Black Bear - upstate ny

[bsparker]

I have the opportunity to help a corn farmer control his bear population. I’ll be at his farm for one week as corn season peaks but don’t really have any chance to scout. He’s had bear damage for the past three years.

Any tips on hunting black bear that might help make this more successful?

What would you do in this scenario?

Corn field marked by yellow. Two deer stands marked with red. The one closest to the corn is close to where some of the damage has been. I plan to set up in that stand for the first day since I’ll be coming in late the night before.

I have access to almost all the land in the image.

 

[Patocazador]

IMO your selection of stands is the best option. However, the wind direction may mess that up.

I all else fails, consider setting up a bacon grease burn upwind of the corn field.
The Antis are in love with bears so they have become a real problem. PETA thinks of them as vegetarians BUT they also kill many deer, especially fawns.

 

[Laphroaig]

That looks like as good of a place to start out as any. Just watch the wind.

Hunting a new place is a learning experience. And there are fewer bear than deer so sightings and signs might be fewer and knowledge gained a bit slower. I've been bear hunting on the same property for about 30 years and just developed a sense of the best places to hunt in the last 5 years or so. I got one 2 years ago by playing a hunch that paid off. I'd assume that hunting in NY is pretty similar to what we do here in PA. Big group drives get the most action and they kill bears with regularity. Solo hunting is spot and shoot and takes patience.

I'd be surprised if you can bait bear in NY.

Good luck.

 

[Speedo66]

I'd be surprised if you can bait bear in NY.

Good luck.

This sounds like a nuisance animal elimination hunt, perhaps the rules are different?

If that’s the case, the biggest bear taken by bow in NJ , 800 lbs, got its weight by eating left over donuts.

 

[Patocazador]

I'd be surprised if you can bait bear in NY.

Is a grease burn considered bait? The bear never gets a chance to eat the grease ... unless one is sleeping instead of watching.

 

[Zerodefect]

"Bear damage".

Like what?

 

[jmr40]

Ask the farmer where he has been seeing the bear and/or bear sign. Hunt there.

 

[bsparker]

"Bear damage".

Like what?

It’s making large paths through the corn fields, breaking them down and eating it. Cleared out/broke down 20-30ft area of corn in one field.

 

[bsparker]

Ask the farmer where he has been seeing the bear and/or bear sign. Hunt there.

I had a meeting with him two nights ago. He’s 77 and slowly transferring some of the daily responsibilities. He mentioned a couple spots to watch but three other fields (including the one I’ve marked) are down the road from his primary residence and main field. The field I’ve marked is adjacent to my father-in-law‘s property and he marked some damaged areas from last year. That’s all I’m going off of since I don’t live near by and with kids along on the trip, scouring was very limited.

I’ve started reading and asking a friend, but I don’t know much about bear habits or patterns, hence my inquiry. I wasn’t sure how much routine they keep, how frequent they use the same trails, etc.

 

[.308 Norma]

Ask the farmer where he has been seeing the bear and/or bear sign. Hunt there.

+1. You beat me to it, jmr40.
I had a buddy that killed a few black bears (here in Idaho) by calling them in with a predator (dying rabbit) call. He was really careful about it though after he had one black bear come in from behind him. He said he heard something behind him and turned around just in time to see a very surprised looking black bear not 10 feet away.
I guess that bear spun, took off up the hill, and disappeared before my buddy could even get a shot off.

 

[bsparker]

This sounds like a nuisance animal elimination hunt, perhaps the rules are different?

If that’s the case, the biggest bear taken by bow in NJ , 800 lbs, got its weight by eating left over donuts.

I haven’t seen much about baiting being allowed, although the farmer had some ideas. He’s more concerned about his crop than the regulations. My father in law has some apple trees, these apples might accidentally fall far from the tree…in a nice pile by the corn…accidentally of course

 

[bsparker]

+1. You beat me to it, jmr40.
I had a buddy that killed a few black bears (here in Idaho) by calling them in with a predator (dying rabbit) call. He was really careful about it though after he had one black bear come in from behind him. He said he heard something behind him and turned around just in time to see a very surprised looking black bear not 10 feet away.
I guess that bear spun, took off up the hill, and disappeared before my buddy could even get a shot off.

Glad black bears here aren’t overly aggressive. note taken, do not act like a small dead animal. He got a story out of it though!

 

[FL-NC]

If you are hunting with a rifle and can shoot it well, those stands look like good locations, esp if the bears are covering a lot of ground in that cornfield when they raid it. No idea if baiting is legal in your area and I don't know if planted corn is considered "bait". I would think not. Make sure you stay vigilant since bears are remarkably sneaky and quiet in my experience. They have a very good sense of smell. I might consider bringing lots of snacks for my time on the stand. I get very hungry bear hunting. You may consider some snacks like lots of bacon, honey buns, tuna, or sardines. That's what I like to eat.

 

[bsparker]

If you are hunting with a rifle and can shoot it well, those stands look like good locations, esp if the bears are covering a lot of ground in that cornfield when they raid it. No idea if baiting is legal in your area and I don't know if planted corn is considered "bait". I would think not. Make sure you stay vigilant since bears are remarkably sneaky and quiet in my experience. They have a very good sense of smell. I might consider bringing lots of snacks for my time on the stand. I get very hungry bear hunting. You may consider some snacks like lots of bacon, honey buns, tuna, or sardines. That's what I like to eat.

honey buns and sardines, now that’s what I call a good breakfast snack combo for hunting… I might have to learn to like it for this hunt, maybe I’ll bring enough to share in case I get company. lol

 

[stillquietvoice]

Could try shooting a few varmints wood chuck close by your stand, not exactly bating, cause you're hunting chucks. Look for berry patches nearby bears love those too.

 

[Laphroaig]

Hmmm, remember guys, this Forum is "The Highroad". And I think the corn field is your best bait anyway. Crop fields are not considered baiting. The bears are feeding on it and apparently like to frequent the fields. Try and do some preseason scouting and look for sign, like tracks and scat. Also damage in the fields. I'd set up my stand close to those places.

If you can sneak in to your stand and the wind is in your favor, hunt it in the morning and catch them coming out of the fields at first light. Go back late afternoon and try to intercept them going back to feed.

ETA: when I say "stand" it doesn't necessarily mean a tree stand or tent. Hiding in a blowdown or standing beside a big tree avoids disturbance and allows you to be mobile and use the wind to your favor. Bears have incredible senses of smell.

 

[buck460XVR]

Is a grease burn considered bait? The bear never gets a chance to eat the grease ... unless one is sleeping instead of watching.

I'm gonna guess it would be considered "bait". If used as "scent" you can only use 1 1/2 oz to hunt over. Easy to see bear damage in a corn field. I would scout the fields during the middle of the day and hunt close to where I see the freshest damage. Hunting over a trail where fresh tracks are seen would be a plus.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I hunted with an older gentleman that always put his clothes in a tote with pine limbs and sprayed his boots and pants legs with apple juice to help cover his scent, (I still do this) this was for deer hunting I don't know if the apple juice would be a good idea hunting bear. Maybe don't make a bait pile with the apples but spread them out in shooting lanes, I don't know the laws there, here you have to get the land owners permission. We have a section with crabapple, persimmon and pear trees that I set up about 150yrds away but I've had more luck with partly buried salt blocks (do bears like salt blocks?), I set them up at known distances with notes on drop and wind streamers hanging from small trees ( I leave the streamers there year round)
Good luck in your hunts, I've had some bear sausage that was good (better than deer sausage) but that's all I've ever tried.

 

[daniel craig]

It should go without saying, but double check state and local regs before doing anything.

 

[DesertFox]

If you've never skinned a bear before, be prepared as it will look like you removed Uncle Fester from his pajamas...

 

[Speedo66]

If you've never skinned a bear before, be prepared as it will look like you removed Uncle Fester from his pajamas...

I've mentioned this before...

A friend shot and skinned a bear, then hung it from a tree on his property near a road. Had a visit from a sheriff asking him to please move it into his detached garage since they had numerous calls about a lynching.