Spring is prime time for bear observation. As the weather improves, bears are coming out of hibernation and starting to get active once again. Capturing their movements on a trail camera is a great way to help pattern bears in an area where you may want to hunt. While it’s true that nothing beats boots on the ground, the simple fact is that it isn’t always possible to be physically present in bear country. With the right setup and strategy, you can use game and trail cameras to track and scout for bears without having to spend all of your time in the woods.
1. Areas with Scat and Tracks
Perhaps the simplest way to use a trail camera for scouting bears is to look for areas where you’re finding both bear tracks and bear scat. This is proof positive that a bear is in the area. The more tracks and scat you see, the better the likelihood that you’re onto multiple bears or at least a place where one bear comes often. Placing a trail camera in the vicinity of scat and tracks is a good way to start scouting for bears. This place often turns out to be a game trail, and that will put you on the right path for tracking and scouting a bear’s comings and goings.
2. Marking Trails
A marking trail is different from a game trail. While the latter is just a means of travel, a marking trail is a place where a bear leaves its scent behind to let other bears know that they’ve been there. These trails can be located by finding spots where the tracks are spaced a bit wider apart and look to be heavily used in the exact same print spots. This is because each bear is using the same print spots to rub their foot in each spot to deposit their scent from their pedal glands.
Placing a trail camera along one of these marking trails - particularly if it is one that can transmit videos and not just photos - can provide you with a fascinating glimpse into the world of bear communication as you capture them walking slowly and rubbing in each print.
3. Water Crossings
Bears can certainly cross through water on their own, but they’re also big fans of natural bridges. If you find a place where there is a downed log across a stream, it’s highly likely that bears in that area will use it at a bridge to get across the water. Beaver dams are also great bridges for bears, and they use them frequently when present.
Both game trails and water crossings are great places to get pictures and videos of bears on your trail cameras, but it’s unlikely that you’re going to pick up much more than them walking. If you’re looking to document other activities, you’ll need to place your trail cams elsewhere.
4. Feeding Trees
Bears leave all sorts of different marks on trees depending on how they’re using each one. If you spot a tree that has a bunch of bear claw marks on it, then it’s likely that you’ve found a source of food. A bear will leave claw marks in the tree bark as they climb the trunk and branches in search of the various fruits and nuts that are available to them. You won’t want to put a camera on the actual feeding tree, as the bear will probably mess it up during a climb. Plus, you won’t get any good photos or videos that way. Instead, put it in a neighboring tree so that you can monitor the climbing and feeding.
5. Wallows
When the weather gets hot, insect activity picks up. Instead of reaching for bug spray, bears use a more natural option: a mud wallow. If you notice a place where water tends to pool in smaller areas rather consistently, take a look in the neighboring mud for bear tracks. If you see them, then it’s a good chance you’ve found a mud wallow. Put up a trail camera in a neighboring tree and you’ll be in for a show. Your camera will likely pick up photos and videos of bears rolling around in the water and the mud to both cool off and protect themselves from insects.
Take the time to do some boots on the ground scouting so that you can find areas where you’ll be most likely to spot bear activity. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to hang your trail cameras in optimal spots and then wait for the bears to come along and put on a show for you. The results will be both educational and entertaining.
