BLACK BEAR PRIMER Part 3
Practice…Practice…Practice
So far we have decided on our stand location and started baiting the site. Another method you might want to try is to get the bear accustomed to your scent at the bait site. Wear an old shirt for two or three days and put it in a plastic bag. The next time you bait the site put the shirt on a tree next to the bait. If the bear wants to eat all the goodies you’ve brought for him he will have to tolerate your scent If you are planning to use bug repellant, and believe me you’re going to need it, spray some on the trees around the site every time you go there. Be sure you use the same mosquito repellent every time. You are getting the bear accustomed to your scent so when you are sitting in your tree stand covered in mosquito repellent, and he does smell you, he won’t be all that spooked. These methods do work. Your wife may throw you out for wearing a shirt for three days, or you may get tired of lugging all that bait around, but it will be worth all the effort when that first bear comes in. The most successful bear hunters that I know are usually the ones that are willing to do the work. So don’t give up, stick with it, start a second bait. Do whatever it takes.
REMEMBER THE OLD INDIAN SAYING :
An eagle will see the leaf fall
A deer will hear the leaf fall
But a bear will smell the leaf fall 
Believe it; the bear has an incredible nose. I firmly believe a bear has a better sense of smell than a deer. So your best bet is to get him accustomed to your scent right off the bat. The year I had 6 bear in my view at one time was one I’ll never forget.
I found a big Pine that grew at a 45 degree angle from a small creek at the base of a rock bluff… someone years before had driven railroad spikes in that tree and there was a few boards left up there from a homemade stand. I put a stand up there and baited the spot, chaining a 55 gal drum to the base of the tree. The bait got hammered daily and I was really pumped when open day came.
It was amazing! First a Sow and 2 cubs showed up… then a 250# Boar came and had a face to face with the 250# Sow… teeth popping and hissing!
They suddenly run off as a huge 300# Sow comes in with a single (yearling) cub…The adult bears all were circling around, hissing and popping teeth. I am really tempted to arrow the 300# Sow as her cub is about 150# and will probably be on its own in a few weeks.
Then WHAM! This big boar comes crashing in from behind me and all the bears take off like jets…breaking branches like a herd of Cape Buffalo! The boar circled my bait very cautiously, and I got the feeling he was new to the bait… I drew my 84# American Archery Challenger and put the pin just behind his shoulder as he walked under my tree. I released and he heard it (7 yards) spinning towards me. The heavy 2219 arrow and big 1.5” Zwicky Delta broadhead just punched through the shoulder blade slicing a lung. We found him 500 yards down stream… 371 lbs dressed wt, with a 18 5/8” P&Y skull.
DON’T FORGET
I will leave you with one last thought, bear hunting is one of the most demanding ways to hunt that I know of. It would be a shame to do all that work and you forgot to practice your shooting. When you first set up your bait, practice shooting from your stand. When the bear finally does come in PICK A SPOT…. Don’t try to shoot the whole bear. Pick one hair on the animal and HIT IT.
GOOD LUCK AND SHOOT STRAIGHT, 
Tom Gursky
I felt like I was right there in the tree with you Tom! 
