Anybody had any success at it ??

I tried one morning last year in our archery season. Used a fawn bleat call and made the most pathetic sounds I could. No go. But one try is a pretty small sample. Our flintlock bear season is coming up soon. Thinking about trying the same thing again, only from a bit better location.

Anyone had better success than me ?? Tips ?? Advice ??

Bears have a phenomenal hearing ability.
Never tried calling one but probably dont have to over do it to get their attention.

I have seen on youtube people using cottontail in distress. Probably get a yote or a bear.

Called one in last spring while turkey hunting. Saw him walking away about 200 yds. Along a river. Used rabbit in distress, and he turned around and came within 100 yds. Until he winded me.

Have called them in when calling for coyotes in northern Alberta. They usually come in slow and circling more of a curiosity response than food response in my opinion. Same as any calling, they have to be in the area to respond.

I'd say. It would work In certain environments out West where you can see a distance.

But have your back to a big Rock or tree... where it would work for bear there are usually Mt. Lions too.

Smear fish oil over your body and you won't need to make a single noise. You will be hunted instead of being the hunter.

Judd Cooney has written a few articles about calling black bears.

Good thinkin' !!!!!

I have called in several bears in Washington State. 16 so far. I like to use a loud raspy mouth call. I start off quietly and increase the volume after a few minutes. I call in a bear about every 20ish stands. I call non-stop for at least 45 minutes and try to make it 60 minutes. I have the best luck, obviously, when I have a lot of fresh sign, but do a lot of cold calling. I believe if you hear the bear coming in, most often the bear is a larger bear. I think they are trying to intimidate whatever is eating whatever is screaming. Most mid-sized and smaller bears sneak in because they don't want to rush in and get their butts kicked. I had to pepper spray a small sow several years ago. I was calling and heard some pine needles crunching behind me and slowly turned and about 15 yards behind me was this small sow. I did not want to shoot such a small bears so I softly spoke to her and she stepped forward. I stood up and said hey bear. She pinned her ears back and started towards me so I sprayed her in the face and she left. Another time I was calling with a buddy and his young son. I was calling, slowly turning my head looking and there about 10 yards in from of me was a pair of beady eyes and a pair of ear looking in my direction from about 15 feet. All I could see was the top of his head over the ferns. I kept calling and raised my gun and shot him between the eyes. Scared the crap out of the guy I was hunting with. A few times calling I never heard the bear come in, but would catch movement and watch them turn and walk away. It is very effective, but you have to stick with it. I think most guys are not successful because they give up too soon and don't try it enough times. I like to put my watch out in front of me, so I can keep track of the time, because calling for that long, feels much longer.

Great info Machias, THANKS!

First bear I ever called in.



Second bear I called in.

you might find some old trapper&predator caller articles on it. i recall gerry blair articles about calling them but would have been probably in 80's

Be sure & video it too.

I have a friend that has called in several. He used two calls, a diaphram mouth call, and the squeeze bulb type elk call. He said they seemed to lose interest the minute he quit calling. So, one or the other, if not both calls going all the time.