Lazs, I used to deer hunt in an area which has a concentrated population of black bears. I hunted a pipeline and had my stand up about 30' in a pine tree.
I saw 13 bears one time crossing the pipeline, and at no time did I go hunting and see less than 6 bears. Had a large female walk underneath my stand and I guess it was about 6 feet long, measuring by the diameter of the tree I was in.
Bears were all over the place, but they never attacked..they knew I was there (by my scent) and didn't surprise them. Biologists from Auburn had been studying them and feeding them Krispy Kreme doughnuts by way of trapping them, tranquilizing and fitting with tags, recording info, etc... and the bears were used to people. They probably knew what a rifle was too, due to rednecks shooting at them. Every bit as smart as deer.
Every hunt was a successful one, even without a deer. Just watching those bears was a real treat. Though it seems deer wouldn't come around when bears were there. Seeing bears usually meant no deer at that location that would come out.
Gotta admit, felt kinda strange coming off the stand at dark and waiting for my buddy to pick me up. And hearing bears nearby.
What good is shooting a bear anyway? Is bear meat any good to eat? Anyone know? They're protected species down here. From what I've been told, they're the only ones left in the entire state. You get attacked by a bear and you better use your fists or rifle butt or knife to fight it where I go hunting.
Les
