BOBO, ARE YOU IN THERE?

BEAR HUNTING IN NEW BRUNSWICK

Bears, the ultimate huning experience, nine times out of ten you will see the bruin before you hear him. For his size he is extemely quiet and exceptionally fast. He also has the advantage of knowing more about his home than you do, it is his arena afterall. Many non-residents come to New Brunswick figuring on the sure thing pertaining to Hunting over bait and nothing could be further from the truth. They either have no bear Hunting in their locale or neighboring locales, or are not into spot and stalk which would not work well in New Brunswick due to our mixed boreal forests, and the fact that the bears do not leave the woods often. If the bear does not want to be seen then he won't be seen.

Stand hunting is of course the chosen method over bait, expecially for the bowhunter. A bear will inspect a bait station thoroughly and will undoubtably become familiar with the tree stand location. Almost 90% of the time the bear will look to the stand location when approaching the bait station. One must be patient, still and extemely quiet.
First time bear hunters tend to get overanxious when sighting their first bear and the encounter nearly always causes the heart to race , sweat to form in beads on the brow and damp clammy hands. During the spring hunt the weather can be as unpredictable as the game being hunt (bear, deer etc.) Insects of all types become your only companions as you may sit for at least six (6) hours on stand. Yet sitting on stand allows you to enjoy a wonderful closeness to nature, a feeling sometimes lost whilst stillhunting or spot and stalk and a light rain will fit in nicely also allowing you time with your own thoughts.
Picture this, you are 20 feet off the ground and only 12 to 20 yards from the bait station and in walks a 300lb bear, there is no room for error. For a misplaced arrow can bring on a rather bad situation., for a wounded bear is not a friendly bear. Once the bear is sighted the action is rather fast and should be methodical in your approach to the shot. some bears have been know to come in under the stand and sometimes even climb the tree that the stand is located in to check it out, and this is exhilirating to say the least.
Sitting on stand is called hunting and not shooting, as you can set up the conditions but there are no guarantees. Many weeks and months go into setting up the bait and the condition of the area to be hunted, many miles are logged and one may never see a bear at the bait station.

Approaching Bait Station

On bait, we first add to the drum winterkill if available. Bones and scraps from the local butcher helps and any fish such as suckers, chub not normally eaten by us can be placed inside a burlap bag and drug through the woods along know bear travel routes leading to the bait. It is wise to wear rubber boots when doing this. Attaching tins of sardines to tree branches around site is a very good attractant as well. Hang about 5 feet above ground. Pastries that are past due from a local bakery can be had for a very reasonable fee.

Searching

Even though the black bears vision is poor it is extremely important that one sitting On stand must be perfectly quiet and still due to the closeness of the hunt.

Let's go visit Bobo, mama

Another item you should try to get is restaurant grease from deep fryers and spread around bait station as a visiting bear will track this through the woods thus attracting other bears to you site. I also soak 4x2x1 inch sponges in a mixture of anise, vanilla extract and liquid smoke and hang from surrounding trees at same height as sardines.

Success, but for whom?

If you follow some of the suggestions I have given you too will become a successful bear hunter. The quest for one of natures more cunning and formidable foes is the ultimate in bow hunting for me. The drum provides an excellent means to estimate the size of the bear and also when the bear sticks its paw into the mouth of the drum it exposes its vitals thus allowing a good shot, and if the drum is left standing in the Vshape the bear will rise to tip it back, thus again giving an excellent pass through shot at the vitals.
The flesh of a young black bear can be a truly delightful eating experience and a spring bear can make a fine rug. If one is in the hunt for a large bear then the fall hunt will add almost half as much weight throughout spring and summer feeding to an already large spring bear and no bugs in the fall, or very few worth mentioning. The average cost of a 6 day hunt in New Brunswick is $1,000-$1,500 CDN., and a final word of wisdom for my fellow Hunters from the American non-resident side of the border is that if you like to partake in acholic refreshment and tobacco, BRING IT WITH YOU, as you will most likely become nauseaus when you see what we must pay.