How to HUNT BLACK BEARS without HOUNDS or BAIT

Join us for a deep dive on bear hunting! This short video will help you expand your bear hunting knowledge and hopefully help you notch your bear tag and safely get your bear home! Bear hunting without hounds and bait is challenging, but it can be done and you will have a trophy to last a lifetime and new found obsession.
Checkout Bear Hunting Magazine! It is an awesome publication and you’ll learn something new in every copy you get!
www.bear-hunting.com/

[@0champfb]

This is hands down the best amateur (and better than most professional) hunting explanations I have watched. This guy is a gem.

[@blueridgehunters]

Thanks so much. I enjoy all comments (even mean ones haha) but especially ones like these!

[@brianbenhardt6584]

Shot my first black bear a couple days ago and I have to say thank you for all the great advice your words stuck with me on my hunt and truly helped get my bear!

[@blueridgehunters]

YO!!!! I apologize for the late response! This is excellent news! I am so pumped that my videos helped someone notch a tag. Is there anything specific information that helped more than other information or anything I could explain more? Also, if you don’t mind, could you send me a few pictures of you with the bear or just the bear if you don’t want in a video. I’d like to mention this in a later video. Thanks. Send them to [e-mail]

[@twobbles10]

Man I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this video! Been out here in Cherokee and Cumberland in Tennessee trying to get my first. I keep getting told that it’s not possible without hounds unless you get really lucky but I know that’s not true. Realized I’ve seen a stomp path and had no idea at the time what it was. I should’ve focused more on that. Hopefully he’ll be back this year!

[@blueridgehunters]

Brad, I greatly appreciate you comment and that makes it easier for me to make more videos. If you find a stomp path, I’d be hunting in that area and if you find a lot of scat I’d be hunting close to it too. Stick with it and you’ll turn up a bear. You only need to see one of legal size to make it work! Send me an email to [e-mail] if you have any specific questions.

[@ButchElrod]

Don't be discouraged, Brad. Both hounds and baiting are banned here in Washington State but we still kill bears. I like calling for them and when it comes to scouting, food sources are what I focus on.

[@twobbles10]

@@ButchElrod that’s good to hear. What do you call them in with? I was just looking into that not too long ago.

[@ButchElrod]

@@twobbles10 Distressed fawn or elk calf calls. Mouth or electronic are legal here but unlike turkey or coyotes, you call continuously. You take a break and they will change directions... And pay attention to the squirrels! Here, the squirrels complain (loudly) about a bear being close to them. (find some calling videos)

[@twobbles10]

@@ButchElrod might have to get a speaker or something. Don’t know how long I can blow on a mouth call. I’ve heard it does have to be continuous or they lose focus. Thankfully they’re pretty populated around East Tennessee

[@JimmyTidmore]

This video is fantastic. Looking to do my first bear hunt in the fall. I'm from Alabama and don't know anyone who's ever hunted much less killed a black bear. Trying to figure it out on my own. Really appreciate you sharing what you've learned. Subscribed.

[@lukewright9533]

Wow this information is hard to come by. Thank you! I just started hunting bear last year and I’ve had so many questions since and this video helped me a lot.

[@themix4913]

The explanation you gave on stalking from tree to tree is exactly how I have hunted deer and man is it great!

[@user-ki9fu3tk5c]

Your as sad as he is

[@GeorgeWilliamThomasH]

great video man. very well thought out and well spoken. thank you!

[@ScottHynson-if9vn]

Great video man. Having shot several, you are spot on in every aspect of this topic

[@williamyawn3878]

One of the most realest hunting vids ever real informative 💯💪🏿

[@blueridgehunters]

William, so happy you enjoyed the video. All my knowledge is from books and in the woods experiences. Hopefully this will help you in your future hunts.

[@daniellapointe5441]

thank you for this video; it is nothing short of excellent. I plan on bear hunting for the first time this fall, and your video is about the best piece of information i've found; other than talking to actual bear hunters!! thanks again!!

[@blueridgehunters]

Comments like yours are pure gold! I greatly appreciate the kind words. Bear hunting is very rewarding and very difficult and frustrating at the same time. You may not succeed the first time or even the twentieth time, but keep going, keep studying and it will happen! It has taken me a long time to even feel comfortable giving advice on bear hunting and I still come up with an unused bear tag more often that I’d like to. I wish I could make more videos more often, but work and life can make that challenging sometimes..however as hunting season and the holidays progress I’ll be making more videos in the future.

[@BlandMan-sq1we]

You Sir are definitely a great speaker! I enjoyed the video it was everything you need to hear and we’ll put together. Hopefully I’ll get my second one soon. My first bear was in Maine over a bait sight. I’ll be leaving NC soon to hunt the wild and wonderful state of WV. I might get a tag this year supposedly there’s a few near camp. I definitely want to hunt one without bait and hounds. I appreciate the video Sir well done!

[@mountainstatetradjournal]

Great video. I do a lot of hunting on the WV/VA border in our National Forest and always have Bear on camera. This is great information, I've harvested one Bear in my life and I absolutely love the animals. Props to you for dragging these things as well! I know I will always break the animal down and pack it out, so much easier for a small framed fella like myself. I really enjoyed the video and hope you have a successful season!

[@blueridgehunters]

Thanks for the awesome comment! The WV/V border can be some rough terrain, I’d imagine its excellent bear habitat. I’ll be honest, generally where I hunt I can drag a bear down hill or down a creek and hit a road at some point. I then walk back to my truck, call for a ride or occasionally bum a ride back to it. Dragging a bear up hill would be tough. In the past year I just started quartering deer up and packing them out. I’d like to try that on a bear if I get the opportunity to this year. Best of luck to you and keep me posted on your season!

[@BMWQC]

Thanks for such an informative video! Great job!!

[@10rtp]

This guys voice is amazing

[@garyknepper4546]

Very good information and very well presented. Thanks for making the video.

[@blueridgehunters]

Glad you liked it! I greatly appreciate the sincere comment.

[@thomasmcgregor4626]

This is a really terrific video. Thanks for the effort. This was an easy subscribe.

[@blueridgehunters]

Welcome aboard!

[@ryanb1314]

This is so in depth and having the pictures of what you’re talking about were great. Thank you so much for that info I hope I can put it all together this season

[@blueridgehunters]

Ryan, thanks so much for the comment! I wish I could spend more of my personal time making videos and sharing what I know with people like you! Just keep going back to woods and looking for sign, you can’t kill them from the couch and you certainly can’t kill them if you don’t shoot!

[@ryanb1314]

@@blueridgehunters I agree I damn near live in the woods

[@blueridgehunters]

That’s what I’m talking about! Go every chance you get, I don’t think you’ll ever regret it.

[@BigFiveJack]

The host of this video did a Great Job detailing tips for the new bear hunter!!!!!!!

[@67wing]

Hands down this is the best bear hunting video, a wealth of information

[@blueridgehunters]

Thanks so much. I hope this video does help you out this fall. Hunting bears without hounds and bait is tough work. Do the best you can and have fun!

[@doncraig3665]

good down to earth informative hunting video. looks like that kind of hunting would be significantly harder to get skilled at compared to learning the ins and outs of deer hunting...without baiting, feeders, etc! you obviously have worked hard to put it all together!

[@blueridgehunters]

@Don Craig I appreciate the kind comment. I do work hard and I’d like to share as much as possible of what I know. Some people do and will disagree with what I have to say and that fine with me. It works and hopefully this will help you.

[@Yelladog78]

Appreciate you sharing this, going to Arkansas next fall to bear hunt for the first time

[@blueridgehunters]

Best of luck to you! Arkansas is beautiful country!

[@matthewstanley6000]

Wow this is great info! I'm gearing up for the 3 day season down in Wise County, hoping to bag my first one. Not much info out there if you're not baiting or hound hunting so this is great!

[@blueridgehunters]

Man that is awesome! I hope you can lay one down this October. I wish there was more early season opportunities for us in Virginia. I haven’t made it to Wise County, but I’ll be in Dickenson county during that time. Do you have a spot picked out or are you just winging it and going?

[@ronamador1463]

Great video, very informative. Thanks! 🙏

[@blueridgehunters]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Geezer1320]

Thank you for this very informative video. Been a deer hunter my whole life but have never hunted bear. Moved to western North Carolina and would love to try it.

[@kyleknight796]

Very informative! Thanks for the info! Season opens Friday in NH, good luck!

[@blueridgehunters]

I hope you get one this fall! I’ve been applying for NH moose tags for a while now….and I guess I’ll continue to keep applying for them haha. Keep me posted on your bear season.

[@kyleknight796]

@@blueridgehunters I gotta at least take down a deer before I try for moose. But if you get picked, I have a moose on my land

[@blueridgehunters]

I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll be posting some videos on deer hunting as the fall and hunting season progresses. We’ll get you a deer. Just be consistent in going hunting every opportunity you get. The more you’re in the woods the more you tilt the scales in your favor.

[@blueridgehunters]

Also, I personally think harvesting your first deer is the toughest. If it’s a doe, then harvesting your first buck will feel pretty rough, but once you get those it gets easier in my opinion.

[@sharpnr445]

Great video! Many thanks

[@extremesgs]

not one to comment... but this was great, and worth commenting. concise, informative, and explained in a way that felt like we were just having beers, talking hunting. one of the best "how to" videos i've seen. nicely done... thanks for taking the time to do this.

[@blueridgehunters]

Thanks a TON for the honest comment. I love feed back (good or bad - even when it’s someone saying they hope a bear eats me) and I will be creating more videos in the future, just not as frequently as most pages do. To be honest, I wish I had more time to hunt and create videos, but with work and having a young family its tough to have time to have it all. So, I choose my family life over making videos more times than not, but as the hunting season progresses my plan is to post more videos on bear hunting in general. It seems to be a topic that people are interested in so I will continue to deliver worth while information for anyone who will listen. Thanks again!

[@anthonycusmano750]

Great video, thanks for the info

[@blueridgehunters]

Anthony I’m glad you enjoyed it! I hope it helps you a bunch this spring or fall?

[@sidwills]

Thank you for putting together such an informative video. I came across it as a hunter from the UK 🇬🇧 Although we don't have bears here, I've been researching black bear (and other species) hunting in the US and Canada. It's something I'd really like to try one day. I'll definitely be checking out others of your videos, you seem a lot more "down to earth" than some of the bigger hunting channels!

[@blueridgehunters]

Thanks for the kind comment. Hopefully you’ll be able to get over here and notch some tags! Have you ever harvested a Roe deer? I think they’re super neat looking deer.

[@sidwills]

@@blueridgehunters fingers crossed I'll get over there at some point! I've taken a few roe, yes. In fact mostly by good luck I've taken 5 out of our 6 native deer. Muntjac are the hardest to stalk and the best to eat, and being so small they're a really easy home butchery job! Definitely my favourite.

[@user-ki9fu3tk5c]

Why would you like to try it out. These are god given animals not here for your sick enjoyment

[@josephullery5628]

Amazing video. Very clear and precise information. Especially I'm going on my first bear hunt in western Maryland this year. Thank you.

[@blueridgehunters]

I am so jealous! I’d love to make it up that way and to the delmarva area to do some hunting. Hopefully this video will help you and you’ll be able to make it happen. If you’re into reading look up the Ultimate Guide to Black Bear Hunting by Douglas Boze. It’s spot on. I use it almost as a study/reference book.

[@josephullery5628]

@blueridgehunters I am excited. I've been applying for my tag for 3 years now. I'm into reading and will be getting that book tomorrow night! I subscribed and I am looking forward to more of your content as well!

[@blueridgehunters]

You’re on the right track! Try and hunt fresh sign or at least as fresh as you can find, get in the woods as much as possible to maximize your opportunities and stay positive.

[@josephullery5628]

@blueridgehunters will do. Again, I appreciate the help and support. I'll let you know how it goes!

[@josephullery5628]

​@blueridgehunters so no luck this year with my bear hunt. Found a ton of sign but Temps got into the 80s and nothing was moving covered a ton of ground from tops of mountains to lowly creek beds and thick brush. I learned a lot and appreciate your videos for helping me out.

[@BernardCook-px1ep]

Great video, what are the books you mentioned?

[@Bubakarrr]

I never made the connection but you are 100% right about bears liking rugged terrain. That's what I find on my cameras looking for bucks in the same terrain

[@blueridgehunters]

Personally, I think that is one of the main reasons why people aren’t seeing black bears. We’re looking for them where we want to see them, not where they’re actually living.

[@bradleydavidgood9316]

excellent talk thank you! Learned so much

[@blueridgehunters]

My pleasure big dog! My plan is to post more videos on bear hunting as the year continues. You won’t find a ton of information on stalking and still hunting black bears, but this is the only way I’ve ever harvested them and it’s very rewarding. Anyway I hope this helps you in your venture of bear hunting and when you find multiple piles of scat (when it’s fresh) start your hunt close to there and you’ll do good.

[@bradleydavidgood9316]

@@blueridgehunters sounds great. I’m looking forward to your videos. I love stalking and still hunting.

[@jimmyghersi]

Very good video, super informative and entertaining

[@blueridgehunters]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@BlackBearObsession]

Good advice, I think you are spot on. We are very similar in our style of hunting

[@blueridgehunters]

Thanks, what part of the country are you hunting in?

[@BlackBearObsession]

@@blueridgehunters I am in north Georgia. Starting to make my way north into other states, hoping to make it up your way in the next couple years

[@blueridgehunters]

Come on up, you’ll love it!

[@skyking4501]

This is a great video!! Thank you!!

[@blueridgehunters]

You’re very welcome! I hope this helps you in your hunts this spring or fall. Also, don’t get discouraged when bear hunting without dogs, it can be a slow go, but if you’re seeing fresh bear sign, just keep at, make sure you’re hunting down wind from when you think the bears are and they’ll eventually show up. They are creatures of habit, just like us! Thanks!

[@Bucky5068]

That was great information hopefully harvest my first bear this year in Buncombe

[@blueridgehunters]

Good luck!

[@beaubattle5332]

Hey bud, just want to tell you "great video"!...I wish more people would deliver info like you and not so much time filling BS . just straight to the point , info people actually want. ( im out here in so cal and my deer season just ended, but for the first time got a bear tag. cant belive ive been slackin all this time 🤦‍♂)... anyways, i appreciate the video bro. ps. you remind me of a calm version of UPCHURCH lol 🤘

[@reginaldchesterfield8110]

This was a super helpful video!!!!!

[@blueridgehunters]

I'm so glad!

[@johnpatriot2667]

I lived and hunted in Maine for several years while in the military. Back then I could not afford a guide service and so never even considered hunting for bear while I was stationed there. Now I have the time and the money and extensive experience of the terrain in many areas of the state. I am considering returning to Maine for the 2024 season and hunting bear entirely on my own. Your video is my first attempt to gain a better understanding of hunting the bear.

[@blueridgehunters]

Hey pal, welcome to the channel! I hope you find that video helpful. Bear hunting has a special place in my heart. They’re awesome critters and don’t get enough good publicity. Hunting in Maine is a bucket list place for myself. I hope you make it up there this fall and have an awesome time. Please keep me posted on your upcoming season.

[@johnpatriot2667]

Thanks for the rapid response and I will keep you posted. There are very few videos on the subject of solo bear hunting and those that remain are for hunting out West. But it seems the tactics are very different. Out West its all about glassing, however in Maine the trees and underbrush makes this nearly impossible. I believe I will be heavily dependent on my tracking skills. @@blueridgehunters

[@blueridgehunters]

Man, hunting out west is fantastic, but totally different. The eastern woods is an entirely different animal. When you can’t see much more than 40 yards or less it makes glassing useless. Find you something they can eat and then look for scat and you’ll do well.

[@user-yt5bp5ub7y]

what calibers do you run?

[@stevenmanglis7368]

This was a very impressive explanation ....I appreciated all the information and detailed explanation on how you hunt Bears. in Australia we don't have Bears so this was just excellent. I am considering coming to the US to participate in a Bear hunt. Have family in Florida so will visit them as well.......not sure of how to go about organising it though......Again thank you for sharing to us all your experience.

[@blueridgehunters]

@Steven Manglis. Thanks for comment. Far as getting a license to bear hunt in the US I don’t know how that works but I’m sure it’s doable once you jump through all the hoops. The more I still hunt and stalk black bears the more I like it. Here is an excellent book you could read in the mean time. www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guide-Black-Bear-Hunting/dp/1510709797 Another older book that is composed of short stories that’s worth looking up is - The Bear Hunter’s Century

[@blueridgehunters]

I’ll try to make more videos on bear hunting without dogs and bait as the year progresses! Good luck and reach out any time.

[@DGmDhdamarym]

id consider idaho for a us bear hunt. bait and dogs are allowed and we have an absolute pile of them in the salmon and challis national forests. u dont have to draw a tag in the fall or spring either you can just buy a general season tag. come in mid may if you want spring.

[@blueridgehunters]

Nate, are you a resident of Idaho & do you hunt the spring season for bear?

[@stevenmanglis7368]

@@DGmDhdamarym That sounds ideal. Thanks for the information. Do you mind if I occasionally pick you brain on this subject? Again thank you for taking time to comment on this. Australia works very differently to the US by the looks of it. not as controlled for the most part. Only up north where they realise you can make money out of it is it more controlled

[@kizmo2317]

Excellent video. Subbed.

[@blueridgehunters]

Awesome, thank you!

[@northernninja3321]

About a week ago for my first time ever on a big game animal, I unfortunately failed to recover a black bear in northern ontario. He took about 7" of my arrow and broadhead with him, I thought I hit the inside of his back shoulder bone given the depth of the arrow, but no death moan. I gave him an hour to settle down, then went in tracking. What started as great blood eventually turned to single droplets on a leaf, or a single bloody pine needle. I tracked for over a km before running out of blood, and he showed no signs of having slowed down anywhere along the way. We're luckily able to bait up here, so i've kept my bait open and now i'm learning as much as I can from everyone else's experience in hopes of being able to redeem that hunt. Thanks for the info you put out!

[@lauracaldwell5640]

How irresponsible

[@jessecooper7532]

great info

[@123Outdoors]

Great video!

[@blueridgehunters]

Thanks!

[@jerryhuntjj2885]

Great information thanks

[@blueridgehunters]

Glad it was helpful!

[@YankeeWoodcraft]

"How to HUNT BLACK BEARS without HOUNDS or BAIT" Translation: "How to HUNT bears" 👍

[@CoryG1981]

all Bowhunters can tell ya what the death moan sounds like , or go watch any bowhunting bear hunt , its the sound we all wait for before we go track the blood . Great video , full of great tips and knowledge , thanks for doing this . I learned a few things .

[@kennethcruise7635]

Good info .

[@blueridgehunters]

Glad it was helpful!

[@FISHUNTREE]

Good stuff

[@Dan-di9jd]

You don't need bait when you are the bait!

[@Auditing.northern.N.Y.]

Every scat I've ever seen during fall In northern ny is loaded with cherry pits. Looks nothing like you showed.

[@chadpunte1731]

ooooOOOOhhh, I need a bear. I want to make a cloak out of a bear.

[@johnmorganjr769]

Dying rabbit call ??

[@williamjenkins8566]

What part of va are you from? I hunt Rockingham County. Found bear scat today.. so here i am.

[@blueridgehunters]

We’ll you’ve come to the right place! I hope my videos and what little I know will help you in your endeavor for a black bear. I’m from Washington County in the southwest corner. I primarily hunt Russell, Dickenson and Smyth, County. I also hunt northeast TN which I prefer over SWVA.

[@B_r_u_c_e]

Thank you.

[@blueridgehunters]

You're welcome!

[@blackbird5634]

I was in a Shelter on the AT in Tennessee and I heard a bear walking, sauntering really, up through the woods towards me. I banged pots and pans and made a ruckus. And then it ambled, and I do mean, it simply seemed to change its mind and walked away. Not in a hurry, didn't seem in a rush, but I was very grateful.🥰

[@blueridgehunters]

That’s an awesome AT story right there! What part of TN were you I. If you don’t mind me asking.

[@blackbird5634]

@@blueridgehunters I don't remember exactly where, but the Oleander bushes were everywhere, and their leaves made a carpet around the campsite making it impossible to move around without disturbing and crunching them. I'll say this, having never heard a bear in the woods before it was somewhat like a mystery movie where the victim hears every single footstep of the killer. What DID attack that night was a raccoon! It got into my food bag which I'd hung on a high nail. It was clinging to it, and gnawing its way through. I swatted at it with a hiking pole and it reluctantly moved on to easier pickings.😆

[@user-sk9hh4en8z]

What brand shirt are you wearing and where did you buy it.

[@blueridgehunters]

The green and black check shirt is an insulated wool shirt jack from L.L. Bean. It’s a great piece of clothing/equipment.

[@ironsurvival7011]

Question: Do you gut the bear before dragging it? Thank you. Liked & Subscribed.

[@northernninja3321]

For me personally, that depends on location, size of the bear, weather, etc. You always want to keep the meat as clean as possible, and I personally don't like gutting them near my bait. So if the weather is cool and i'm close to home, I'll drag it out then gut it and skin it at the same time. But the other factor to consider is that bears (especially bigger, fatter bears) hold heat in them extremely effectively, and can spoil quickly in warmer weather. If I shoot a bigger bear in a tricky spot, hot weather, or take many hours to track/recover it, I will pull the guts out as quickly as possible and get it cooling down, which also makes it lighter and easier to drag out. But if i have the opportunity to leave it intact and get it home quickly without getting dirt in the carcass, that's my preferred choice.

[@blueridgehunters]

As @northernninja3321 has stated it is almost always easier to get the bear before dragging it. Even if you are keeping the hide/pelt for tanning there is no risk or ruining the fur when gutting the animal. A small to medium size hole is all that is needed to get the job done. However, a bear is difficult to drag, they don’t seem to slide across the ground as easily as deer do and sometimes an open cavity can be cumbersome to navigate in thick brush or laurels, but as a rule of thumb you’ll be better off cutting the animal and leaving behind what you don’t need.

[@grealfrank7080]

Good content & tips I'm looking forward to getting to hunt bears in Jersey again.

[@blueridgehunters]

Frank, I saw that New Jersey has reinstated a bear season in December, which is great! I wish you the best of luck. I hope this video helps in your upcoming hunts.

[@HarveySRD10]

Great video. I took a lot of notes. I will be hunting in Michigan this year. THANK YOU

[@orbmik727]

I’d like to touch base with you for a few more in depth tips. I am planning a trip to just the Cherokee in E. Tn next fall. If you don’t mind, how can I reach out to you?

[@blueridgehunters]

Nick, you can reach out to me directly at [e-mail]. I’ll do my best to help you however I can!

[@linkin1980]

​@@blueridgehunters hi do you guys do bear hunting guides?

[@fishnmetal4383]

Sometimes the scat I see is purple. The bears near me are eating a lot of berries.

[@blueridgehunters]

Oh yeah, the looking at the scat and picking through it with a stick or your boot will give you a good idea of what they’re eating. Also, when it a bright color it always give me a good chuckle haha

[@jpkoepse]

Are you seeing bears more at the top of ridges/mountains in late fall or lower in the bottoms? Or middle of the mountain?

[@blueridgehunters]

Hey James, in my experience, in the Appalachian mountains, I’ve seen more bears midway up a ridge/mountain. I’ve also seen them cross at the end or point of ridge and totally avoid crossing at saddles and low gaps. With that being said those locations are generally where I hunt, so they could be found in other places, but again I spend most of my time midway up a ridge/mountain or someplace that I can see the very end of a ridge.

[@blueridgehunters]

Also, my favorite place to hunt them is on the steep side of a ridge near the end of it when possible. They seem to gravitate to the rougher terrain. And hunt in the mornings if you can, a lot of people will say the evening is the ONLY time you’ll get one. That’s not true, the morning can be equally as productive if you’re near thick cover and acorns.

[@jpkoepse]

Thanks man. Are you sort of still hunting with wind in your face or are you treating it like a white tail hunt?

[@blueridgehunters]

Absolutely. Their noses are way better than deer so you can’t beat their nose at all. It’s basically about spending as much time as you possibly can in what you suspect is a high traffic area for the bears.

[@hotlineztribe9096]

I've seen tons of Black bear, mostly in rugged terrain. However,my question is how do you feel about Va banning early firearms this year for bear and do you think the massive increase on harvest over the last 3 years has been the reason?

[@blueridgehunters]

I have some strong opinions of n the bear regulations and seasons in Virginia, but to answer your question. I think the early firearms season should be extended in the 26 counties that it was eliminated from. Thankfully it’s still in effect for the western counties. I have not taken a close look at the number of bears harvested in the early firearms season but I can’t imagine it would be a substantial number… With that being said I personally think we should get two bear tags, a spring bear season and when firearms deer season is in so is bear season but still limiting the chase season to what it currently is. I would be happy with one of the three ideas I’ve listed or ecstatic with all three!

[@hotlineztribe9096]

@@blueridgehunters I think all of us realize once something is taken away it is never given back(most times) The data for Black Bear in Va for the last 3 years is as follows: dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/bear/harvestsummary/ "Hunters reported harvesting 2,232 bears during the 2022-23 bear hunting seasons in Virginia (see figure below). The 2022-23 bear harvest was approximately 25% lower than the harvest the previous year and 29% lower than the previous 5-year average during 2017-2021. A lower proportion of the 2022-23 season harvest consisted of female bears (41%) than the previous year (44%). Significant harvest decreases during the 3-day early firearms season (36%), the archery season (24%), and the muzzleloader season (55%) were the main contributors to the overall decline in the 2022-23 statewide bear harvest. The youth/apprentice weekend harvest decreased by 10% and the firearms season decreased by 17% from the 2021-22 season" per DWR VA data. They say there has been an abundance of food, making bears less active and less opportunity for hunters to harvest but then took away the early season...?!

[@hotlineztribe9096]

Also, I remember when a bear tag wasnt seperate from your deer tags, you got 1 bear and 1 turkey tag when you bought them and now its a whole new deal.

[@gonesquatchingaming3850]

The death moan/roar is the lungs collapsing due to the weight of the bear's body. Most of the time it is after the bear expires since the body can't keep air in the lungs after death. Why it sounds weird is because the vocal cords are relaxed after death.

[@blueridgehunters]

You are the first person to ever bring this up…It sounds spot on and makes total sense. Thanks for the comment. Do you have any first hand experience with death moans?

[@gonesquatchingaming3850]

@@blueridgehunters No I do not, unfortunately, but I am a wildlife biologist. Some universities actually mention the death moan of a bear when discussing animal lung anatomy and why some animals are so heavy they need to constantly keep their lungs from collapsing.

[@blueridgehunters]

How about that! That is very interesting and awesome that you shared that! If you don’t mind me asking, what state do you work out of? The first bear I ever harvested and the most recent bear that I harvested both let out a moan, paused and then let out a second moan that was longer than the first. I actually watched one of the bears do this and before its second moan it actually took a breath, raised his head and let out a moan, then dropped its head and expired.

[@gonesquatchingaming3850]

@@blueridgehunters I am In VA. That is fascinating how it took another breath. Unfortunately, there is no moral or ethical way to test the exact mechanism for the death moan. I was just inputting that which I had learned in college. I have never heard of someone watching them as they expire so I might have to check around for any new studies or information that might show an alternative cause. Thank you!

[@blueridgehunters]

Sounds great! Thanks for your comments! Enjoy your week!

[@joshuabennett7334]

The area with the largest black bear in the world in eastern North Carolina and eastern Virginia is flat as can be costal plans thick county.

[@rileyfamily6001]

New Jersey has the largest black bears in the world.

[@joshuabennett7334]

@@rileyfamily6001 negative south eastern black bear grow larger because they do not hibernate and the feed conditions are ideal so a little research

[@joshuabennett7334]

@@rileyfamily6001 and the last like 3 world record black bear have came from North Carolina coastal region of I remember a year or so ago VA just broke it

[@nathanielavoures1596]

That was a big black bear!

[@ericbest9562]

That looked like fun rolling down that hill😂😂😂 looked like something my kids would do

[@blueridgehunters]

Not only is it the easiest way to get one down a ridge, it’s the most satisfying too.

[@cr500mike]

Great video, liked/subscribed & this here is a comment.

[@blueridgehunters]

Welcome aboard!

[@cr500mike]

@@blueridgehunters Thanks !!

[@danduffy2626]

👍

[@JoddieJesseWayne-yj4gm]

The bear doing the death moan I’m not sure either but I came up with they are probably letting other bears know that they got killed or dying

[@blueridgehunters]

You may be right, it’s a rather humbling noise to hear. I’m not sure if it’s a moan for help, a moan of anger, their spirit leaving or a final alert to all bears, but whatever it is…it always affirms my respect for them.

[@connorhart7597]

Thank god dude, im not one to judge people who hunt a certain way generally, but i feel like with a creature as beautiful and dangerous as a bear, it should absolutely be a hard thing to do lmao. Dogs for bears just seems cheap, y'know? Expensive as hell obviously but morally cheap

[@blueridgehunters]

Hey man, thanks for the comment. Hunting black bears without dogs and bait, especially in the eastern woods, is one of the hardest style of hunting you’ll ever decide to attempt. That’s why there is no hunting shows or channels centered around it, success rates are super low. When it comes to owning hounds, it is expensive AF and a lot of drama comes along with being a hound hunter. At this point in my life I don’t have much interest in hunting bears with hounds. However, I do think if I was linked in with the right group of people that hunting with hounds could be a ton of fun. I have a lot of respect for hound hunters and for the heritage they’re keep alive, but for me I’ll keep hunting and tracking them on my own.

[@alw56]

Umm peanut butter bear poop 💩

[@jamesschaffhausen4466]

16 black bear 🐻 attacks since 2010. This is not rare 🤔🐻💢💢😱☠️✋️🦶👀😵😵‍💫maybe Sows or surprised the bear but still be aware and carry a handgun in the woods 🤔👌🏕🐻

[@D-A-1776]

Ive hunted bear for years never used dogs, thats to easy using dogs anyone can do that it takes skill to really hunt. Now i have been charged by a black bear while working on my cousins property down in Sevierville i fired a warning shot from my 10mm luckily it worked.

[@blueridgehunters]

Bear charges are no joke! Was is a sow with cubs or what we’re the circumstances?? Also, Sevierville is just a couple hours away from me. TN seems to have it going on when it comes to bear.

[@D-A-1776]

@blueridgehunters . Don't know what caused it to charge at me. We were working on a fence and we'd seen it earlier that day but it kept coming and going so we didn't think much of it. Well around 7 that evening I was packing everything up and it came running at me from about 30 yards away I just started shooting at it and luckily it ran off into the woods. We have alot of black bear here.

[@blueridgehunters]

That’s as good as a charge can go, no one was hurt and the bear runs off. I was charged in the dark one evening as I was walking out to my truck from bow hunting. The sow had actually been rummaging through the bed of my truck, probably after a Wendy’s bag, and when I popped out of the woods about 50 yards away she was between me and the cubs (and my truck) in seconds. It happened so quickly she could’ve had me if she wanted me. I could see her eyes shining from my headlamp, the outline of her body and I could hear her mouth chomping as she stood there guarding her cubs. Luckily my yelling and what other commotion I was making warded her off. If you spend enough time in the woods you will eventually have an uncomfortable meeting with a black bear…especially if you’re hunting them.

[@D-A-1776]

@blueridgehunters . Damn, yeah I always carry bear spray and my 10mm while in the woods. I'm always hopeful the spray will work but if not I have a back up.

[@tommurphree5630]

What is the purpose of killing a bear ? People are sick .

[@thomasmcgregor4626]

It's our heritage. It's high quality meat. It's more than you will ever understand unless you participate.

[@blueridgehunters]

@tommurphree5630. I’ll answer your question first and I also agree with your statement - “some” people are sick (pedophiles, thieves murders & so on) but generally not legal and competent sportsmen and sportswomen. Hunting is something that we all do whether it’s for big game, small game or hunting the remote that is lost in the den. We were all born with forward facing eyes and eye teeth, we are born predators. So, every person has a desire to hunt, some just haven’t progressed to hunting animals yet, but they easily could if they so desired. Predator hunting is an easy way to get involved with Mother Nature and help with the reality of checks and balances on the landscape. Wild meat is delicious and being outside is good for everyone. The alternative to not hunting is more human and animal conflict, more animals being butchered by vehicles and a metric ton of animals being dispatched by game officials because a bear got into someone’s trash one too many times and now it’s accustom to being fed. Hunting is what conserves the landscape and keeps wild places wild for the future. Hunting licenses pave the way to keep these wonderful animals and places available for people to enjoy, whether it’s for hunting or merely looking at it from the window of your Ford Taurus. I also promise you that I’ve never harvested an animal that I did not feel sorrow in my heart for what I’ve done. I appreciate them and love them more than any non-hunter ever could. Sincerely, Evan.

[@tommurphree5630]

@thomasmcgregor4626 It's everyones' heritage . It's not the 1700's or 1800's any more. We don't need to kill what's left of wildlife on our planet . There are plenty of animals raised for consumption in our stores , or that we can raise ourselves . Let's leave what is left in nature alone . Wildlife areas continue to diminish because of overpopulation of humans . Can't we leave what is left of nature alone ?

[@tommurphree5630]

@blueridgehunters I wrote you a response. I cannot find it here on this format . This happens to me regularly. I think Google or whoever controls , has me on automatic censure .

[@chaplainsoffice6907]

When a bear hunter get eaten it is self defence. Find another hobby.

[@blueridgehunters]

First, do you think humans are predators or prey? That’s an interesting comment, but however I disagree. When it comes to bears eating hunters I wouldn’t call that self defense…that’d be more of a predatory move on the bear (which their capable of since they are apex predators). If a hunter gets charged and mauled,then I guess you could call it self defense??? I don’t consider this a hobby, but more of a lifestyle. Hunting and conservation is a desperately needed force in the ever changing world we live in today. Without hunters and I’ll include fishermen, who would fund projects and events to keep wild places “wild” and keep other people from abusing the landscape and animals? I dare say most people who are detached from hunting and fishing have spent considerably less than $100 in their entire life to contribute to the quality of our wild places. Hunters and people who fish our landscape donate hundreds of dollars, per person, each year to legally partake in the sport of their choice.

[@Flexnjpr1970]

Why don’t we hunt the hunters instead. Show us how to end there barbarism…

[@blueridgehunters]

I really appreciate your comments and that you spent the time to watch my video and leave a comment.

[@Flexnjpr1970]

Shame on you

[@alvinjohnston4565]

So you ate the Bear and used it's hide right . If not your one sick mofo

[@blueridgehunters]

Oh yeah, we eat it and I had the pelt from that specific bear turned into a throw rug. I have not been referred to as a “sick mofo” since middle school….I kinda like it, thanks for the quick laugh.

[@Flexnjpr1970]

Boooooo

[@Flexnjpr1970]

It takes a real coward to kill animals but it takes a real man to fight in a war. Go to Ukraine 🇺🇦 for a good cause instead of killing animals…

[@blueridgehunters]

I will not comment on the war in Ukraine other than I highly, though I could be wrong, doubt either of us have enough knowledge to make a stable and worthy comment on THEIR war.

[@usnchief1339]

No dogs and No baiting. Scouting and stalking is the way to go. Enjoy the experience! Baiting and dogs is for the lazy disrespectful so called "hunters".

[@huwhitecavebeast1972]

Hunting bears makes you a POS bro.

[@blueridgehunters]

Thanks for the comment, but I strongly disagree. How do you suggest we manage wildlife in the modern world? Do nothing, contraceptives or outlaw hunting? Take a look at what California is doing to keep their bear population in check in highly populated areas where bear and human conflict is at an all time high. I’ll spoil it for you. What they’re doing isn’t working.

[@Flexnjpr1970]

Shame on you killing bears