Deer, elk, moose, fallow, chances are if you’re an avid hunter you have added a few of these commonly hunted animals to your list of successes. But what about black bears? Black bears are a surprisingly challenging animal to hunt, which goes against the common misconception that there is nothing difficult about hunting them. If you’re headed out this season hoping to be victorious in your hunt, here are a few must know tips for hunting black bears.
1. Keep your clothes scent in mind
Black bears have an amazing sense of smell, 2100 times better than the human nose, which is why it is important to keep your scent in mind before you go on your hunt. Before heading out, pick out a few pairs of clothes that you plan on hunting in and be sure to wash them in scent free detergent and give them an extra rinse to make sure there is no residue left.
2. Minty fresh
It’s common knowledge among campers to not bring mint flavored toothpaste or mouthwash with them while camping. Why is this? Bears love the smell of mint! This can be used in your advantage. Wash yourself the morning of the hunt with a mint soap (find this at a health food store) and brush your teeth really well with mint toothpaste. Take it to the next level and chew some minty fresh gum while you are posted out. Really determined to get yourself a trophy black bear at the end of your hunt? Go the extra mile and stock your pockets with mint tea bags.
3. Stay still
Bears aren’t just excellent at smelling-they can hear just about anything. It is important while hunting to remain as still as possible, as bears can hear just about any noise you make. Take any and all precautions in order to reduce the amount of noise that you make during your hunt. Allergies? Bring something to keep your sniffling nose silent.
4. Pick the right outfit
Just like with many animals, black bears don’t see colors the same way that humans do. Your bright orange hunting vest? That looks gray to a black bear. For this reason it is important to make sure that you are wearing the proper camouflage attire. Speak with a hunting outfitter about the best choices for your hunting area. In general, matching the foliage-dark greens and browns-is likely to be your best bet.
5. Aim to kill
You really want to make sure that initial shot counts when you are hunting a black bear. Avoid areas that are easy to miss or that will damage your trophy, such as the head. Many hunters think to go for the spine instead, but this can be difficult to see. The best target on a black bear is going to be in the lungs, shoulder or heart area as this is able to stop the bear in its tracks, offering you not only an ideal kill spot but safety as well. A lung shot is an easy one shot kill that is also likely to take down the bear. You don’t want an angry, injured black bear chasing you down so it is important to get this right the first time.
When you head out with your buddies this hunting season, consider taking a break from smaller game and head straight for the black bear. It offers an exciting and challenging hunt and a great trophy at the end. Just be sure to keep all of these tips in mind so that you come home victorious and not empty handed.
