Berries in the clear-cuts are starting to ripen, this makes for the best opportunity to harvest a black bear. Since the ban of baiting and hound hunting finding a bear has become more difficult, but not impossible. Bears are like any other animal, they need food, a safe place to live, and water. To locate bears I usually start with locating the food sources. Bears love ripe black-berries (nature’s way of baiting them in) and If I find a good secluded patch I can usually find bear sign.

Keep your eyes open for bear tunnels through the black-berry patches; this is a good sign that a bear (or bears) frequent an area. While walking the logging roads getting to the patches and while in the patches keep an eye out for bear droppings. Droppings from bears that have been feeding on black-berries will have a purplish color and will be full of seeds.

The second thing I look for is an area with water and cover, I have found that bears like the thickest nastiest places to live especially if it is in a ravine with a creek at the bottom, pair this up with the berries and you have a place to set your stand.

Butch O’Donnell