bear hunt

the frenchman · Post by **the frenchman** » Thu May 04, 2006 8:55 pm

hi to all

any of you ever when bear hunting with a crossbow
if yes
how far were you from the bear when you shot?
how far did the bear travel when you shot him?

I'm asking these question because I will be going at the end of the month of May bear hunting with my crossbow

thank you

Michel

BUCKSHOT · Post by **BUCKSHOT** » Fri May 05, 2006 5:28 am

What is your set-up Michel?

A lot of what you do with a Bear will depend on your set-up!
I would think that you would want to stay within the range you would use for Deer.
It seems to me that most of the stands I have seen for Bear are
15-25yds from the bait!
There are a lot of better educated Bear Hunters on here than me, I am sure they can help you!
Good Fortune to ya'.

bait pile willie · Post by **bait pile willie** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:35 am

I have taken five with crossbow.All shots from a tree stand,and over bait.All shts 17to20 yds.Be patient all shots must be double lung.A good shot is with the bear standing upright sideways to you,The front leg closest to you must be extended forward.About the farthest abear will travel if double lunged is 35 yds.If you blood trail him further than 100 yds chance of recovery is slim.Good luck and have fun.but remember bePATIENT!

the frenchman · Post by **the frenchman** » Sat May 06, 2006 9:31 pm

hi
I will be set up in a tree stand and will have bait at approx 25 to 30 yards

one more question : I was told that it is better to bear hunt from 5 pm to until darkness
in the morning it's ok but much better at night

Michel

bait pile willie · Post by **bait pile willie** » Sun May 07, 2006 8:13 am

Frenchman.Try to set your bait closer to 20yds if you can. 30 yds is pushing with a bow. The bear might look big but he has a surpisingly small kill zone.Bears feed 24 hrs a day but the best time is from 5 pm to dark make sure you stay to last light.Good luck.

Big John · Post by **Big John** » Sun May 07, 2006 11:46 am

frenchman:

My Bait site has been the same for a long time, about 18 to 20 yds. from my tree stand. There is a posting from a while back showing my stand for bow hunting. It is about 20 feet up the tree, and about a 10 deg. angle to the left of the Bait, looking down at it. I always wait for the Bear to start to paw or dig in the bait with his front paw stretching forward before I take the shot. I have not had to track a Bear farther than 90 yds. as yet. I never take the shot unless it is presented as stated. Sometimes this takes a lot of patience! And sometimes more than a few days. If there is one type of Hunt that really gets the blood flowing, it's Bear hunting. Going out in mid day to bait and not knowing whats in the bush

I only Hunt them from 4:00 pm until dark, in the morning I hunt small game and Grouse, or fish.

John

the frenchman · Post by **the frenchman** » Sun May 07, 2006 8:21 pm

hi
thanks for the reply

Jonh I was wondering if it is possible to post your picture again of your set up (bear) I went to look under your name but did not found that post about your set up

do you have to be so hight in the tree or 12 feet is ok ?

thank's Michel

Big John · Post by **Big John** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:08 pm

frenchman:

I will look for the pic's and post for you later. 20 ft. up the tree is the norm. The bears will very often come looking in the tree at you, to investigate so to speak. It is good to be a little higher up .

As well they have "exceptional"sense of smell. So the higher up the better for me anyway. And when you are higher, you will be able to seem more coming from a further distance. Preference I guess.

John.

LoneWolf · Post by **LoneWolf** » Mon May 08, 2006 6:55 pm

Michel

All my bowhunting bear stands are always 25 feet up and 20 yards from the bait, and some are at 15 yards from the bait. Also try setting up where there is water near by such as a stream, a lake or a beaver pond as they like to be near water during the spring and summer months. Bear will also use beaver dams as crossings just like moose and deer. You will find that the bear baits near water are more productive than the stands that are further away from water.

And if at all possible try setting yourself up where there is alot of cover for the bear to travel in, as they feel safer when travelling in the thick stuff. Especially when it comes to the monster boars.

As was mentioned hunt the afternoons, afternoon hunts are much more productive than mornings.
It can also be dangerous to walk into a bait site in the dark.
Never under estimate a black bear, especially near a bait site.

Good Luck

LW

chris4570 · Post by **chris4570** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:55 pm

LoneWolf wrote:As was mentioned hunt the afternoons, afternoon hunts are much more productive than mornings.
It can also be dangerous to walk into a bait site in the dark.
Never under estimate a black bear, especially near a bait site.

Good Luck

LW

I too hunted this way when hunting bear over bait. Black bears are predominantly black, very hard to see if you walk in when still dark. Not only for safety reasons, but also to prevent spooking the bears from the baitsite.

One thing I also did was have a bring a shotgun along. This I left at the base of the tree so when I got down from my stand and walked out in the dark I would have something that could stop a charging bear far better than a crossbow could.

the frenchman · Post by **the frenchman** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:11 pm

thank's guy's for your reply
michel

DaleHolder · Post by **DaleHolder** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:56 am

I have watched many bear over bait. I prefer 10-15 feet up 15 to 20 yards to bait. There are 2 main things you need to concentrate on when a bear approaches a bait. If looking for a large bear with a good hide.
1st if he is a spring bear make sure that he or she has shinny hair all over. If hair is dull the bear is in a state of shedding and after being tanned it could loose a lot of its long guard hairs.
2nd look at the bears face straight on, if it has a dog looking face, chances are it is a 1-3 year old bear. A large bear will have a broad head and shoulders and will lumber-in.
I have killed large bears both morning and evening.
I love the sport, at one time I held the world record for black bear with a crossbow, I believe they are 2 or 3rd now.
Good Hunting,
Dale

the frenchman · Post by **the frenchman** » Wed May 10, 2006 8:48 pm

thank's you DaleHolder

I will be trying your tips on the week end of the 20 of may

one more question:
Is bear meat: good?
: very good?
: not so good?

Michel

DaleHolder · Post by **DaleHolder** » Wed May 10, 2006 10:21 pm

I eat the bear I kill in Wyoming but I have always made it into salami or sausage because I don't like the flavor of the steaks or roasts.
Bear meat carries triganosis the same as pork and should be cooked to at least 150 degrees.
Good Hunting,
Dale

TYE · Post by **TYE** » Wed May 10, 2006 11:32 pm

Hmm I think I'd like to try bear hunting with a bow.

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