Black Bears

• Always remember: Bears are protected in Texas!
• Species Info
• Bear Safety in Mind: Hunter's Edition
• There are some common sense precautions people can take to prevent bear conflicts:
  • Keep hunting camps clean to prevent odors that will attract bears.
  • Discard gut piles far away from campsites.
  • Placing deer corn in piles or in open feeders will attract more bears.
  • Using an automated feeder hung out of reach of bears will decrease bear visitation.
  • Switching bait types from corn to soybeans will reduce bear activity.
  • Planting food plots is the best way to attract deer and avoid bear visits!
• Should you encounter a bear, remember:
  • Bears are normally shy and not aggressive to humans.
  • If a bear regularly visits your deer stand, scare it with rocks, a slingshot or air horn.
  • If you encounter a bear at close range, talk in a calm manner while backing away slowly.
  • Do not make direct eye contact.
  • Do not run! This can trigger a bear's chase instinct.
  • If a bear approaches you, stand your ground and raise your arms, backpack or jacket to appear larger. Yell at the bear to scare it off.
  • If attacked, fight back aggressively with anything available. Let the bear know you are not easy prey. Do not play dead!