First Time Bear Hunting Western NC

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AirForce85

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My co-worker and I will be doing a couple walking/sitting bear hunts just for the hell of it in western NC. I have a few questions and will happily accept any tips or advice. We are both fairly experienced hunters, just not for bear.

Do you only need a hunting license and bear stamp?

Can you field clean a bear and leave guts, etc.? Or do you have to remove the entire carcass? (I've only hunted deer and hog and always cleaned it elsewhere).

Do you have to report it to the fish/game dept?

Any butchers within an hour or so of Charlotte that will take a quartered bear and clean it up?

Good taxidermist if we want a rug made? Also within an hour or so of Charlotte area.

Any other tips or advice is appreciated.
 
Where will you be hunting? This will/may affect answers to first two questions.
IIRC you will big game hunting and bear stamp. For game lands you will need that on permit.
Field dressing will depend on location, public lands, ie game lands should be no problem. Private property it will depend on property owner.
Can't help with anything close to Charlotte. Left there when I got out of UNCC and try to stay out.
 
It'll be Pisgah game area and I live 30 min or so west of Charlotte so figured it would cover the area.
 
You do need to report your kill. The number to call and your tag number are on the big game tag. You also need to punch out the date on the tag at the site of the kill.

edit: You want to cook the bear meat as you would pork rather than as you would beef.
 
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There's an area of PNF within walking distance of me at the head of Shope Creek in Buncombe County that should be good for bear. Used to be hunted all the time but the old timer bear hunters are dying off....which is why we see the bears all the time now.
Back when the bear hunters with dogs were still around we never saw bear here, now they are everywhere. Same for deer.
 
Was going to take my Model 94 30-30 but all the 170 gr rounds online are $45 a box. I think I'll end up taking my Mossberg 500 with slugs made for deeper penetration. My buddy is taking his 45/70 so I think we will have enough fire power either way.
 
Got some friends that stopped by a gas station out in the mold of the mountains. First time bear hunters. The old man working there told them to get a squeaker( rabbit call, etc) go sit out in a field, call and wait. They both shot bears the first day
 
Crankbait said:
Got some friends that stopped by a gas station out in the mold of the mountains. First time bear hunters. The old man working there told them to get a squeaker( rabbit call, etc) go sit out in a field, call and wait. They both shot bears the first day
Click to expand...
Just bought one the other day.
 
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