Going on my first black bear hunt any advice?

[jspike]

My father drew a bear tag in the Maryland lottery and since I entered him he is letting me be his sub- permitee.  This will be the first time that either of us will have ever hunted black bear.  In the state of Maryland you are not allowed to bait or use electronic calls.  No one else but permit hunters allowed to hunt or participate.  So having others drive for you is out.  Also both hunters must maintain visual contact so you can't drive for one another.  We have plenty of bears in my area but they have been very hard to pattern.  Between the vacation homes trash, still standing corn,  and deer hunters corn piles they keep erratic patterns.

Our plan is to go to the spots we have seen the bears the most.  I have a few custom calls that I got on PM.  Mainly rabbit distress and fawn distress and one bear squaller from bearmaniac.  How would you guys use the calls.  I'm a beginning coyote hunter so I don't have a lot of experience with timing on using the calls.  Also how would you skin the bear if we have to becuase of where it falls.

I'm hoping that we will get more than one day to hunt but it depends on how many bears are killed each day.  This is the third season for bears in Md.  The first year lasted one day.  The second four days.  They are looking to take between 35-55 bears this year.  Most likely like last year when they hit 40 they will call the season.  We have a very strong anti-hunter vibe in this state.  This might be my first bear season and my last. 

Any advice would be appreciated.  Joe

[Bopeye]

My only advice is try not to get et, by that thar bar.......

[Mallardsr]

I have been asked by others   "does a bear crap in the woods?"   I can honestly tell you "I dont know.

[R Buker]

First, good luck.  There's not much that gets my blood boiling like a bear.  There's nothing like hunting something that can eat you to get you going!

As far as advice...  Don't take the shot unless you can make it good.  I've tracked a poorly hit bear in the past.  They will go to the thickest crap you can imagine.  Nothing like being on your hands and knees in the brush when you come across the bear and hope like hell he's dead.

I hope it's a monster!

Randy

[FinsnFur]

Why did that description cause me to picture Watson crawling through the multiflower brush laughing like Dr Jekyll 

[R Buker]

Yeah, but Watson's a special case.