backwoodsboy: Good Luck to ya. I don't know if you can hunt over bait in Vermont but I think that is about the best way to hunt Black Bear in the east. They are pretty, as in very, elusive and catching one in your sights is not been all that frequent, unless you catch them foraging or feeding. When I see them it is usually by happenstance, after I have stepped in bearscat a couple of times, and they have skedaddled pretty quickly.
However, don't be fooled by the sad face on the hunting license. Black Bear will attack if cornered. They do not give you good targets. Black Bear are on record as attacking humans more often than any other bear and their attacks more often result in human fatality than with other bear. You are going to be hunting a carnivore and predator. If you are on the ground be prepared for the ferocity and methods of a bear attack! Go well armed! Be prepared for a 'rush' during which the bear may charge, running low to the ground and very fast. Bring a hunting buddy as a backup and train yourselves to hunt in teams so you can both shoot if necessary without hitting each other (no joke).
Hunting bear is not like hunting bambi, although depending on many different circumstances it could easily turn out to be quite similar if you are in a stand. HTH. Mikey.
