New Brunswick Canada Black Bear Hunting Tips
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 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 rotton 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.
New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick 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 known American 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.
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