Spotting a bear and then stalking it until you are within shooting range is the method most hunters use. Bears forage for food in huge areas up to 150 square miles, so having good binoculars is imperative. Binocular quality does increase as the price increases, and getting the best you can afford is a good investment. Familiarize yourself with the foods available in the area you will be hunting, because that is where you are most likely to spot a bear. Berries and fruits are easy to locate. Insects make up a large part of a bear’s diet, so rotten logs full of insects or bees’ nests are also good. Bears will clean up carrion, so if you come across a carcass keep an eye on it. Bears can smell a dead animal from as far away as 20 miles, and they will come to feast on it. Patience while spotting with binoculars is the key. Many times what appears to be a dark patch of a rock is actually a bear. Just wait and watch.
Bear calls are an effective way to attract bears, but this method works best when you already know that a bear is close enough to hear and respond. Electronic calls can project sounds further than your lungs, but it also depends on what kind of terrain you are hunting.
Some hunters use a tree stand. Locate your tree stand near streams or food sources. The idea is to be located along the bear’s foraging route. Bears’ sense of smell is so well developed that you should set your tree stand very high; even 25 or 30 feet up is not too high to avoid detection.
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