2011 Spring Bear Q&A Thread

[keep]

Every year starting May we have tbh'rs going on spring bear hunts and we have q&a thread so every one can ask question and get answers that others may have and save them the hassle or help them think of something they might have otherwise not thought of.
I'll post up an equipment list later this evening.
Past question have covered everything from air travel, equipment, crossing the border, bear anatomy and weather.
So post them up and some one on here with some experience will give you some help.

[keep]

I can't believe with all the guys bear hunting this year this thread hasn't taken off.

[bowhuntermac]

Does a bear **** in the woods?

[wlo11]

obviously we all know everything about bear hunting. i'll be going to idaho in may for black bear with my bow for the first time so if i can come up with some ????'s ill put em up here

[Vantage Point]

What weight of clothing should one bring to Quebec for a hunt in May? Do the bears pick up scent from therma cells? I have had mixed experience with white-tail.

Mike

[Humper]

there's a bear hunt this spring?

OMG!

[41Chevy]

Does a bear **** in the woods?

Yep.

[Texastaxi]

Does a bear **** in the woods?

Yes. Yes they do!

[Texastaxi]

So, grade my field judging. I wouldn't shoot that ^^^^ bear.
His ears look big, for his/her head ... thus a small/young bear.

How'm I doing?

[PHfactor]

thermacell is ok to use - had bear within 8 yards of me when i was using one.

quebec in may will need some heavier clothing than you think. you'll be sweating on the way in but will need some clothes when the sun starts to set. i've been known to wear shorts and a t-shirt on the way in then put my hunting gear on about 3/4 of the way to my stand.

[TXZiggy]

What's a good way to field judge a bear? What characteristics/features do I look for?

Do you use the same broadheads on a bear that you would use on a whitetail or do you use something different?

[PHfactor]

I used mechanical and it tore the heck out of that bear - pouring blood all over.

if you're looking to size one up - look at the belly, the farther it sags towards the ground, the bigger he is. also, check the ears, the farther apart they look and the smaller they appear, the bigger the skull and the bigger the bear.

What's a good way to field judge a bear? What characteristics/features do I look for?

Do you use the same broadheads on a bear that you would use on a whitetail or do you use something different?

[rladner]

What's a good way to field judge a bear? What characteristics/features do I look for?

Do you use the same broadheads on a bear that you would use on a whitetail or do you use something different?

The trick for judging bears that I found the easiest (especially for novice bear hunters like me) is the Triangle method. If the distance between the ears and the distance between each ear and the nose is equal (equalateral triangle) then it is a big bear. If it is an Isosceles triangle then you may want to pass. At least it seems to work for me and seems to be much easier to identify than anything else. I use the same broadheads. I don't change my set up from whitetail at all. Use everything the same.

[Texastaxi]

Did a search and found this ... is this what you're talking about, rladner?

[Vantage Point]

The trick for judging bears that I found the easiest (especially for novice bear hunters like me) is the Triangle method. If the distance between the ears and the distance between each ear and the nose is equal (equalateral triangle) then it is a big bear. If it is an Isosceles triangle then you may want to pass. At least it seems to work for me and seems to be much easier to identify than anything else. I use the same broadheads. I don't change my set up from whitetail at all. Use everything the same.

The triangle method sounds effective and accurate. Thanks for the tip.

I want a big ol' obtuse but I'll settle for an equilateral.