Best place to bear hunt in the South?

Boognish · June 30, 2018, 11:15:17 PM

I'm wanting to plan a bear hunt in the south. I live in Alabama and I was wondering what my options are. Anybody have thoughts on this? Thanks

bluemelonchitlin · July 05, 2018, 05:15:08 PM

Western NC or the mountain area of SC

Smilingg · July 05, 2018, 08:14:41 PM

Hyde County, NC or one of its neighboring counties...Be prepared for mosquitoes. I mean, be really prepared...

bluemelonchitlin · July 05, 2018, 08:30:55 PM

Boognish-sent you a PM

Fattony77 · July 05, 2018, 09:21:30 PM

Not sure if you're wanting to plan a guided hunt or DIY, but if you're going guided, I'd talk to Jerry Russell (Russell Outdoor Guides). He is a Sponsor here and does bear hunts there in GA (Fall, I think) as well as his spring hunts in Canada. Jerry is a great guy and works hard for his customers.

Boognish · July 05, 2018, 10:17:49 PM

Ok I'll check him out, thanks buddy!

Jeff D. Holchin · July 05, 2018, 10:18:47 PM

Lots of bears here in NC but pretty hard to bowhunt them, at least on public land and with all the dog hunters, at least in my experience. Best southern state to bowhunt Bears is VA hands down, based on the harvest numbers and my experience bowhunting in that state, but BEFORE their dog season opens. Once the houndsmen turn their bear dogs loose, forget it if you have been patterning some bears.

The bear tag used to be part of the generous bundle of tags you got as a NR, but due to pressure from the dog hunter lobby, NRs now have to pay an extra $150 for the bear tag on top of the NR license. Still worth it if you are serious about arrowing a bear on public land, which they have plenty of in VA.

Etter · July 08, 2018, 07:44:00 AM

It's in NE Ga for sure but it takes a lot of scouting to make it work. Ive seen 22 so far this summer.

forster · July 13, 2018, 02:09:54 PM

2x Jeff Holchin on VA. I live, work and hunt in VA. Have worked in sw VA as a forester forty years. Maybe saw 2 or 3 bears the first 20 years and for the lat fifteen or so I cannot count the number of bears I see both while walking timber and while hunting. National Forest land and some state lands (Havesn Wildlife Management Area near Roanoke) have good bear populations. Wouldn't say bear hunting is easy here in VA but there are plenty of opportunities.

forster · July 13, 2018, 02:10:57 PM

That's Havens Wildlife Management Area near Salem, VA in Roanoke County