Bear hunting tips

[HANDGUNNER]

Hello I'm new to the board. I've been reading the threads and I've picked up allot. I'm huntin black bear over bait next month and lookin for advice on scent, best hours... I hunted a good site last year and never got a shot. This year I'm going up north (NH) for a week and I don't wanna make any mistakes.

I looking at a set of camo coveralls and there is a big price difference between the scent lock suits and regular suits. Is the scent lock worth the price, or will a washing with no scent soap and some masking spray be just as effective? As far as hours in the stand go, some one told me not to bother with sitten in the morning, just concentrate on the afternoon/evening, less human scent to and from the stand by only going once a day. Any advice, I want to make the most of my time and not miss any opportunities.

[icequeen]

We've never bothered to spend the money on scent lock clothing and we seem to do fairly well using the wind to our advantage.

The best advice I can give ya is be patient, even when a bear comes in to the bait. Give him time to get settled in, and make the first shot count cause you rarely get a second chance.

Your best time to hunt at this time of year is in the evening. Try to be on your stand by 4pm or so. Go in a quickly and quietly as possible cause 99% of the time the bear hitting the bait isn't far away.

If you find, after a couple of days, that the bait is being hit after you leave at night then try a morning hunt. Take special care to be quiet in the morning though cause they'll spook easily and won't come back til after you leave if you give them a reason. You spook them enough morning or night and they'll turn nocturnal in a hurry, then yur pretty well outa luck to catch them at the bait during shooting hours.

Good luck, have fun, and hunt safe!!!

[HANDGUNNER]

Thanks Ice, sounds like good advice. I like hearing from someone who's been doin it. Sometimes you read an article in a magazine or hear from someone and you realize they don't have the experience, just an opinion. Two more weeks till I go. I'll let ya know how I do.

[icequeen]

No prob at all.

If there's any way I can help out lemme know. I'm lookin forward to your story when you get back.