Bear Hunting

The best bear hunting tips, tactics and adventures for black bears and grizzlies.

Latest in Bear Hunting

An illustration of a boy riding a horse with his dog in front.

Hunting

The Thanksgiving I Spent Alone in the Woods The Thanksgiving I Spent Alone in the Woods

hunter with black bear and whitetail deadhead

Hunting

Hunter Shoots Huge Black Bear, Finds 8-Point Buck Underneath It Hunter Shoots Huge Black Bear, Finds 8-Point Buck Underneath It

maryland black bear record

Hunting

Hunter Tags New Maryland State-Record Black Bear on Opening Day Hunter Tags New Maryland State-Record Black Bear on Opening Day

What does a black bear eat? In this case, a mouthful of dandelions.

Hunting

What Do Black Bears Eat? What Do Black Bears Eat?

By Natalie Krebs

wisconsin black bear ties record

Hunting

Bowhunter Officially Ties Wisconsin State Record for Largest Black Bear Bowhunter Officially Ties Wisconsin State Record for Largest Black Bear

A grizzly bear in the Yellowstone ecosystem.

Conservation

The Clock Is Ticking as the Feds Grapple with Delisting Grizzly Bears The Clock Is Ticking as the Feds Grapple with Delisting Grizzly Bears

By Andrew McKean

bear hunting bc

Hunting

Trolling for Bears in British Columbia Trolling for Bears in British Columbia

By Alex Robinson

Grizzly paw and 6.5 Creedmoor cartridges

Guns

Grizzly Hunting with a 6.5 Creedmoor Grizzly Hunting with a 6.5 Creedmoor

alaska kills bears for caribou 1

Conservation

Alaska Officials Kill Nearly 100 Brown Bears in Attempt to Boost Caribou Numbers Alaska Officials Kill Nearly 100 Brown Bears in Attempt to Boost Caribou Numbers

black bear in tree

Hunting

Suspect Arrested Months After Shooting Black Bear Hunter, Fleeing the Scene Suspect Arrested Months After Shooting Black Bear Hunter, Fleeing the Scene

boy with a black bear

Hunting

A 7-Year-Old Boy’s First Bear A 7-Year-Old Boy’s First Bear

Hunter Ty Bell stands on a ridge in Idaho grizzly country.

Hunting

Return to Scout Ridge Return to Scout Ridge

By Alex Robinson

Ideal shot placement for where to shoot a bear is a slightly quartering-away bear like this one.

Hunting

Where to Shoot a Bear, and How to Recover It Where to Shoot a Bear, and How to Recover It

man with black bear carcass

Hunting

The Ex-Communist Bear Baiter of Dore Lake The Ex-Communist Bear Baiter of Dore Lake

By Andrew McKean

black bear with cubs

Hunting

Black Bear Attacks Elderly Woman After Politicians Nix Proposed Hunting Season Black Bear Attacks Elderly Woman After Politicians Nix Proposed Hunting Season

Tyler Freel with black bear

Hunting

Bear Meat: Everything You Need to Know About Eating Bears Bear Meat: Everything You Need to Know About Eating Bears

Bear Hibernation: Uncovering Black Bear Denning Secrets in Arkansas

Hunting

Bear Hibernation: Uncovering Black Bear Denning Secrets in Arkansas Bear Hibernation: Uncovering Black Bear Denning Secrets in Arkansas

By Natalie Krebs

bear meat vending machine 1

Conservation

Bear Meat Vending Machine a Huge Hit in Japan Bear Meat Vending Machine a Huge Hit in Japan

big black bear with .30/06

Guns

The Best Bear Cartridges The Best Bear Cartridges

grizzly with ear tags in meadow

Conservation

Where Do All the Problem Bears Go? Where Do All the Problem Bears Go?

By Christine Peterson

grizzly bear montana

Opinion

Montana Legislators, Don’t Blow Our Best Chance to Delist Grizzly Bears Montana Legislators, Don’t Blow Our Best Chance to Delist Grizzly Bears

By Andrew McKean

Jim Carmichel with rifle and bear.

Guns

Jim Carmichel’s Favorite Hunting Rifles Jim Carmichel’s Favorite Hunting Rifles

By Jim Carmichel

black bear on bait

Opinion

Federal Agencies Continue to Cut Hunting Opportunities in Alaska Federal Agencies Continue to Cut Hunting Opportunities in Alaska

bear hounds rescued

Hunting

Volunteer Firefighters Rescue a Pack of Bear Hounds from an Icy Hollow in the Appalachians Volunteer Firefighters Rescue a Pack of Bear Hounds from an Icy Hollow in the Appalachians

Two New Jersey black bear hunters stand with a mature sow in Jefferson Township.

Hunting

Photos From the New Jersey Bear Season, the Highly Controversial Hunt That Wasn’t Photos From the New Jersey Bear Season, the Highly Controversial Hunt That Wasn’t

story by Alex Robinson, photographs by Bryan Anselm

New Jersey black bear hunt gets halted

Conservation

New Jersey Judge Halts Black Bear Hunt Just Days Before the Opener New Jersey Judge Halts Black Bear Hunt Just Days Before the Opener

New Jersey voted to pass a black bear hunt

Conservation

New Jersey Reinstates Black Bear Hunting Season This December New Jersey Reinstates Black Bear Hunting Season This December

old illustration of hunters with dogs in swamp

Hunting

A Creepy Bear Hunt in the Great Dismal Swamp, From the Archives A Creepy Bear Hunt in the Great Dismal Swamp, From the Archives

By Arthur Grahame

Hunting

Are Grizzlies and Polar Bears Hybridizing in Alaska? Are Grizzlies and Polar Bears Hybridizing in Alaska?

vt bear hounds jason spears FB

Hunting

Court Case Involving Three Vermont Hunters, a 61-Year-Old Suspect, and a Can of Bear Spray Moves Forward Court Case Involving Three Vermont Hunters, a 61-Year-Old Suspect, and a Can of Bear Spray Moves Forward

Hounds treeing a black bear.

Hunting

The Best Bear Hunting Dogs The Best Bear Hunting Dogs

By Brodie Swisher

lamar valley black bear NPS

Hunting

Officials Search for Suspect Who Shot a Washington Bear Hunter and Fled the Scene Officials Search for Suspect Who Shot a Washington Bear Hunter and Fled the Scene

Survival

The Best Ways to Use Bear Fat The Best Ways to Use Bear Fat

hunter aims at bear

Hunting

A Family Hunt for Alaska Brown Bears, From the Archives A Family Hunt for Alaska Brown Bears, From the Archives

By Kenneth C. Kellar

ID griz killed self defense

Survival

Two Hunters in North Idaho Shoot and Kill a Grizzly Bear in Self-Defense Two Hunters in North Idaho Shoot and Kill a Grizzly Bear in Self-Defense

By Keegan Sentner

a killer sloth bear in India

Hunting

A Killer of Men: The Story of a Deadly Sloth Bear, From the Archives A Killer of Men: The Story of a Deadly Sloth Bear, From the Archives

By Frank C. Hibben, introduction by Tyler Freel

A brown bear on Afognak Island

Hunting

What Is a Stopping Rifle—and Do You Need One? What Is a Stopping Rifle—and Do You Need One?

Freel with the black bear that became aggressive

Hunting

If You Live in Bear Country, Then You Already Know—Bears Must Fear Us If You Live in Bear Country, Then You Already Know—Bears Must Fear Us

Brown bear research

Hunting

LaVern Beier: The Bear Man of Southeast Alaska LaVern Beier: The Bear Man of Southeast Alaska

Black bear hunting.

Hunting

Growing Black Bear Populations Could Mean a Bear Hunting Boom in America Growing Black Bear Populations Could Mean a Bear Hunting Boom in America

By Christine Peterson

Grizzly bear hunting used to be allowed in B.C. but is no longer.

Hunting

British Columbia Outfitters Seek Class-Action Suit Challenging Grizzly Bear Hunting Ban British Columbia Outfitters Seek Class-Action Suit Challenging Grizzly Bear Hunting Ban

Thirteen Yards in One Second: Why You Can Never Outrun a Charging Bear

Survival

Thirteen Yards in One Second: Why You Can Never Outrun a Charging Bear Thirteen Yards in One Second: Why You Can Never Outrun a Charging Bear

A grizzly steps out from behind a tree into a meadow.

Survival

Are Grizzly Attacks Really on the Rise? Are Grizzly Attacks Really on the Rise?

By Natalie Krebs

Giant interior grizzly

Hunting

The Spirit Bear: Monster Interior Grizzly with a Recurve Bow The Spirit Bear: Monster Interior Grizzly with a Recurve Bow

A black bear broke into a car in Connecticut.

Hunting

Watch: Giant Connecticut Black Bear Breaks into a Car, Won’t Exit the Vehicle Watch: Giant Connecticut Black Bear Breaks into a Car, Won’t Exit the Vehicle

A big bear paw from an Alaska bear.

Hunting

The Real Story Behind the Infamous “Alberta Grizzly” The Real Story Behind the Infamous “Alberta Grizzly”

shooting a 44 Mag.

Hunting

Bear Gun Shootout: 10mm vs .44 Mag. Bear Gun Shootout: 10mm vs .44 Mag.

By John B. Snow

black bear in tall grass USFWS

Hunting

Washington State Just Voted to Cancel Its Spring Black Bear Season, Despite a Population of at Least 25,000 Bears Washington State Just Voted to Cancel Its Spring Black Bear Season, Despite a Population of at Least 25,000 Bears

Teddy Roosevelt bear hunting.

Hunting

President Teddy Roosevelt’s 1904 Colorado Bear Hunt, According to His Guide President Teddy Roosevelt’s 1904 Colorado Bear Hunt, According to His Guide

"hank the tank" via facebook

Conservation

Wildlife Officials Want to Euthanize a California Black Bear That’s Damaged 38 Properties. Bear Advocates Want to Send It to Colorado Wildlife Officials Want to Euthanize a California Black Bear That’s Damaged 38 Properties. Bear Advocates Want to Send It to Colorado

Arrow for a Grizzly

Hunting

Arrow for a Grizzly: A Classic Fred Bear Tale from the Archives Arrow for a Grizzly: A Classic Fred Bear Tale from the Archives

By Fred Bear, as told to Ben East, introduction by Tyler Freel

boxed with a bear

Hunting

Boxed With a Bear: Frank Glaser’s Sled Dogs Fought a Giant Grizzly Boxed With a Bear: Frank Glaser’s Sled Dogs Fought a Giant Grizzly

By Frank Glaser, as told to Jim Rearden, introduction by Tyler Freel

Bull moose in maine.

Hunting

Maine Hunters Enjoy a Banner Year for Bear Hunting, Suffer Low Moose Harvest Maine Hunters Enjoy a Banner Year for Bear Hunting, Suffer Low Moose Harvest

Hunting

Charging Bears and Exploding Gas Drums: Just Another Alaskan Adventure Charging Bears and Exploding Gas Drums: Just Another Alaskan Adventure

A black bear beside a trash can.

Hunting

Trash-Eating Black Bear Mauls 81-Year-Old Jersey Woman, Kills Her Dog Trash-Eating Black Bear Mauls 81-Year-Old Jersey Woman, Kills Her Dog

Tressa McCune with a 300-pound public-land black bear.

Hunting

Pennsylvania Hunter Takes 300-Pound, Public-Land Black Bear with Muzzleloader Pennsylvania Hunter Takes 300-Pound, Public-Land Black Bear with Muzzleloader

Stopping a Grizzly with a 220 Swift and Other Legendary Frank Glaser Tales

Survival

Stopping a Grizzly with a 220 Swift and Other Legendary Frank Glaser Tales Stopping a Grizzly with a 220 Swift and Other Legendary Frank Glaser Tales

Hunting

Washington State Lost Its Spring Bear Hunt to Political Overreach—And It’s Just the Beginning Washington State Lost Its Spring Bear Hunt to Political Overreach—And It’s Just the Beginning

Grizzly bear populations are at an all-time high in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Conservation

New Monitoring Methods Reveal Record Number of Yellowstone Grizzlies New Monitoring Methods Reveal Record Number of Yellowstone Grizzlies

The Missouri black bear population has surged in recent years to a huntable population.

Hunting

Missouri’s First Black Bear Season Is a Success, But Ends Short of Harvest Quota Missouri’s First Black Bear Season Is a Success, But Ends Short of Harvest Quota

Problem bears in grizzly country are a byproduct of expanding bear populations

Hunting

It’s Time to Acknowledge the ‘Problem Bear’ Reality in the West It’s Time to Acknowledge the ‘Problem Bear’ Reality in the West

B.J. Applegate kills one of Missouri's first black bears.

Hunting

Life-Long Missouri Hunter Is One of the First in the State to Kill a Black Bear Life-Long Missouri Hunter Is One of the First in the State to Kill a Black Bear

Hunting

Missouri Opens First Regulated Black Bear Hunt, and National Media Coverage Is Brutal Missouri Opens First Regulated Black Bear Hunt, and National Media Coverage Is Brutal

A big, 800-pound Ontario black bear taken by this hunter.

Hunting

An Ontario Bowhunter Needed His Backup Rifle to Take This 800-Pound Black Bear An Ontario Bowhunter Needed His Backup Rifle to Take This 800-Pound Black Bear