Becoming an Outdoors Woman

Black Bear HuntingBy: Becky Schwanke,

Biologist and Owner of Tuff Kids Outdoorswww.tuffkidsoutdoors.com

www.facebook.com/tuffkidsoutdoors

and

Stacee Frost Kleinsmith

• Introductions

• Personal Experiences

• Goals / Objectives

Black Bear Basics

There are an estimated 100,000 black bears in the state of Alaska.

They are common over most of the forested areas of the state; depending

on the season of the year, they may be found from sea level to alpine areas.

They are not found on the Seward Peninsula, on the Yukon-Kuskokwim

Delta, or north of the Brooks Range. They are also absent from some of the

large islands of the Gulf of Alaska, notably Kodiak, Montague, Hinchinbrook

and others, and from the Alaska Peninsula south of the Lake Iliamna area.

In Southeast Alaska, black bears occupy most islands with the exceptions

of Admiralty, Baranof, Chichagof, and Kruzof; these are inhabited by brown

bears. Both bear species occur on the southeastern mainland.

For most of the year, black bears are solitary, except from June through

July when mating takes place. The cubs are born in their dens following a

gestation period of about seven months. One to four cubs may be born, but

two is most common.

Cubs remain with their mothers through the first winter following birth.

Hunter education (Basic Hunter Ed / Archery IBEP)

Hunting license

Black bear harvest ticket or registration permit

Locking big game tag (non-residents)

Review Regulations (intro sections and GMUs)

Legal definitions

Black bear (1st year of life) vs Grizzly cubs (1st or 2nd year of

life)

Maps / Information sources (land ownership)

Alaska Hunting Regulations (federal / corporate land owner

contacts)

Alaska Gazetteer; USGS 1” to the mile maps

Google Earth

GPS

Black Bear Hunting Prep

Black Bear Coloration

Tips For Selecting Large Male Bears

Large/Adult Male Bears

Stocky legs

Massive body with belly that hangs closer to ground

Approach bait with more confidence

Slower, more deliberate movements

Large, rounded head (like basketball)

Ears look smaller

Thicker neck

Large males taller than 33" at the shoulder

Ears to nose an equilateral triangle

Small/Young Bears

Appear to be "all legs"

Approach bait nervously, frequently looking over shoulder or turning

around

More streamlined, pointed head

Ears look larger and closer together

Neck appears longer and thinner

Females and younger bears shorter than 33"at the shoulder

Ears to nose a skinny triangle

Grizzly sow and cubs

Black Bear Hunting Prep

Firearms

Many options here, 7mm, 308,

30-06, 270 are generally as

small as you would go for

a youth or new hunter. A

maximum expansion bullet

is preferred. A 300 Win

Mag, a 300 Short Mag, or a

7mm mag are preferred

black bear guns, especially

when in grizzly country. A 44

or a 45 cal handgun can also

be used, in addition to a variety

of archery setups.

Shot placement is critical on a black bear. They have dense thick bones and

vertebra.

The Heart / Lung area is the best vital area on a black bear.

CENTER OF MASS

Spot and Stalk vs. Baiting

Spring Hunting – Spot and Stalk

Early May is best, go about 1 week before leaf-out (generally right after snow

melt)

If an animal is actively moving, it can be long gone when you get there

Have patience, if up on a hillside, sit still – often bears just appear

Spot and Stalk Basics

Look for hillsides above treeline, or sparsely vegetated

Be prepared when you leave the boat or the road/trail; insects, rain, dark, hunger, etc.

Radios can’t be used for communication, but hand signals work good with preparation

Always confirm the bear does not have cubs before you shoot

Your pack will be heavy on the descent, be ready (hide/skull/meat can be 100-150+lbs)

If there’s a chance of seeing a grizzly, bring a locking tag if required for the area

Consider camping up high, makes the hunt a whole lot easier and more fun

Fall Hunting – Spot and Stalk

Anytime in August / September when blueberries and crow berries ripen up

If an animal is actively eating berries, it will likely still be there when you get there

If the bear smells good, it will taste great, be prepared with game bags

Salvage thick fat layers; can be melted down and used for cooking

Spot and Stalk vs. BaitingBaiting Basics

Take ADF&G online bear baiting clinic

Look for timbered areas in likely travel routes for bears

Scout for good locations while trying to avoid other black bear bait stations

Build or put up a tree stand early, or consider a ground blind

Build tough bait barrels, small openings, large plastic drums last (steel drums get bent)

Register your bait station locations with ADF&G (troopers will likely visit) – if it’s legal to

take grizzly/brown bear over bait in your area, tell ADF&G up front you might take one

Be prepared to spend some money, maintaining 2 bait stations all season can cost

~$500

Pre-bait the site as soon as legally possible to get bears interested. Dog food, bread,

donuts, grease, etc. are common black bear baits. Grizzlies will eat this too, so watch

out. Note - natural entrails/fish are very good grizzly bait.

Be prepared for sitting long still hours

Again, radios can’t be used to aid in taking an animal, but they can be used otherwise

Always confirm the bear does not have cubs before you shoot

Watch the bear for a while and be selective – because you can

Clean-up when the baiting season ends

Before

After

Bait Station

Clean-up

Trichinosis from Alaskan wildlife is caused by a roundworm called Trichinella

nativa.

Lifecycle: The larvae of the roundworm grow and mate in the intestines of the

host animal. The females deposit larvae that travel in the blood to other parts of

the body where they form cysts in the muscle. Animals become infected when

they eat meat with cysts.

Occurs in bears (black, grizzly and polar bears), wolves, foxes (arctic and

red), wolverine, lynx, walruses, seals, and ground squirrels. It’s common across

the state.

Humans and dogs can also get trichinosis by eating infected meat. It may be

possible to get trichinosis from consuming smoked moose ribs.

Animals may appear healthy, and for all practical purposes are healthy.

Larvae form cysts usually in the muscles of the jaw, tongue, and diaphragm.

Cysts may not be visible to the naked eye. Animals may have swollen intestines

with small bruises. Affected muscles and associated lymph nodes (glands) can

be soft and swollen.

Black Bear Hunting Prep – Understanding Parasites

People can get trichinosis by eating meat from infected animals that has not

been thoroughly cooked. All bear and lynx meat should be considered possibly

infected.

Meat should be well cooked (internal temperature of meat should be at least

160-170° F).

Freezing meat does NOT kill the Trichnella species found in Alaska's wildlife.

Smoking, drying, salting or microwaving do not always kill the parasites, only

proper cooking or canning is known to make the meat safe to eat.

Do not feed infected parts to dogs.

If a person gets sick – Go see a health practictioner.

If asked to collect samples, a large sample of muscle (at least 4 oz.) is required

for analysis. To report a (tentative) diagnosis in a person or pet

contact dfg.dwc.vet@alaska.gov

Black Bear Hunting Prep – Understanding Parasites

Black Bear Hunting Prep - Skinning

Leave evidence of sex on the hide or meat depending on the area.

Get fat and meat off the hide, but be careful, DON’T cut into hair follicles.

Salt the hide heavily, buy a 5lb bag and don’t be stingy.

NEVER store raw hides in plastic. If the hide decomposes even just a little, hair slips

(pulls out) of the hide. Store raw hides in game bags, pillow cases, or burlap in a cool dry place.

Measuring a bear hide – Average of length and width (getting a ‘squared’ measurement).

• Length, tip of nose to tip of tail

• Width, between front feet (measure from tip of toe)

Measuring a bear skull – ADD length and width (calipers necessary)

• Length, tip of skull just above incisor teeth back to occipital lobe

• Width, between zygomatic arches

Black Bear Hunting Prep - Measuring

LASTLY – Don’t

forget to seal your

bear with ADF&G or

an appointed sealer

/ taxidermist if

required in your

area. If applicable to

your hunt area,

don’t forget to fill

out your harvest

report, paper

copy or online soon

after your hunt.