The unique and amazing black bear

Tom LounsburyBucks n Bears, Friends of ELO, Game Species Profiles

                The American black bear has long proven to be highly adaptable to an ever-changing world. Unlike its less adaptable North American cousins, the polar bear and grizzly, black bear numbers are on a steady incline and in some cases, especially due to dedicated bear management efforts these days, are even extending their typical range, making it the most numerous bear species on this continent. This means humans and black bears frequently share the same ground which at times can lead to conflicts, even in urban environments, and black bears are at the top of the list involving bear attacks. Folks residing in or just visiting “bear country” are always encouraged to take special precautions to prevent such conflicts.

I shot this black bear in Saskatchewan during the spring of 2002. It is currently the second highest scoring black bear for North America in muzzleloading records, scoring 21 14/16. It weighed 450 pounds in late May. It would weigh over 600 pounds in the fall. Shot bear with a .45 caliber Knight muzzleloader.

 Michigan is a prime example of having a growing and spreading bear population entailing an estimated 12000 black bears in the state, with 10,000 in the Upper Peninsula and 2000 in the Northern Lower Peninsula. Since 2012, the bear population has grown 21% in the Upper Peninsula and an amazing 55% in the Northern Lower Peninsula. Young male black bears can be roamers to find new territory or avoid larger male bears, and it isn’t unusual for them to suddenly show up at mid-Michigan locations in the Lower Peninsula, and one made it all the way down to northern Indiana in 2015, being the first documented bear in that state in over 140 years. Last summer, a small black bear was raiding birdfeeders in the suburbs of Saginaw. Yep, folks, they can get around some, and I know of a few which have performed a “walkabout” in the Thumb, but apparently didn’t hang around long, yet anyway. I know where there is a large beech tree in the Thumb’s Murphy Lake State Game Area which has the telltale claw marks of a male black bear marking its territory.

Richard P. Smith of Marquette is a prolific outdoor writer who has written 31 books and thousands of magazine articles, as well as produced many DVDs, with black bears being a major topic. A lifelong hunter, Smith has hunted black bears not only in Michigan and other states, but some Canadian Provinces as well. It is safe to say he has pursued black bears from coast to coast in North America and has taken some remarkable record book bears during the process. 

I’ve done my share of black bear hunting over the years in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and in Ontario, Canada (while I’m saving up “bear-points” for Michigan). Even so, I truly appreciate having a collection of Smith’s books (and DVDs) about black bears and how to hunt them, to refer to. One of my favorite books (and DVD combo) of Smith’s is “Black Bear Hunting”. To me it is a literal how-to bible about a fascinating pastime, and an important must have for not only new bear hunters, but seasoned hunters (such as myself) as well. 

Thus far, I have only hunted black bears over bait or by using calling methods, and it is an atmosphere I dearly love. However, a key problem I had in the beginning, was in how to sex and size black bears, because unlike deer, bears don’t go around with identifying antlers, and figuring out a bear’s size can be a conundrum, especially for a “newbie”. The first black bear I ever shot had responded to my “varmint calling”. efforts, and when it suddenly came charging out of the brush in my direction, I was sure it was the size of a “Volkswagen bug”. However, it proved to be a 175-pound boar, not a bad size, really, but certainly nowhere near the size of a Volkswagen.  Yep, folks, bears having thick fur coats and such can be a real challenge to size, not to mention even identifying their sex. Smith thoroughly covers everything in his entertaining to read “Black Bear Hunting” book (with lots of great photos) and DVD, which is always included with my gear whenever I go black bear hunting.

Smith’s newest bear book, Understanding Michigan Black Bear- 3rd Edition, is a 336-page volume which includes plenty of valuable information for hunters, hikers, campers, property owners, and anglers who will be spending time in bear country. Twelve of the 29 chapters are devoted to what has been learned about biology, behavior, life history and management of bears through research. 

Three of the book’s chapters are devoted to bear attacks that have occurred in the state and how to avoid them. Two more chapters cover nuisance bears and how they can be handled. Other chapters discuss color phase bears, bear predation on deer and how many bears there are in the state and where.

The book is divided into four sections – Research, Problem Bears, Management and Anti-hunting. The chapter on anti-hunting delves deeply into the ongoing threat to proper bear management, which includes hunting being used as a very important and necessary management tool.

Understanding Michigan Black Bear by Richard P. Smith is available from select stores throughout the state and autographed copies can also be ordered from the author at www.richardpsmith.com. Mail orders can be sent to Smith Publications, 814 Clark Street, Marquette, MI 49855. Order price is $27, which includes tax & postage.

Tom Lounsbury
Latest posts by Tom Lounsbury (see all)