Scent control is of the utmost importance! More so than deer hunting. A Mature bear, I believe can tell the difference between me baiting and you sitting there and do not for any reason go to the bait!

• Get in your stand, stay there and be still.

A mature Bear (300+) will generally only give one chance at him.

• They will sit out of sight for a long time listening and sniffing before coming into a bait. I have had them on camera for 20 minutes before knocking the log over to eat.

It is imperative to be ready until the last legal second every evening. 

• When leaving your stand leave as quickly and quietly as you can.

People new to bear hunting find it difficult to judge a bear. It can be difficult to explain but if you think it is small then it is.

• The darker it gets outside the bigger they seem. 

• Use your best judgement and take whatever bear you'd be proud to bring home. 

Sometimes a stand will go stale, bear will just stop coming.

• Give it a few days and if you still don't see any action or the scenery is getting dull I will generally move you and it may be where another hunter has tagged out. 

One year I had a bear killed on a site and a few days later a guy wounded one at the same site then a few days after I sat on what would have been a worn out stand and shot a 300# boar with my bow. Contradictory to all that has been said above but hey, That is bear hunting!