Question for Virginia/WV hunters...

[VaBoy]

Bears will eat you and are particularly hungry during the early April to mid May range after hibernating all winter. My advice is to stay indoors until at least June 1st.  Bears are more afraid of you than you are of them and will avoid you any way they can. Be safe and Hunt in peace.

[SteelerFan]

I've never had a problem with a bear - other than messing up my hunt for a bit. It's a pretty cool encounter, actually.

Here's a couple of "quick, hit record" on the phone videos of our bear encounters. The 2nd / 3rd video was a bear that came in from behind me. Thought for sure it was a gobbler coming in silent... lol

Bears can be as quiet, or as loud as they want. Doesn't really seem to matter to them.

https://youtu.be/Q4oIVSVkgQw

https://youtu.be/Gt_bVOkorwQ

https://youtu.be/i08WkGHiAYA

[turkey_slayer]

Yeah I've mistaken them for turkey to lol. That black shine thru brush can fool you. I'm in SW va as well and the bears have exploded the past 15 years. Bear hunters would rather tree them than shoot. I've about quit bowhunting cause I'm covered up with them. Literally see more of them than deer. Lots of problems out of them in the summer when they're breeding. They've had to shut a few of my areas down during that time as they can get a little aggressive. Sows with Cubs normally run away but I've got myself in two instances where I was applying pressure to the trigger. Once I was in between them and the other she winded me and didn't like that one bit. She had 4 Cubs.

[TTG]

Well thanks y'all for replying. I appreciate the input!

[Brian Fahs]

I've had 2 oh  moments with bears in west virginia.

Both involved sows with cubs that I happened to get way too close to and in between the sow and cubs.

Both times I was out in the evening try to roost a gobbler for the next morning. We can't hunt evenings so I did not have a gun. You can say what you want but when a sow is charging you and popping her teeth at you you don't feel like such a bad .

I see a lot of bears each spring and usually they are scared to death of you.I enjoy watching them but try my best to give them room.