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Big Black Bears With Ralph Cianciarulo

Really big, old black bears will appear to have small, rounded ears on the sides of their outsized heads.

By Tim Herald

Few bowhunters have more experience or are more qualified to provide advice on bowhunting big black bears than Ralph Cianciarulo. After more than two decades of hunting big black bears for his video series Bear Down and his TV show with his wife Vicki, The Archer’s Choice, Ralph has amassed a wealth of big-bear stories, tried-and-true black bear tactics and bear trophies.

The strategies that Ralph now uses are all based around targeting big boar black bears. He says that to kill a big boar, you obviously must first find a big boar. In recent years, Ralph has utilized trail cameras to identify baits that the biggest boars are using.

“Trail cameras are invaluable,” Ralph suggests. “We place them high and point them down to get the photos we need. If the cameras are positioned too close to the ground, those cameras will get
chewed up by the bears.

“We’re also careful to hunt during specific time frames when we have the very best chance of seeing and arrowing those big boars. Essentially, we look at three distinct periods. The big boars are often the first bears to emerge from their dens in the spring, so hunting the first part of the season can be quite productive. You may not see as many bears, but you have a really good chance of getting a big boy. Also, when they first pop out of hibernation and begin to feed, the really big boars will really take over a bait. It will become their territory, and they will keep all other bears away. You may not see a lot of bears at such a site, but a big boar will be regular to ‘his’ bait, and often will simply lie up in the brush a short distance away, and then come and go frequently to eat. Depending on where you hunt, this time frame can range from sometime in April until the first week or ten days of May.”

The second time frame that Ralph likes to bowhunt is the rut.

“After the sows and cubs emerge from the dens, the sows will begin coming into estrus. That changes everything,” says Ralph. “The big boars that have been on one main bait will begin roaming. In fact, they’ll often hit a number of bait sites looking for sows in season. Finding the big boars then is just like finding a big rutting whitetail buck during the fall. Like rutting bucks, big rutting bears cover a lot of ground, and you simply have to put yourself in a good location and put in your time. The trick in this time period is to be on stand when the big boy comes by.”

Lastly Ralph told me there is a short window in fall when big bears eat almost nonstop as they prepare for winter. It’s not an easy period to hit just right, but when you do, the bear hunting can be spectacular.

If you are interested in taking a big spring black bear through spot-and-stalk methods, Ralph suggests timing your hunt to when the bears emerge from hibernation and then concentrate your glassing on south-facing slopes where the grasses and wild onions grow first and best. Find the bear you want with good binoculars and maybe a spotting scope, make sure the wind is in your favor and then use all available cover to get close enough for a sure shot. Sometimes you can get in front of a feeding bear and then allow the bear to move to you. At other times you’ll have to close the distance slowly and as quietly as possible. Bears don’t see well, but they can hear, and their noses are incredible.

Whether stalking or stand hunting, Ralph feels that judging a big bear may be the hardest part of taking a real bruiser. I know from personal experience, black bears are one of the toughest animals to judge. They all look big up close. Ralph provides straightforward advice on determining whether or not you are looking at a mature boar.

“First, watch how a bear walks. Small and medium-sized bears are smooth, agile and often quick in their movements. Big bears move very deliberately. They’re slow. Their movements seem labored, and they walk with more of a lumber.

“There are also three physical traits that can help you determine a monster from a so-so bear. The first thing to check is whether the bear has the classic crease in the skull that older boars develop. Big, old boars will have a crease in the forehead that is easy to identify. Also at the ears. Smaller bears will appear to have big, pointed ears on the top of their head. Really big, old black bears will appear to have small, rounded ears on the sides of their outsized heads. And finally, big bears will appear to have enormous rear ends. Most bears look bigger from behind, but a really big boar’s rear will appear absolutely enormous.

“Judging black bears isn’t easy, but if you pay attention to how the bear moves and these three traits, it will help you identify a true trophy.”

Given Ralph’s big-bear advice, you should take away the ideas that planning your bear hunt at the right time, determining bait-station activity with high-mounted scouting cameras and carefully judging the size of each bear you see will at least triple your chances of arrowing a trophy bruin.

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