Bear hunting without baiting

[nabob]

I've been trying to read up on bear hunting so I can go out this fall. My state does not allow baiting. I've purchased two bear hunting books and they both rely heavily on baiting. My state also doesn't allow dogs to be used for bear hunting.

What techniques do folks use to bag a bear without baiting or dogs? Any books? I've checked with my local game warden and he says that any technique that leaves something the bear can ingest is considered baiting. This means the gels that can be spread on trees is bait, but "bear bomb" scent cannisters are not.

Any ideas?

[Wolfe]

Let mother nature do the baiting for you!
Look for berries, cascara, devils club and other such goodies.
Look for broken cascara tree's to tell if a bear has been in the area recently, or berry pathces that have that freshly tromped through look.
 Once you find where he eats just go there several days in a row at dusk and you'll likely see him.

[Syncerus]

You might also try predator calling techniques.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/

Syncerus

[Dusty Miller]

Preditor calling can be very effective  for bears I'm told but be aware that a bear closing in on another animal is in kill mode and you'd best be prepared to deal with that.

[Syncerus]

I agree with Dusty; I sure wouldn't use a .243 for that kind of hunting.

Syncerus

[huntmdown]

nabob,
Calls are great checkout other alternatives @ www.huntmdown.com

[manofthe45]

your lucky you can at least use the Bear bomb here in Pa even that is a no-no.  Calling for bears does work extremly well, but like always if there are no bears in the area the call cannot make them appear.  Black bears will ALMOST  always stop coming the minute you stop calling call them into range and stop wait for the broadside shot as they turn to leave then just don't miss  while I to would not attemt this with a  243  a mini howitzer is also not needed my bears where both taken by calling the first with a 308 the second a .50 cal Inline

[Sourdough]

Any thing that can be ingested?  Does that include a gut pile from a deer hunter?  That is how we get most of our bears, by watching gut piles from Moose and Caribou.  Picking up a gut pile and moving it to a better location is a NO-NO.  But leaving it where the animal falls is the legal way to do it.

[wolfsong]

Nabob, I don't know what state you're hunting bear in, but out here in California we can use multiable dogs after general deer season closes, and can use one dog during the general deer season. Baiting is not allowed, ever. We have had some luck with predator calling, but I would caution you to have your backs covered and be very alert, because the mountain lions around here have been known to respond to distress calls, too. And they are vehwy, vehwy quiet, to quote ol' Elmer Fudd. Once you know they're there, it's usually pee your pants time. But try it, it's fun. You'll get bears, deer, coyotes, crows, jays, skunks - just about anything that eats meat or has a curious nature. Just be safe. Peace and God bless, Wolfsong.