Customer Reviews

Do-it-yourself Black Bear Baiting & Hunting (2001 Edition)

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Most of my life, I had hunted deer, both white-tailed deer in Wisconsin and Sitka-black tail deer in Alaska. I have always had a desire to hunt bear. I pondered hunting black bear in Northern Wisconsin. My thought was that it could not be a much harder than hunting whitetails, right?

Having never hunted bear, I cannot base my comments on experience, but the information in the book seems to be based on rock solid hunting theories and personal experience of the author. The book is separated into eight chapters. The subjects of these chapters include general information on black bears, locating stand/bait sites, stand/bait site preparation, baits and baiting tactics, preparing to hunt, hunting over bait, after the shot, and harvesting the bear.

Prior to reading this book, I did not realize the skill and work involved in black bear hunting. The book points out that bear sign is difficult to spot and offers tips on spotting bear sign. It also discusses various baits that can be used, depending on local hunting regulations. For me, the most helpful portion of the book is harvesting a killed bear. The book points out that bear are difficult to move and will spoil quickly. It mentions issues that I never would have though of otherwise, such as the fact that bear needed to be cooled within hours and that the hunter should find a butcher who will take a bear "after hours" as most bear are shot in early evening and the hunter will likely not get the bear out of the woods until after dark. The book also discusses what can be done to try and keep a bear from spoiling in the event the hunter cannot get it to a refrigerated cooler.

I would greatly recommend this book to anyone who is new to black bear hunting. It really opened my eyes to how much work is involved and the issues that must be addressed after killing a black bear. I think some of the suggestions in this book would also benefit experienced bear hunters looking to fine tune their hunting techniques.

Dr Ken Nordberg is recognised by many as a leader in bear psychology, having come to prominence with his white paper 'Learning to Bear the Soul'. Dr Nordberg studied for 7 years at the University of Budapest in animal psychology before specialising in bears with a placement at San Fransisco Zoo's widely admired Bears facility. After a disagreement over breeding methods he left the world of academia and research to take up writing and hunting. The fruits of his labours are summed up in this volume.

The book offers much to both the weekend hunter and those looking to become experts in the field. Dr Nordbergs insight into the mind of the bear means that this book contains many new and innovative ways to help you get your bear. One example is his theory that bears are able to work by association and be attracted by it. For instance, you do not need to leave honey out for a bear to eat but merely play a tape recording of bees making honey, which the bear will hear and respond to. This means you can use the tape over and over and keep all the delicious honey for yourself.

A very informative and amusing book.

I had hunted bear for four years without any luck. I bought this book early this year and started baiting with techniques I learned from the book. I sucessfully shot a two hundred pound boar this year. A very detailed and accurate account of bear hunting.

This is an exceptional book. It provides the reader with a detailed step by step description of what you have to do to become a successful bear hunter. I used it to take a bear in my first year and two in my second (one spring bear and a fall bear). One of the best books I have read on how to become a bear hunter.

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