To take your shot, wait for the bear to step forward with the near side leg exposing the heart/lung area. Shots directly in the shoulder bone are not recommended. Bears have massive, muscular shoulders and heavy bones. A hunter who shoots ahead of the front shoulder may miss or injure the animal.
Once you've determined the bear is one you want to harvest, let the bear settle down at the bait site. Regardless of your choice of weapon--bow, rifle, handgun or muzzleloader--the most effective shot will be into the heart/lung area. Consider the bullet or arrow's angle of entry.
The bear's heart sits low in the body cavity and is a very small target with little margin for error. The position of a bear's heart in relation to the fur on its brisket can make this position deceiving. It's better to shoot for the lungs and if you hit the top of the heart, all the better.
Remain still; stand your ground but slowly wave your arms. Help the bear recognize you as a human. It may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.
Hunters primarily use four methods to hunt bears: baiting, calling, spot-and-stalk, and trailing with hounds. Bowhunters use all of these methods, but states regulate when and where some of these practices can be done. Some states allow hunting beas over bait or with hounds.
After an animal is killed, a black bear typically will open the body cavity and remove the internal organs. The liver and other vital organs are eaten first, followed by the hindquarters.
General bear hunting tips
Pay attention to the direction of the wind. Bears have a keen sense of smell and will quickly pick up on your presence. Place yourself downwind when hunting and, if possible, come into your stand from a direction different from that used by the bears. Stalk into your stand.
To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an airhorn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms.
Big beach balls tossed at bears often scares them off, as do opening and closing an umbrella, shaking a big tarp or garbage bag, or banging pots and pans. If a bear climbs up a tree to escape, yell at it and beat the base of the tree with a baseball bat or heavy stick.
Bears are attracted to garbage, pet food, compost piles, fruit trees, and birdfeeders. Make your place a "No-Bear-Food-Zone"! NEVER feed bears, intentionally or accidentally!
Hearing: They have acute hearing that is about twice as sensitive as humans and over a large frequency range as well. Bears often hear humans before we see them. Because of this, black bears will often move away before they are noticed. Smell: A bear's strongest sense is smell.
For black bears, in country where there is no grizzly presence, the popular deer and elk cartridges will certainly work very well; a . 308 Winchester or . 30-06 Springfield loaded with a 165- or 180-grain spitzer bullet will handle black bears.
Their fat and thick hair can close a wound quickly. An arrow through both lungs will typical cause the bear to drop in sight, though. Many deer hunters use the near leg as a reference point.
The stocky, insulated body makes them overheat during chases and gives them poor turning ability. They cannot match the agility of specialized predators or potential prey.
Avoid direct eye contact. Walk away slowly, if the bear is not approaching. If the bear charges, stand your ground (you cannot outrun it). Don't scream or yell.
Bear Attacks. Although the bear safety rhyme “If it's brown, lay down. If it's black, fight back. If it's white, goodnight” sounds like good advice, you have to know why a bear is attacking you before you can decide the best way to respond.
Bears also dislike the strong scent of pine-based cleaners, but avoid using anything with a fresh, lemony or fruity smell. And never mix bleach and ammonia; the combination produces fumes that can be deadly to both people and bears.
“Know what to do when you see a bear. NEVER run from a bear. Don't approach a bear – just quietly move away and leave the area. However, if a black bear does approach you, make yourself look big, make loud noises, clap your hands, and continue to back away.”
Air horns and vehicle sirens emit approximately 80-120 decibels of sound. They can be effective when used in conjunction with human dominance techniques to move a bear off.
If a black bear charges and attacks you, FIGHT BACK WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE! Do not play dead. Direct punches and kicks at the bear's face, and use any weapon like rocks, branches, or bear spray to defend yourself. If a grizzly/brown bear charges and attacks you, PLAY DEAD.
Fruit, nuts, honey and other plant parts are favorites of bear. They also eat insects and sometimes fish, but most of their food comes from plants. Bears have an excel- lent sense of smell, and can easily find food using their noses. Bears are attracted by smells, and almost everything smells like food to a bear!
Because they're smaller and more timid than grizzlies, you have an excellent chance of fending them off. But if it's a grizzly, the popular advice is correct: lie flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over.