown bears in the wild live up to 25 years
During hibernation, brown bears do not pass out urea or solid waste and are
capable of converting the urea into usable proteins.
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