Baiting black bears—if legal where you hunt—can certainly improve your odds. But there's a lot more to it than throwing some old fruit out in front of your stand.
If you are heading out on your first-ever black bear hunt this spring, you may be a bit confused as to what gear you really need to be comfortable and successful. Besides the obvious, here’s what you have to throw into your duffel.
Members of the Swanson clan trace their roots to a homestead in Michigan's Upper Peninsula their ancestors built in 1857. They're what are colloquially known as ‘Yoopers'—UP speak for ‘someone born up here.' 2013 was the last deer camp for family patriarch George Swanson, for after 77 years prowling these woods, he could no longer trust his eyes.
A large part of what makes the new Ruger-made 1895 SBL an ideal calling card is that it appeals to both hunters and personal protectors. Chambered in .45-70 Gov't, regardless of the game, or the threat, this slick-handling powerhouse is a closer.