I am going to try to get a black bear this year, but am unable to bait in my area. I don't have access to dogs either, so anybody got some pointers on how to go about getting a bear?

I have found an area where there were some good tracks one day, but haven't seen the tracks since, have seen some scat here and there in the surrounding areas, but doesn't look like the bear is establishing any kind of a pattern.

Thanks everbody.

Red

Dago Red: Try a predator call, such as the wounded jack rabbit, if you have jacks in your area, or cottontail, if that is what you have. These suckers will come in to a predator call. Tom Purdom

I havent tried it but have thought about trying under the same circumstances. It would be a tall order without dogs or bait, best you can do is lots of pre hunt scouting and apply scents to your advantage IMHO. If you were to dive into a resturants dumpster and wiggle around for a couple minites it would probably enhance your prospects considerably. Remember their sense of smell is impecable and we humans have a distint smell to them. The predator call sounds like good advice as well but dont be suprised if a Cougar or ?? comes instead.

I doubt if the Bear will establish a pattern because they are notorious wanderers and they eat nearly anything. But if you are able to frequent their domain often enough then you may be able to lull them into a sense of congeniality with your presence to also give yourself an opening morning edge.

Like I said, I havent tried it, but thats my .02 c. and its probably worth about what it cost you.

Good luck and enjoy the chase.

The way we do it here is, look for older clearcuts that you can still see in from landings.
This time of year here in western WA the bears are eating alot of berries so look for ripe berries. look for torn up logs and stumps in the clearcuts. When you find a place that looks good glass the openings and listen. I almost always here a bear tearing up logs befor I see him. Alot of the time I will hear a bear but beacus of the tall brush I never get to see it. I've noticed bears will usualy walk the easiest routs from place to place,(grades, roads, trails, and ontop of logs). Bear hunting this time of year is alot of fun. I hunt early until the air starts to get pretty warm and then goof off until it starts cooling in the evening. Well good luck. Jamie

In September when you find the berries you will find the bears.
At least that is how it is here in Idaho.

Hello:
I don't know how it is in Ca., but in northern Alberta, oat fields are magnets for bears. A book I have, suggests orchards are good places to look. As for the berries, I have seen bear scats resembling cow pies, full of berry seeds, and red.
Grizz

We don't bait for bears, and frankly, it's not needed...But we have alot of bears...

I would first suggest clear cuts. Bears will hang out in them becaue they are a good food source.

Next I would try finding an area with alot of sign, and hanging out there..Areas with sign WILL produce bears. Scout it out a week before the season opens, as bears move alot through the summer and fall...still, they won't be too far from an easy food source.

Most bears are seen in the evening. If you find an area with good bear sign, spend some tinme there before season, and see what the bears are up to..just don't let them get your scent.

Would boiling and burning honey in a coffee can be considered baiting?

Hi Dago Red, We're going to try the predator calling in Quebec next year. we got some Knight and Hale varmint calls and a couple of the Lohman's. I have a friend that is the sales rep for Knight and Hale and he is getting me a new "Bear Call" they came out with. It's supposed to sound like a baby black bear squealing. I guess big boars like to eat little baby bears, I don't know as this will be a new "adventure" for us.
If anyone has any other input on calling bears in Quebec I'd sure appreciate it, we're kind of going into it blind.
My 2 cents, Joe

I don't know much about CA, but here if there are any corn fields near woodlots the bears will have trails beat down where they travel to them to eat the corn come fall. Getting permision to hunt them is always given because a few bears can flatten an acre of corn in no time. The meat is best from a corn fed bruin too.

Any type of attractant, such as boiling or burning honey and the like is considered baiting, just the same as accidentially dumping a 50-pound sack of dog food in the middle of the forest. I live in New Mexico and I asked the game and fish officials if using one of those burning or smokingt sticks would be considered baiting, and I got back a resounding "YES." Using a human masking scent would not be baiting, as long as you are not masking yourself with a scent that attracts bears. Tom Purdom

Dago Red,

Here in Calif. during bear season find the ripe berries and water. Bears are lazy and don't like to travel far after eating to get a drink. Old fruit orchards are excellent places to find bears. Go to the local farm bureau in the county you plan to hunt and ask about old farms and fruit orchards. Hunting year old or older burns is also a good idea. As far as calling bears the best luck I've had has been using a fawn distress call. But be alert, other critters like the call too. Keeping your head on a swivel is a good idea when calling. Drop me a PM if I can be of any further help. Lawdog

Predator calls work great for calling in bear. That's why I don't call predators very often during months when bears are not hibernating. It can get way too exciting!
When calling for bear, hunt with a friend and sit back-to-back. Or, sit in a tree if you are by yourself. They usually come in very quietly.

My favorite call for bear is a deer fawn call. Fawn calls and bear cub calls work especially good in the springtime. Yet, they work during fall too.

Other advise is hunt clearcuts early and late in the day. Find the food!!! Look for what is ripe and lucious in your area. Mountain ash are usually good producers in late fall, when the blueberries, rasberries, etc. have passed. If there are acorns in your area, key on them (especially white oak-they're sweeter).
Cook bacon, honey, etc. (not considered baiting in MN).

Good luck!