Pennsylvania Game News - September 2009 - 4

summer in an area heavy with blueberries won’t necessarily mean it’ll be there in November, when the sweet tasting fruits are long gone. Bears are especially fond of beechnuts, and finding areas that have an abundance of them is a good start. Bears also devour acorns when they are available. Stands of mast bearing trees near areas of dense cover, such as laurel thickets and especially swamps are ideal places to key in on. While those areas are great places to hunt for bears, don’t overlook those low-lying areas near dense bottomland swamps and hardwood stands. Low areas often have more agricultural crops and less hunting pressure. There are two things that are found around most farms. One is corn, and bears can be found in corn patches until the crops are harvested, and even after they’ve been harvested, searching for leftover corn. Sometimes, if conditions are bad, heavy rains may keep the farmer from getting his corn off the field before bear season, which can make for some great hunting. Bear-damaged corn can be distinguished from other animal damage by the wide swaths and circles they create. Many bears, especially older, lazier bears, knock down a bunch of cornstalks in a circle and then lie down to eat. These patches of downed corn can be up to 12 feet in diameter. The second thing found around most farms is autumn olive. This berry-bearing shrub is considered an invasive species, but it attracts a lot of wildlife. Bears love autumn olive, 4 and if you find an area that has an abundance of this plant and they’re still holding berries, check for bear sign. The most telltale sign of bears using these bushes is broken limbs. Bears will stand up or sit on their hindquarters and pull down the limbs to get to the berries and inadvertently break them off. If you find areas like these, try to set up near areas of thick cover before daylight to catch them on their way back to cover at first light. In the evening you can either set up close to thick cover or near those feeding areas. Bears are often already in thick cover by daylight, and it is easier to catch them moving about at last light in those areas. I have seen more bears during the evening hours than I have in the morning hours. It may be because they have been laid up most of the day and are then eager to feed again, and begin their trek to those areas to feed. In areas known to have lots of bears, look for bear trails. Areas that are laden with ferns or low lying berry bushes often have telltale trails running through them and, contrary to popular belief, just like in other areas of the country, there are trails made by bears. These trails are often distinguished by their slightly wider appearance than a deer trail. However, the creation and use of these trails are dictated by the local food sources. So, for the most part, many bear trails are seasonal. Bears often mark their territories, GAME NEWS

Pennsylvania Game News - September 2009

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