Spot and Stalk Black Bear

G'day everyone,

Im currently in Canada on my work visa and was hoping to do a black bear hunt this spring before I head back to Aus.
I've done some research and it's seems most people either bait or go with an outfitter when hunting black bear. I have neither the time or money for this and was thinking of doing more of a spot and stalk style of hunt for the experience and also seeing more of the landscape.
I was hoping to focus my time around old clear cuts and grassy areas and either use my bow or rifle depending on what the situation is suited for.
Does anyone have some tips in regards to this style of hunting and if it's achievable?
Also what kind of food sources are bears generally keying in on in the spring that I should an eye out for?
Also if you are able to share general areas worth looking into that would be appreciated but it's not necessary.
I'm based in Fergus area and happy to drive anywhere under 10 hours to make this happen.
I do have my hunters licence and PAL fyi
Thanks

I hunt spring bear hunt around the Temagami Ontario area. Been hunting there for around 10 years now. In those 10 years we have hunted over bait. It would be next to impossible to see a bear out in the open where we hunt. Its super thick and swampy. The reason for baiting is to draw them in and it gives you time to make sure it's not a sow with cubs and to judge if it's a mature boar.

Good luck with your quest.

I've been up around the hornpayne area in the spring fishing, If you hit it right when the grasses were first coming up I feel spot and stalk would be easy with a rifle, One year we saw 16 bears just checking our minnow traps, but I'm thinking its a short window when they are on the first green ups, so any clear cut or roads with first grass should hold bears,
Hunted bears in the spring in armstrong which is a tour north but was the same, bears on the grass were all over the place

Very doable with a rifle but as others have said you really need access to clear cuts. Where we bow hunt moose we see a lot of bears on foot. They get feeding and rely on their nose so much when you’re walking into the wind they have a tough time detecting you. they really stand out on the clear cuts as well. I don’t hunt them but would think you’d want a hard hitting rifle capable of making a 200 yd shot.


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Originally Posted by Matt86

I've been up around the hornpayne area in the spring fishing, If you hit it right when the grasses were first coming up I feel spot and stalk would be easy with a rifle, One year we saw 16 bears just checking our minnow traps, but I'm thinking its a short window when they are on the first green ups, so any clear cut or roads with first grass should hold bears,
Hunted bears in the spring in armstrong which is a tour north but was the same, bears on the grass were all over the place

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oh yea thats awesome! im guessing that the green up this year is going to happen sooner rather then later with the mild weather we've been having

Are most clear cuts all on crown land? I have the ihunter app that shows all the different areas and there regulations.
It would be nice if there was a way to find where the most recent clear cuts have been on google maps so that when i go up to do a pre scout in the next couple of weeks I have a bit of a starting point