Tip of the Month: Black bear hunting gear check

OUTDOOR TIPS OF THE MONTH

Hunting black bears is great for the whole family, especially if you plan to take your son or daughter. Here the author’s son Eli places the crosshairs on a fine black bear during a father-son hunting/ fishing trip last spring. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

HUNT PLANNING FOR ALASKAN BLACK BEARS

Editor’s note: Each issue, our Paul Atkins will offer a tip outdoorsmen and -women can use as they prepare for an Alaska adventure. This month: Planning a black bear hunt.

BY PAUL D. ATKINS

The hunting season never ends for most of us, especially in Alaska. If we’re not hunting, we’re thinking about hunting.

Late winter and early spring are tough times for some of us, but once the first real rays of sunlight start to show in March, we start to get the itch; melting snow and ice does that.

If you’re like me, it’s the time to start thinking about the upcoming hunts and what the season will bring. It’s time to start thinking about not the state’s famous grizzlies but those other Alaska ursine celebrities, black bears!

In my opinion, planning a black bear hunt – and then actually going on one – is about as much fun as a hunter can have. The anticipation of hunting something dangerous – while in territory that is usually breathtakingly beautiful and offers great odds of taking a decent bear – make it one of the best hunts for the money. Black bears are also great for a father/son or father/daughter adventure. In fact, the entire family can participate.

PUT A BOW ON IT Having the right gear and the right

mindset is the key to a great hunt – before and after the shot. Whether you plan to bait or spot and stalk, you’ll need to make sure you have chosen the right weapon for the job.

I love bowhunting, but I for one have never turned down a rifle hunt either. I’ve done both with equal success, but the key was choosing the right bow or rifle that could do the job. Let’s start with bow and arrow.

Bowhunting black bears is big fun, especially from a stand or platform. For me it’s a very relaxing way to hunt that’s somewhat different compared to how we hunt most animals in the state. You don’t have to be overly cautious of movement, as most black bears that come to bait will pay little attention to the hunter in the tree.

You’ll need a bow that you can shoot well and is easy to draw from a variety of positions. You don’t have to pull 100

It doesn’t take much gear when hunting bears, but you want to make sure you are familiar with it and have used it before. Bear hunting is fun, but you still need to be cautious and prepared for what can

and will happen. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

Bugs are constant on any spring hunt, but especially so if you’re hunting bears in the southern part of the state. A good head net, bug dope and a Thermacell or two will make your hunt much more comfortable – and probably more

successful. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

The author’s good friend Brad Sparks with his big black bear. Brad is an avid bowhunter and took this bear last spring on his annual bear hunt. The key is having the right gear and right setup, especially at the moment of truth. Brad says proper shot placement is the key. If you do it right, your follow-up will be short. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

pounds either. Flat-shooting, quiet bows with a sharp broadhead will do the trick.

The other key – and this is just as important – is accuracy. Black bears are notorious for taking a hit and disappearing into the bush, never to be found again. Bowhunters need to take into consideration the angle and placement of the arrow. I learned this the hard way many times.

GOING TO GUNS Rifle hunting is no different, as shot placement and accuracy are still number one when taking down a bear. As far as calibers go, I will leave that to those who choose to bear hunt.

I’ve had great luck with both my 7mm and also shooting a .300 Win. Mag. They both provide enough knockdown power for even the biggest bruin at a variety of distances. I use Nosler ammunition, but any high-quality ammo made for big game will work. Just make you’re sighted in and have practiced with that rifle. You’ll really appreciate it after the shot!

ACCESSORY OPTIONS There are other pieces of gear that will make your bear hunt more successful, if not more comfortable. If you make lists like I do, bug protection and items like bug suit, head net and insect repellent should be at the top of your bear hunting list. Springtime – or at least early summer – in Alaska means bugs, and our state has plenty of them. Mosquitoes and those never-ending white gnats (no-see ums) will make your life miserable without proper protection. A head net is a must and bug dope will help fight back the slaughter, but I never leave home without a Thermacell or two and plenty of cartridges.

A good sharp knife, camera and couple of game bags should also round out your pack. If you plan on staying on stand for a while, make sure you have plenty of water and some food. They will come in handy even during a glassing session from your favorite spot on the river.

MAKING IT HAPPEN The bugs were eating me alive, even though my makeshift head net was pulled down tight over my collar. After spending all night in a tree with nothing but a sleeping bag and a couple of pee bottles, I was ready to get out.

I looked up at my guide wondering if he was ready to do the same, and then it happened. As with other bear hunts that I’ve been on, suddenly a bruin appeared where only moments before there hadn’t been one. It was a nice 6-footer with what looked to be an awesome hide.

It stood and watched us for a few minutes, then turned back to the bait and ignored us all together. I drew back the BowTech bow and placed the pin where it needed to be and made the shot. The bear didn’t go 20 yards.

Black bear hunting is like that. You sit on stand over bait for hours or what eventually ends up being days, waiting for that one moment when a cautious bruin will hopefully approach; then like magic he’s there. It’s incredible, actually, something you will never forget.

Hunting these Alaska bears is a treasure. If you haven’t thought about going, you should. Whether you use a guide or plan a DIY hunt – or maybe even one of those hunting/fishing combos that Alaska is famous for – I promise you won’t have a better time anywhere. ASJ

Editor’s note: Got a question for Paul on Alaska hunting or fishing? Email editor Chris Cocoles at ccocoles@media-inc.com.