What is it?
The adjective that qualifies a black bear as exercising control over other bears of a particular area as well as all other species in general from small to large, including moose.
“Control” is greater than mere influence. It strongly suggests that all animals have become aware of his presence and must behave in a way that shows both deference and caution. The only single animal that would choose to take on a dominant black bear would be a bull moose during rut. Other than that it might be a pack of wolves.
So basically we’re talking about a mature male black bear that by its attitude, size and physical strength can intimidate or seriously injure/kill any other black bear, and cause fear among the largest of cervids (deer, elk, caribou and moose).
To encounter one, as a human, is rare but unforgettable!
Out of the scores of black bears that have hit my personal bait sites, or otherwise caused an encounter, there are six that were for certain dominant bears – three that were unseen and three that were seen.
Although the first bear I ever shot was “trophy” quality in which I used an outfitter and guide, I’d not consider it a dominant bear. It was a seven year old, smart and good size that had been in a few scraps with other bears, but the dominant ones were attending my own baits several years later, and scattered over a period from 1995 to 2024.
My first bear, ever, taken in the northeast of Ontario, 3 hours from home using an outfitter. The rifle was my first 1895 Marlin with a handloaded 400gr Speer FP at 1865 fps. Bear shot at 100 yds.
I started baiting on my own about an hour’s drive to the north of where we live, whereas for six years I’d hunted with the same guide/outfitter about 3 hours northeast of home. The area to the north of us is Crown Land known as Haliburton Highlands, and I was somewhat familiar with it having previously done some deer hunting there. By then I knew enough about bears, and both how and where to hunt them.
The first dominant bruin was not in 1995 but either 3 or 4 yrs later at my favorite location – or nearby.
< This was my favorite location for at least a dozen years. I had encounters here with more dominant black bears than any other location. Several game trails fed this location. That’s why I chose it when I first started baiting for bear on my own. And it was on a trail coming down from the ridge on the left where I had my first encounter with a dominant black bear that was never seen – ever!
Let me tell you about it. . . . .
I had a non-hunter friend with me who had asked for permission to be there, and I had to dress him with an orange vest and hat.
I was in a tree stand only 50 yds from the main bait setup as pictured above. My “normal” ground blind was 100 yds directly above the bait site. But that big bear would not come to the bait in daylight or while I was in the blind. So I had to change strategy. I was aware he was mostly using the game trail about 100 yds to the south of me – the same that I used for bringing in bait to the site. (We become familiar with “signs” of wildlife habits and movements. Bears use “traditional” trails unless disturbed by human activity, a larger bear, or scent a new food source) That trail was narrow with dense bush on each side all the way to the bottom of the ridge where bear grub was waiting. I never saw the bear at the bait nor could I see it on the trail it was using. If it used the trail while I was in my blind, it would have stopped before exposing itself at the bait until I had left the scene due to darkness, then exposed himself at the bait setup in pitch darkness – and I “knew” that was what was going on. When I returned the next day, or soon after, everything was cleaned out, and no other younger bear(s) showing up in hunting hours – a sure sign of a dominant bear in the area. Not just “no other bears” but nothing else, as usually if no bears are in the area we get a variety of small varmints and game at the sites.
So I put a ladder stand within 15 – 20 yds of the trail – about mid way down the trail – in very thick bush in the hopes of an ambush of that dominating bear. I also placed a 5 gal bucket of “goodies” on the opposite side of the trail hoping that would cause him to stop there giving me a shot.
That was the plan – though uncertain at best!
Years later from the ground blind on top of the ridge at the same location. That was my CZ550 in .458 Win.
The scene looked like this: My friend, dressed with an orange hat and vest is in a natural “ground blind” 30 yds behind me. I was in my ladder stand surrounded by thick bush at about 5:30 pm. I knew if the bear showed it would be near darkness, so expected a long wait. But about 1/2 hour later, there was a very loud crash in the woods below us at around 40 yds. A rather large hardwood had fallen! From experience, I knew that was “our bear” letting us know this was round one!
Stay tuned for round 2!
Till the next: What is a dominant bruin? – P2
Shalom
BOB MITCHELL
Lovin' The Big Bang 