Dr. Ken Nordberg's do-it-yourself Black Bear Baiting & Hunting
Revised 2001 Edition

Do-It-Yourself Black Bear Baiting & Hunting, Revised 2001 Edition: a guide to hunting trophy-class black bears. Until now, there has never been a book about black bears and how to hunt them that could compare with Dr. Nordberg's original bear book published in 1990. Awarded a five-star rating by Amazon, it is used by state hunter education instructors, professional guides, experienced bear hunters and first-time bear hunters throughout North America. It has enabled countless hunters to take trophy-class black bears weighing 300-600 pounds or more. After selling out in 1998, the demand for this book increased, hunters paying as much as $20-50 for a one book on eBay. Rather than reprint the original book, for the following three reasons Dr. Nordberg decided to write a new, revised edition: 1) adult black bears are becoming more wary of bait/stand sites made by humans, 2) crowding and competition between bear hunters is increasing and 3) Dr. Nordberg is anxious to share new and improved baiting and hunting tactics developed since 1990.

John Nordberg -- Look carefully at the cover illustration. Notice the angle of the hunter to the bear. That is one of the keys to this book. Dr. Nordberg doesn't just get you out in the woods to hunt black bears, he shows you exactly how to plan for and get that perfect shot. The best new tip in this version, is critical, is called "Positioning Bait." All Black Bear Hunters need to know about Positioning Bait. What a genius refinement to an already great technique! The only other thing that I can add is, look at that table of contents! Every step, every detail, from start to finish is explained in a logical order. Can't beat it!

Table of Contents:

Foreward

Author's Introduction
Ken's First Bear

Chapter 1: What Hunters Should Know About Black Bears
Sizes and Weights
Sex Characteristics
Longevity
Coloration
Speed
Paws
Breeding
Gestation
Cubs, Yearlings and Subadults
Denning
Home Ranges
Feeding Cycles
Factors That Influence the Timing of Feeding Cycles
Are Black Bears Dangerous?
The Bear on the Knoll
The Bear That Came to Breakfast
Incident on Four Bear Hill
A Chocolate Brown Bear and Others
Antidote for Danger

Chapter 2: Locating Productive Bait/Stand Sites
"Scattergun" Approach
"Let the Bears Do the Walking" Approach
"Go to the Bears" Approach
Where to Look for Bear Signs
Where Dogs Are Used to Hunt Black Bears
Recognizing and Interpreting Bear Signs
Bear Tracks
Bear Droppings
Signs of Feeding
Bear Scratch Trees
Dens
Mapping Bear Signs
Prerequisites of Productive Bait/Bear Sites
Multiple Bait/Stand Sites and Recommended Distances Between Them

Chapter 3: Bait/Stand Site Preparation
Black-Bear-Effective Stands
Dave's Trembling Balsam
Essential Bait/Stand Site Elements
When to Prepare a Bait/Stand Site
Stand Site Preparation
Stand Positioning
Stand Height
Stand Camouflage
Stand Comfort and Silence
Stand Safety
Bait Site Preparation
Dave's First Bear
Shooting Lane Preparation
Stand Trail Preparation
Bait Storage
John's First Bear

Chapter 4: Baits and Baiting Tactics
Elements of Effectiveness
Recommended Baits
Meats
Vegetables and Grain
Fruits
Sweets
Cooking Oils and Greases
Baiting Tactics
How to Provide Baits
The Best Time of the Day to Haul in Bait
The Rule of Six
Bait Amounts and Frequency of Baiting

Chapter 5: Preparing to Hunt Trophy-Class Black Bears
Some Facts About Shooting Black Bears
Exit Wound Capability
The Myth of Firepower
Risky Head and Neck Shots
String Trackers
Recommended Weaponry
Accuracy Under Pressure
Develop a Shooting Groove
Required Marksmanship
Recognize Ideal Shot Angles
Bear Hunting Gear
Personal Scent Management
Bear Camp
Length of Hunt
Hunting Hours
Meals
Hunting Season Baiting Hours
Preventing Bear Carcass Spoilage
Your Dragging Crew
Ready at Last

Chapter 6: Hunting Black Bears over Bait
Preparing to Head to Your Stand
Body and Clothing
Boots
Headwear
Backpack Gear
Camouflaging Exposed Skin
Cover Scent, Etc.
Preparing Your Weapon
From Camp to Stand Platform
The Direct Approach
The Noisy Two-Man Approach
The Silent Approach
The Beginning Trail
The Middle Trail
The Final 100-200 Yards
Sounds That Identify Humans
A Bear at the Bait Crib
Setting Up Positioning Bait
Honey Burn
Preparing a Weapon for Hauling up to a Stand
Climbing to a Stand Platform
Buckling Up
Hauling Up a Weapon
Preparing for a Long Vigil
Rehearsing the Shot
Other Gear in Your Stand
Direct Sunlight
Biting Insects
Detecting Approaching Black Bears
How Black Bears Approach Bait Sites
A Black Bear's Sixth Sense

Chapter 7: The Shot
Responses of Black Bears to Hits
Heart/Lung Hits
Other Hits
After the Shot
When to Begin Tracking
Recovering a Shot Black Bear
Trail Signs of Wounded Bears
200-Plus-Yard Trails
A Lost Trail
When All Else Fails
Night Tracking
Approaching a Downed Black Bear
Finishing Shots
The Almost Mythical Charge
Kill Site Photos

Chapter 8: Black Bear Harvest
Field Dressing
Transporting Your Bear From the Woods
Field and Camp Care of a Bear Carcass
Emergency Measures for Preventing Spoilage
Transporting Your Bear in a Vehicle
How to Skin a Bear
Skinning for a Bear Rug
Skinning for a Shoulder Mount
Skinning for a Full Mount
Mounts with Snarling Lips
How to Butcher a Black Bear
Trophy Bear Measurements
How to Cook a Bear
Best Bear Steaks
Finer Stew
Black Bear Roast
Ground Bear

Epilogue:
It Doesn't Get Any Better
It Does Get Better

Bibliography

do-it-yourself Black Bear Baiting & Hunting (Revised 2001 Edition)