9 expert bear-hunting tips from outdoor TV host Keith Beasley

#1  IDENTIFY PRIME HABITAT

If you’re planning to pursue bears in Canada’s thick boreal forest, then spot-and-stalk hunting is really not an option. Instead, you’ll need to rely on baiting to draw them in. Bears travel many kilometres in their core areas, and even more during the June rut, so create a plan the same way you would for hunting deer or moose.

Study maps and aerial photos of your hunting area to identify edges where the terrain changes from thick timber to low-lying swamps, or from hills to flats. There should also be a nearby water source, whether it’s a swamp, creek or lake, to attract thirsty bears.

 

#2  SELECT A SET-UP SPOT

Once you’ve determined what core area to hunt, pinpoint the best spot to place your bait and treestand or ground blind. First, you must take the area’s prevailing wind into consideration. The wind should hit the bait first, then your stand and finally out the direction in which you entered the area.

You also need to position your set-up so that you can walk in and out without entering the area you expect the bears to come from—once your boots hit the ground, you are leaving fresh scent. If you’re running multiple bait sites, separate them by at least five kilometres, as bears will travel quite a distance in a single night to visit multiple food sources.