Archery Hunt: Bears In Colorado

Bear hunting is not easy. In Colorado, only 7-8% of licensed bear hunters successfully harvest a bear. If you're planning an archery bear hunt in Colorado, there are several things you should know. Firstly, the Colorado bear hunting season for archery runs from September 2 to September 30, 2024. Secondly, you'll need to be aware of the common mistakes hunters make, such as not prioritising bear hunting, feeling uneasy hunting in the dark, and hunting in the wrong food source areas. It's also important to be patient, as bears like to feed in areas with dense brush that can be difficult to see. Additionally, you should be prepared to recover and pack out your bear, and understand the behavioural changes bears undergo during the fall hunting season. Finally, make sure you have the right equipment, including a bow with a minimum poundage of 35 pounds and broadheads with a minimum cutting diameter of 7/8 inch and 2 sharpened edges.

Archery license and equipment requirements

To archery hunt in Colorado, you must have a hunting license. If you were born on or after 1 January 1949, you must also obtain a Hunter Education Certificate. There is no minimum age to get certified.

Colorado offers both resident and non-resident hunting licenses. If you have lived in Colorado for at least six months, you are considered a resident. Active-duty military members and non-resident full-time students who live in Colorado and attend an educational institution in the state are also considered residents.

If you want to purchase an archery-specific hunting license in Colorado, you will need either a bowhunter education card or a traditional hunter education card. While Colorado does not require a bowhunter-specific hunter education, anyone born on or after 1 January 1949 must have one of these cards. You can obtain a Colorado Hunter Education Card by completing a Colorado Parks and Wildlife-approved course. Courses can be taken in-person or online, followed by an in-person conclusion course.

For archery bear hunting in Colorado, you will need to purchase an 'either sex' tag. The minimum poundage for bows in Colorado is 35 pounds, and the let-off percentage shall not exceed 80%. You are permitted to use expandable broadheads, but both fixed blade and expandable broadheads must have a minimum cutting diameter of 7/8 inch and two sharpened edges.

How to identify a legal bear

To identify a legal bear to hunt in Colorado, you need to be able to distinguish between adult bears and yearlings or cubs. Here are some key characteristics to look out for:

• Size and appearance: Adult bears tend to have smaller ears relative to their head size. The smaller the ears, the larger the head, and usually, the larger the bear. Yearling bears often have badly bleached, thin hair, weighing between 55-90 lbs.
• Behaviour: The presence of a larger bear that appears familiar with a smaller bear suggests a family unit. Cubs and their mother are often not in close proximity and may wander several hundred yards apart. If you spot two or three small bears of similar size together, this likely indicates a group of cubs, which are not legal to hunt.
• Hunting season: Hunting seasons are in place to maintain healthy bear populations and ensure sustainable hunting practices. In Colorado, the bear hunting season typically opens in early September and closes in late November. Hunting outside of this designated season is illegal.
• Hunting location: It is essential to respect private property boundaries and obtain permission from landowners when hunting on private land. Colorado offers ample public hunting areas, including state wildlife areas, wildlife management units, and national forests.
• Hunting regulations: Hunters must adhere to specific regulations, such as obtaining the necessary licenses and permits, complying with weapon restrictions, and following safety protocols. Hunting with a partner is recommended for added safety.
• Identification of the bear species: In Colorado, black bears are the primary focus of bear hunting due to the limited population of grizzly bears, which are prohibited from hunting. Black bears can vary in colour, ranging from honey-coloured, blond, brown, cinnamon, to black.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Not making bear hunting a priority: Many hunters treat their bear tag as a secondary option, often prioritising the hunting of deer or elk instead. If you want to harvest a bear, you need to focus on making bear hunting your main priority.
• Feeling uneasy in the dark: To increase your chances of seeing and potentially harvesting a bear, take advantage of legal big-game hunting hours. In Colorado, legal hunting hours for big game are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, unless specifically restricted.
• Hunting the wrong food source: The availability of food sources for bears can change from year to year. Knowing what food sources are available before you go hunting is crucial for putting yourself in the right place to find a bear. Take the time to scout beforehand to increase your chances of success.
• Being impatient: Your best chance of finding a bear is to be in the woods, so trust your eyes and spend time glassing for bears. Bears often feed in areas covered in dense brush and can be difficult to spot. If you have scouted and are in bear country, trust that a bear will show itself eventually.
• Rushing a bear stalk: Bears can move quickly, especially if they are just passing through an area or have been spooked. However, during September, a bear's primary concern is eating, so if you see one that is actively feeding, you may have more time than you think to move in for a stalk. Only move when the bear is feeding and, if possible, when it is facing away from you. Try to use the wind to your advantage.
• Shouting when you see a bear: It can be exciting to spot a bear in the woods, but remember that bears have incredible senses. Doing anything that might trigger their senses will reduce your chances of getting the bear.
• Overestimating the size of a bear: Bears appear bigger in the wild than they actually are. Most bears harvested in Colorado weigh between 130 to 225 pounds. It is difficult to judge the size of a bear without a known reference point, so be aware of this tendency to overestimate when making your judgement.
• Taking an unfavourable shot: The excitement of seeing a bear may cause you to rush your shot or take one outside of your capabilities. This can lead to a wounded bear. Practise your shooting beforehand, know your limitations and remain disciplined within your personal shooting capabilities.
• Returning to camp mid-day: Bears in September are active for up to 20 hours per day and are often feeding or going to water in the afternoon. By returning to the field too early, you may miss out on prime hunting time.
• Being unprepared to recover and pack out your bear: Make sure you have a plan to recover and pack out your bear before you begin your hunt. Bring items such as a headlamp and a GPS unit to help you navigate in the dark.
• Not understanding behavioural changes during the fall hunting season: In the fall, bears experience an increase in appetite and food consumption known as hyperphagia. Their diet changes from insects and leaves to fruits and nuts, which provide the high fat and carbohydrates needed for hibernation. This change in diet causes bears to actively forage for up to 20 hours per day, so finding abundant food production areas will increase your chances of finding a bear.

When and where to find bears

When to Find Bears in Colorado

Colorado's bear hunting season typically runs from September to November, with specific dates varying slightly from year to year. The state's black bears, which can be black, honey-coloured, blond, brown, or cinnamon in colour, are most active during the early archery and muzzleloader seasons. This is because they are gorging themselves on food to prepare for winter hibernation.

In the fall, bears experience hyperphagia, an increased appetite and food consumption. Their diet changes from insects and leaves to fruits and nuts that provide the high fat and carbohydrates needed for hibernation. This change in diet begins in August and continues into late September or October. During this period, bears actively forage for up to 20 hours a day.

Legal hunting hours for big game are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

Where to Find Bears in Colorado

Bears can be found in areas with abundant food sources, especially fruits and nuts. Look for vegetation like dark timber, aspen trees, scrub oak, serviceberry, and choke cherry, which produce acorns and berries that bears love.

In Colorado, these food sources can be found in specific units, such as Unit 42, which has a large amount of dark timber, aspen trees, scrub oak, serviceberry, and choke cherry vegetation. Other units include GMU 22, 32, 33, and 105.

Nearly all bears concentrate at local lower-elevation habitats where fruits and nuts are abundant from mid-August to late September or early October. Look for "oakbrush thickets" in the mountains, where black bears feed on acorns in September.

Additionally, bears know which areas have good fruit and nut production and will migrate 20 to 30 miles from their summer range to traditional fall ranges. They travel the paths of least resistance, so scout natural passes and game trails.

How to prepare for the hunt

Bear hunting is not easy. Pursuing and harvesting a bear takes an understanding of both bear behaviour and habitat. Here are some tips on how to prepare for archery bear hunting in Colorado:

Know the Season and Location

Colorado's archery bear season runs from September 2 to 30, 2024. The best time for bear hunting is during the early archery season when bears are most active, gorging on food to prepare for winter hibernation. Bear hunting locations in Colorado include private lands in game management units GMU 22, 32, 33, 42, and 105.

Understand Bear Behaviour and Habitat

Bears are wary and intelligent, making them challenging prey. They emerge from their dens when the weather is warm and sunny, and their diet changes from insects and leaves to fruits and nuts during the fall hunting season. They migrate to lower elevations with abundant food sources, such as fruits and nuts, and their activity increases to up to 20 hours a day.

Know Your Equipment

Use the right equipment, such as a bow with a minimum poundage of 35 pounds in Colorado, and practice with it regularly. Understand the anatomy of a bear and optimal shot placement. Aim for the middle of the middle, where the midpoint of the front and hind legs intersect with the midpoint of the belly and back, to take out both lungs.

Practice Scent and Bug Control

Bears have an acute sense of smell, so extreme scent control measures are necessary. Use scent-containment clothing, scent-free sprays, and rubber boots. Avoid scented bug sprays, and consider a bug suit and head net for protection.

Understand Bear Size and Age

Learn to identify the size and age of bears by observing their physical characteristics. For example, younger bears may have a more pointed and dog-like face, while mature bears have a more square-shaped head. Lone bears are typically boars, and a bear accompanied by smaller bears is a sow with cubs.

Know the Legal Requirements

Understand the legal requirements for bear hunting in Colorado. Only adult bears without cubs and independent subadults and yearlings are legal to harvest. Cubs and sows with cubs are not to be harvested. Additionally, make sure you have the necessary licenses and tags.

Frequently asked questions