 bear sign, locate a higher point for observation and patiently watch the area. This allows you to sight the bear and have time to carefully identify your target.
BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL IN IDENTIFYING YOUR TARGET
- The fall bear season overlaps with archery deer and elk seasons. Many archers, dressed in camouflage clothing, successfully hunt deer and elk by stalking in the dense, low-elevation shrublands. Use binoculars, not rifle scopes, to look for bears.
- The pelt and head of all hunter-killed black bears must be presented to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer by the hunter within five days of the kill. The pelts will be sealed and data on age, sex and location of kill will be collected. This is an effort to monitor the number of bears killed and age and sex of animals harvested by hunting time.
- Hunting black bears without hounds or bait will require a lot of scouting and a familiarity in recognizing bear sign and foods. Find the abundant food production areas, and you will find the black bear. Scouting and persistence are keys.
Written by: Tom Beck, Wildlife Researcher for Colorado Parks and Wildlife