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Black bear hunting in North America is no joke! You definitely need someone to act as your guide, someone who has expert knowledge about bears, especially their habitats, habits and body language.

As far as their dwelling places go, black bears like it rough! And the cold does not bother them, though it might bother you! Though their favorite hidey-holes are forests and areas covered with shrubs, they also wander around ridge tops, burned areas, conifer forests, avalanche chutes, high tidelands, agricultural fields, wet meadows, riparian areas and swampy hardwood. So if you want to go black bear hunting, there?s quite a vast territory to cover!

How are black bears different from other bears? For one thing, their back legs are longer than most other bears. The rest of their features include?a large body, long snout, rounded ears, small eyes and a short tail. They have an acute sense of smell. Generally seen on all fours, you may also see them balancing on their hind legs only. Being flat-footed, the gait is lumbering. If seen during fall season, the time when they are preparing to go into hibernation, these animals seem to have grown in size!

Black bear hunting may be one of your favorite pursuits, but the law will not allow you to go shooting blindly! The reproductive rate of female black bears is very low. Therefore, black bear hunting requires licenses to hunt as well as hunting permits. In fact, they may be withheld during certain months of the year. Book early, to hunt early!

The ability to read the body language of a bear is very important. When a bear is up on its hind legs and sniffing the air, you automatically assume that it is taking up an aggressive stance. And so it might very well be. It could also mean that it suddenly comes back on all fours and charges at its enemy! Watch out for other signs depicting aggression, if you want to be safe. Black bears have been known to kill humans; fifty-six deaths were confirmed during the last century.

Any doubts in your mind during black bear hunting, refer to your guide! A cub may be mistaken for an adult and be killed. Note if the animal you are aiming for is older in age and larger in size. Smaller and younger bears should be left alone as they are just getting ready to breed. Mistakes can lead to alarming consequences.

So if you want to make your black bear hunting trip a memorable one, brush up your knowledge and skills. You are bound to get your reward!

Black bear in New Brunswick Canada are plentiful and for that reason need to be control to avoid over population, which leads to conflicts for food with other black bear and habitat for both bear and humans, especially as our towns and cities grow in size.

DNR does a great job at controlling the culling of black bear, keeping the population down to a healthy sustainable group.

Of course the black bear is considered to be big game and therefore hunted for sport and bragging rights, not to mention the great bear skin rugs they produce.

Speaking of bear rugs. I have a friend who is not only a black bear hunter but he is also a great black bear guide, outfitter and lodge owner. He has a huge black bear rug on the wall of his hunting and fishing lodge.

Black Bear Meat Makes Great Table Fare

I remember many moons ago, the first time I tried black bear meat. We were already used to eating wild meat as we lived on a farm out in the country and hunted a lot. I loved and said I felt like Daniel Boone. Black bear make for some great table fare.

Hunters Eager For Black Bear

Last year, in 2008, there were 2569 resident licences sold as well as 2740 non-resident licences sold for a total of 5309.

BTW: Out of the 2740 non-resident licences sold only 2380 were actually used.

The stats for the Black bear harvest for 2008 kind of shocked me. But it also shows me why it’s important to find a good black bear outfitter so that you have the best chance of bagging your black bear.

In 2008 only 407 black bears were harvested by resident hunters, so out of the 2569 licences sold only 407 bears were taken.

In 2008 there were 1357 black bear taken by the 2740 non-resident hunters. Note: Only 2380 of the 2740 licences sold were used by non-residents.

If you are not familiar with New Brunswick but you still want a great black bear hunting outfitter I would suggest you check out the post here on finding the best black bear hunting outfitter for you. You can also see what you need to do to prepare for your bear hunt.

The North American Black Bear

What Family Does The N.A. Black Bear Belong:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae

The N.A. Black Bear, the most common of all bears, and the smallest of the North American bear, is still a big game animal who lives in most states and provinces in the U.S. and Canada.

You may have heard them called the ‘clown of the woods’. If you didn’t know why it’s because they can be so amusing while they play around in their habitat. They can act like little kids but remember they are still a dangerous and wild animal so don’t decide that you could go play with them.

Most people in the world have only ever seen black bear on TV or in a zoo, which is kind of sad isn’t it. Although when black bear hunting season takes some of the female black bears with cubs, even if it’s by accident those cubs don’t really stand a chance and either die or are killed by other predators or they end up in the zoo.

The average weight of a N.A. black bear is somewhere between 200 to 350 pounds, but is seldom longer than 6 1/2 feet. Anything beyond that would be classified as a trophy black bear.

I was fishing for Atlantic salmon one fine fall day and turned around to see what I thought was a small black bear sitting there watching me but when it turned and walked back into the bush I could see that it was much bigger than I had thought. Don’t be deceived by black bear that look small, they are still dangerous.

What do Black Bear look like?

Black Bear have short legs with clawed feet and a small stubby tail and for most times of the year are rather heavy set and thick looking. They have a long nose or snout with a set of canine teeth for chomping down meat and flat molars to grind the other foods they eat.

Black bear will eat anything their powerful jaws can handle and that doesn’t leave much out of their diet. They are known as omnivorous because they are opportunistic feeders.

What’s in their diet?

Black bears will feast on other animals, usually the dead kind, but will take down a moose or a deer if hungry enough. They espeically love fish, salmon being one of their favorite, as it’s a great way to put on the pounds they need to survive the winter months. They also eat all kinds of plant matter that is available at any given time like fruits and berries, various grasses & roots, honey, insects.

The Black bear, or Ursus americanus to scientists, is the most common species of bear in North America. If you go camping somewhere in the United States, Mexico or Canada and you see a bear, chances are you’re looking at a black bear.

And with the recent tragedy of the Clyde family and an assault by a black bear in Tennessee, it makes sense to approach them with respect and caution.

Compared to other American bears, black bears are smaller and more agile, usually weighing from 150-300 pounds, though they can sometimes weigh much more. While they are often black, black bears also come in dark brown and even grayish shades. They are almost always smaller and less furry than their brown bear cousins, and lack the distinctive shoulder hump of the grizzly.

Like most bears, the black bear is an omnivore and will eat virtually anything it can get its paws on, though black bears tend to eat more vegetation than their cousins. Roots, seeds, grasses, berries, leaves, twigs, sometimes even bark and the inner parts of trees will make up most of the bear’s diet throughout the year. Black bears will also eat a variety of insects, smaller mammals, and are good at catching fish.

Black bears are not particularly aggressive or violent towards people. In many areas, bears are actually quite tame and unafraid of us, and will even be found begging for scraps along the sides of roads. Though their vision is only average, they have an amazing sense of smell, and have a knack for getting into places they shouldn’t be, like cars, gardens or dumpsters.

If you are going to be camping in an area where there are black bears, just make sure you don’t leave any food in a place you wouldn’t want a bear to get to. For example, never store opened food items inside your tent. Any food items that are exposed to the sense of smell should be kept tightly sealed, hung from a tree, or at the very least a good distance away from your campsite.

My only experience with black bears occurred while I was backpacking with friends in Yosemite. The campsite we reached on the first night was crawling with black bears. Though we were a little nervous at first, it was soon clear they weren’t going to bother us, so we set up camp as planned. As soon as we began cooking dinner, however, we found ourselves with a good-sized bear audience.

For the most part they kept their distance, but when we weren’t looking they’d creep closer and closer to get a better look and smell for what we were making. As soon as we looked over at them, they’d turn away and pretend like they weren’t really interested, feigning interest in some twig instead. When we woke the next morning, we discovered the bears had licked all our dishes completely clean.

Although the experience I had was actually quite humorous, black bears are certainly capable of causing great bodily injury to you if they feel threatened. Its never a good idea to approach a bear, and if you see bear cubs you should stay far away because there is a very good chance they have a protective mother nearby.

When looking for an outfitter that will provide you with the black bear hunt you have in mind it could take some time but I think I have shorten that time quite a bit. I have compiled a list of the top black bear hunting guides, outfitters and lodges here in New Brunswick Canada.

If you are new to black bear hunting be sure to check out the two related posts.

Preparing for your black bear hunting adventure

Choose the Right Black Bear Hunting Outfitter For Your Hunt

Our Featured Black Bear Hunting Outfitter

Big Paw Outfitters

Black Bear Hunting

Owner: Kevin Caissie – Location: Renous, New Brunswick – Hunting Zone: #7

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Black Bear Outfitters, Guides & Lodges

Adairs Wilderness Lodge

Adventure Nord Est

Adventures Inn Miramichi

Atlantic Adventures Outfitting

Barton’s Wilderness Adventures

Bear Paw Outfitters

Bear’s Lair

Big Paw Outfitters
Kevin Caissie – Renous – Black Bear Hunting and Guiding – Zone 7

Black Bear Lodge

Black Bear Hunting NB Canada

Black Bear Specialist

Canaan Outfitters

Dyer & Sons Outfitters

Fundy Outfitters

Harts Lake Lodge

Henderson’s Hunting Camps

John’s Paradise

Krumplehorn Lodge

Manuel’s Hunt/Fish Camps

Miramichi Inn

Nerepis Lodge

Safaris International

Sunset Shan-Gri-La Lodge

Taxis River Outfitters

Tobique & Serpentine Camps

Ugly Bear Lodge

Upper Oxbow Adventures

Each of the black bear hunting outfitters listed above are also listed on the black bear hunting guides and outfitters map on the main page so you will have a better idea of how to get there. It should help you narrow your search down somewhat.

I decided to break this black bear hunting preparation post into two sections. The first part can be found here:

Part 1: Choosing the Right Black Bear Hunting Outfitters.

Part Two: Preparing For Your Black Bear Hunting Adventure

To be fully prepared, have your outfitter send you a list of important things to take along for your weeks stay.  Here are a few examples of items that I believe have made for better black bear hunting experiences:

* Passport and proper identification for border officials
* Bug Suit (if hunting during bug season)
* Two-way Radios
* Clothes for all weather conditions (hot, cold, rain, etc…)
* Snack food items
* Camera
* Compact foldable soft weapon cases
* Cooler & Meat Bags
* Knife & Tool Kit
* Non-scented soaps, shampoos, etc…

There is one final very important note to mention.  Have your outfitter send you a non-resident firearm declaration for you to prepare in advance.  They take about 20 minutes to fill out at home, but will save you time with custom and border officials.  Remember that all rifles will need to be removed from their respected cases, so don’t have them buried under your luggage and hunting gear.

Black bear hunting being as popular as it is you can imagine there are a lot of outfitters to choose from but not all bear hunting guides and outfitters are the same. For this reason it most important that you communicate and ask the questions that need to be answered so you get the black bear hunting trip you expect.

Listed below you will find some important questions you should ask the bear hunting outfitters you contact. This will help you select the best outfitter for your ideal black bear hunting trip:

1. Find out just how many hunters and how many non-hunters per week.
2. At the end of the day it’s important to have a place to rest your weary head. Ask how many people in each room. It would also help to get a description or even pictures of the accommodation?
3. We all like to eat, especially after being outdoors all day so ask what’s on the menu for your bear hunting trip.
4. Hunting can be a dirty business so you may want to clean your clothes. Ask if they have laundry facilities?
5. Arriving too early, while there are still other hunters from the previous week, may not be appreciated so ask about the acceptable arrival. Be sure you know the departure times as well.
6. How many un-hunted active black bear hunting bait sites do you provide per hunter?  Can I be moved if desired?
7. Ask for a description of their tree stand set up and bait sites. Again it would be great to have pictures, especially if they are online.
8. Will you be walking to the bait sites? Then how far are they from the camp or lodge? Do they provide transportation to and from the bait sites?
9. What are the hunting departure and pick-up times and how long after dark is the last hunter picked up?
10. Is morning black bear hunting offered if desired?
11. Will your black bear hunting outfitter be on the premises all week?
12. Is the outfitter’s accommodation licensed?
13. How many black bear hunters per guide and per vehicle on departure to the site?
14. If I harvest my black bear early in the week what type of recreation are available?  (ie:  fishing, other hunts, near by towns or cities, etc…)
15. What type of practice range do you offer for both bow & rifle?
16. If my weapon malfunctions, is there a local archery or rifle shop near by?
17. Once I have harvested my black bear, where will it be registered?  Who will skin and cut the meat?  Is there a freezer on site?  Is there a local taxidermist and do they provide a price list?
18. References from both successful & non-successful black bear hunters?
19. Are there any additional fees?

These questions may take a bit of time answer, but the black bear outfitter should be more than happy to answer them. If not, well then perphaps they aren’t your black bear hunting outfitter.

Once you have the outfitter you’re comfortable with you will need to get a list for preparing for the black bear hunting trip of your life.

Here in New Brunswick baiting of black bears is allowed. Follow a few pointers about black bear baiting and you will have a much more productive black bear hunt.

I personally prefer to stalk my prey the ole fashion way but not all hunters have the time or patience to be trekking here and there looking for their trophy. A bear baiting site draws the bear to the hunter who is most likely sitting up in a tree stand waiting and watching for just the right black bear.

For me personally baiting is more like going to a stocked fish pond to fish for trout. It’s just not as memorable. That is my personal feeling but I do understand that when black bear hunters are taking and paying for a trip to another country they want to be certain they bag a black bear and don’t go home empty handed.

Bear baiting is a great way to get the bear close enough for beginners to have a great opportunity to bag their first black bear. They can do the stalking thing another year. One great experience at a time. Although baiting is no guarantee that you will get your bear.

If you think that baiting is easy that’s only because you have experience or someone else set up the bait site. If a bait site is not setup correctly the black bear will not only NOT show up they will sit on the sidelines and actually laugh at you behind your back.

So here is a short list of what you need to know to setup a black bear bait site for an effective hunt.

It makes sense to know something about black bears and the places they call home.

1. Black bears may need glasses but they more than compensate for their poor vision by having an awesome sniffer. This may have you thinking that it will all the easier because they will smell the bait site and come running but the truth is if they detect any odors, like you, they will not come near your bait site.

Keeping the entire bait site area and surrounding area clear of non-natural smells will increase your chances of seeing and bagging a nice black bear. The longer your bait site is around and kept free of human odor the more bears you will likely encounter, from a distance of course.

2. Maybe this should have been first, location is so important. Logically you wouldn’t put a bear bait site in a place bears don’t travel. So you need to take the time to learn where the paths are the black bear in your neck of the woods take to find food.

Know what a black bear eats, follow their trails and see which paths take you to the food bears like.

I do a lot of fishing in New Brunswick, especially for Atlantic salmon. I see a lot of black bears which I take note of and mark the locations in my journal for future reference.

3. Black bear hunting season opens in mid May so it’s wise to start baiting a couple of weeks before the season opens so you or your clients aren’t waiting for the bears to find it.

4. What to entice your black bears with.

To start with black bears will eat just about anything to survive but they do tend to have a sweet tooth so get out to your local donut shop and get some of those day old donuts, but save them for the bears eh. Talking with other black bear hunting guides I can say that most agree that the stronger smelling the bait the better.

My wife makes cookies that no one can eat so I stock up on those because the bears aren’t quite so picky as I am about my cookies. Okay I made that part up but they do like cookies. I used to know a farmer that would get waffer cookies by the 45 gallon drum, all the broken ones from a factory that was not far from his farm. He was always willing to give a burlap bag or two each spring. His pigs didn’t seem to mind.

You can also use meat so if you have any spare carcasses lying around give them a try.

4a. Be sure to eliminate your odor and don’t forget your boots, even your foot prints have an odor. Ever walked in the house with dog do-do on your boots. Okay then.

5. Actually setting up your bait site.

Something I had not even thought about until I saw something wasn’t working and that was the direction the bears would approach the bait station. If it’s not right you won’t get the best view for your shot. To fix this it was a simple as putting logs and branches around the three sides I didn’t want the bears approaching from.

Most bait sites or stations I have seen in New Brunswick use a 45 gallon barrel they cut in half and dock to a tree to keep it there. Otherwise the bears are dragging it all over the area.

Here are a couple of short videos showing a black bear bait site, one using a bait barrel, the other is not using a barrel.

Here is video that shows you just how long a black bear will stay at a bait site if you’re quiet and don’t stink like a human.

The 2009 Spring Black Bear Hunt for New Brunswick starts May 04 and ends June 15 and I imagine you’re already dreaming of the hunt.

Note: Just remember that you can’t shoot a female with cubs, cause everybody needs their mother.

The only thing that I can think of that turns me off about spring would have to be the bugs so I like, well I don’t like it but, I wear a good bug jacket. I can stand having my face covered but then again I don’t really care for getting eaten alive either.

Nothing spoils a day of hunting or fishing more than too many biting bugs.

I used to be able to handle pretty cold weather but now I take heart meds that thin my blood so if I don’t take the time to dress warm using layers my day gets really short.

So if you enjoy the spring black bear hunt be sure you go prepared so your memories are ones you want to remember.