Eastern fall black bears

[Endless_prusuits]

Looking for any info on the subject.

NC,WV,PA,WI???

We were supposed to be going on a muzzleloader elk hunt in Colorado this year but the dates aren't working out for out group. Starting to look into black bear hunt in eastern states. We would love to do a diy bear hunt. Any recommendations or info anyone has on the subject would be greatly appreciated. Looked into NC pretty hard already but it seems to be up in the air if a diy hunt on public land there is worth it.

 

[birddog 68]

Pennsylvania has good bear numbers and plenty of public land.
I have gone the last couple years but haven't been successful yet.
PGC website has harvest numbers per county which will help you see where the majority are killed. Central and northern Pa are usually top areas.
Pa usually produces at least a few over 500 pounds and some around 700.
Hope this helps

 

[river rat23]

I agree with birddog. There is a LOT of public land here in PA and some **** good bears on it. We've killed a few. Passed way more. Long archery bear season, some inline bear season, and a short rifle bear season adds some flexibility to your dates as well

 

[trappererick]

Come to Maine. Huge business if you are looking to hire a guide to hunt over bait or use hounds. I think season starts in end of August for bait nor sure about hound season. The Tribes offer some spring hunts on some their land you could check out also.

Bear Hunting: Laws & Rules: Hunting: Hunting & Trapping: Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

This guy has spring hunts.
https://bulldogcamp.com/hunting.php

If you are not into bait or hounds you can hunt the food sources like the oak and beech ridges, apple orchards and berry patches. I see plenty of bears every year while bird hunting and deer hunting. Wont be easy hunting but certainly fun.

 

[Shubey]

Pennsylvania has good bear numbers and plenty of public land.
I have gone the last couple years but haven't been successful yet.
PGC website has harvest numbers per county which will help you see where the majority are killed. Central and northern Pa are usually top areas.
Pa usually produces at least a few over 500 pounds and some around 700.
Hope this helps

Lycoming County is a good bet. Rugged& steep!

 

[Tiny Tim]

In WI, odd numbered years give dog hunters a week head start. You can hire guides or some people will set up baits and maintain for you. But you need points to get a tag. No OTC anymore.

 

[David W Strait]

I would go north and hire a guide. WV has bears but as a non-resident and without dogs your chances are slim to none. Baiting is not allowed. If you want to do a DIY archery deer hunt in the Mon NF you can shoot a bear if one happens by. At least you have a good chance at a deer while you are wishing for a bear.
If coming to WV I would recommend Randolph Co. South or East of Elkins and anywhere in Tucker Co. Best bear area is Boone and Logan Co but public land isn't as plentiful. Good luck with your decision.

 

[sellce]

In pa lycoming and clinton counties are usually your best bets and plenty of public lands to hunt

 

[iShoot17]

To the points made above, PA has some very nice bears. There have been bears that exceed the 800lb mark on occasion at the check stations. Bear tags can be added to a hunting licenses each year.

If you hunt rifle, it is a sight to see and hear. Baiting and hounds are not allowed, so bear drives tend to be the way the majority of hunters do it. You'll see groups of up to 25 guys pushing and posting through the woods. Bears tend to be in the places humans don't want to deal with. Brairs that'll leave ya bleeding, mountain laurel so thick that if ya fall you'll never hit the ground, and down steep ravines that make you question the safety - but also how the heck you'll get a bear back out if you're successful!

With all of that said - I hunt bear here in PA every year through the various seasons. I managed to get a nice sized sow out of Benezette in 2023. The taxidermist called me earlier this week and said my mount should be done in a couple weeks (tannery and form issues caused some delays). I am so extremely excited.

And best of all is the meat has been delicious! I'm very grateful that I was successful, especially knowing it is a rarity and not the norm.

 

[Sealesniper]

There is lots of public lands in ENC for good bears. Issue is like anywhere else. Public land means anyone can be there. Hyde, Bertie, Beaufort and Washington counties have some of the biggest and most robust populations. We normally see 8-10 per sit on my farms but only take a couple each year. I detest dog hunting as most around here just dump their dogs on others private and posted land and no consequences. Legalized poaching. There are some decent guide services I have heard of, but being I only do DIY for kids and buddies I can't really recommend anyone. Last I heard, NC has the highest black bear population on the east coast. They don't hibernate here so they eat all year. But that also means no spring season.

 

[birddog 68]

With all of that said - I hunt bear here in PA every year through the various seasons. I managed to get a nice sized sow out of Benezette in 2023. The taxidermist called me earlier this week and said my mount should be done in a couple weeks (tannery and form issues caused some delays). I am so extremely excited.

I'd love to see a picture when you pick it up

 

[1wildcatfan]

I would not consider NC (Duplin/Onslow Counties) for a DIY. I've hunted there. Big bears, but would be hard/almost impossible to hunt. The locals run dogs and/or put out bait piles. You can't walk through the undergrowth it's so thick.

Visiting inlaws in SE North Carolina after Christmas, my BIL put my boys in an area where they have pics of a huge bear. Saw a couple of smaller bears, but no luck on the jumbo. Christmas week the bear crew took one that weighed 475. They said the one my boys were after was much larger. Guessing 650-700 lbs.

Corn, peanuts, dead chickens and turkeys from the dead boxes from the farms. The chicken and turkey houses have 5-8,000 birds in em. Each morning the houses are walked and dead birds collected. The dead birds are put in "dead boxes", like plastic dumpsters. A company empties the boxes every few days. The bears help themselves to an easy meal whenever they want. Plenty of hog houses here do the same thing. These bears don't hibernate, just eat. I was on a bear hunt with dogs 25 yrs ago. A 550 lb bear was taken.

I'm aware of one good ol boy "outfitter" there. Runs dogs. I heard he charges by the lb, $4/lb.

 

[Shubey]

To the points made above, PA has some very nice bears. There have been bears that exceed the 800lb mark on occasion at the check stations. Bear tags can be added to a hunting licenses each year.

If you hunt rifle, it is a sight to see and hear. Baiting and hounds are not allowed, so bear drives tend to be the way the majority of hunters do it. You'll see groups of up to 25 guys pushing and posting through the woods. Bears tend to be in the places humans don't want to deal with. Brairs that'll leave ya bleeding, mountain laurel so thick that if ya fall you'll never hit the ground, and down steep ravines that make you question the safety - but also how the heck you'll get a bear back out if you're successful!

With all of that said - I hunt bear here in PA every year through the various seasons. I managed to get a nice sized sow out of Benezette in 2023. The taxidermist called me earlier this week and said my mount should be done in a couple weeks (tannery and form issues caused some delays). I am so extremely excited.

And best of all is the meat has been delicious! I'm very grateful that I was successful, especially knowing it is a rarity and not the norm.

How did you get bear meat delicious?

 

[1wildcatfan]

How did you get bear meat delicious?

After seeing the worms/parasites moving around in the meat of one I killed, I'd never eat one. Something out of a horror movie. Trichinosis is bad news.