I will be taking both Rifle and Crossbow on my Maine bear hunt.

I believe bears that have been hunted over bait before are more wary than say a bear that has never been baited ever. Experts agree. Sure, I’d like to harvest a big bear with my crossbow but maybe a bigger bear with my favorite rifle. In years gone by I hunted with recurve bow, without success. 

I will take both rifle and crossbow on the hunt this September. 

Accordingly, these baited bears are smart. They come into view at your bait site in the last hour of light or in the dark.

Larger bears, like trophy whitetails, did not get large by being stupid. Outsmarting big bruins to get them to show themselves in daylight is the name of the game. No human smells near bait, no strange noises are the name of the game.

In some cases, just clicking the safety off can make previously hunted bears jump or drawing your arrow as it slides rearward will make them jump. Having a stand near a gurgling brook provides cover sounds for a bowhunter at say 15 or 20 yards from bait.

1. I believe rifle hunters often have an edge where stands are 50 to 75 yards from bait.
2. That said, wary big bears may show in daylight with the hunter at 75 yards because the bear did its homework just out of sight of the bait listening and smelling and circling.
3. The angle of the bear is not quite as critical with rifle as it is with bow, thus more shot opportunities are favored with a rifle such as my Browning Speed 7mm Remington Magnum. 

Add up the 1,2, 3 above and I lean toward a rifle setup. We shall see as setups are revealed in September. 

Good Hunting!

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