In contrast to techniques used during archery hunting for bears, strategies for mid- and late-season still-hunters are simple: Just hunt while walking remote trails or CNF roads closed (i.e., gated) to vehicles. Importantly, do not limit yourself to hunting out of a tree stand. Rather just "quietly slip" along closed roads or trails.

This will greatly increase your chances of seeing bears. Brandenburg offers that he regularly sees bears while walking trails as he's conducting annual bait station surveys for bears in Tennessee. CNF roads closed to vehicles are numerous and provide easy access for hunters. Hunt roads with the least human activity and your chances of encountering a bear will increase with each mile walked.

Dog Hunting
Dog hunting for black bears always has been highest percentage form of bear hunting. Dog hunting requires the use of highly trained dogs that are capable of picking up a bear's scent and tracking it through some extremely rugged terrain and baying the bear until the hunter arrives. The sport is steeped in culture and heritage dating back to the beginning of Tennessee's history.

"For dog hunters, we have a division in our bear seasons which allow for a bear harvest and a dog-training season -- no guns or harvest of the bear is allowed. Typically, this dog training takes place in Greene, Cocke and portions of Jefferson and Sevier counties on both private lands and the Cherokee WMA and private lands only in Blount, Carter, Johnson, Sullivan and Unicoi counties," said Brandenburg. "Otherwise, we still have a very lengthy harvest season where dogs are permitted across the bear-hunting region."

One thing is clear: A 30 percent annual increase in the bear population means a good set of dogs can get on a bear track much easier today than they could 30 years ago.

"Running dogs is not something that everyone is cut out for," said Jonesborough bear hunter Jerry Norris. "When that bear goes straight up the ridge and those dogs light out after him, you go straight up that ridge too. You got to be in pretty good shape to chase after those dogs, and that may take you the better part of the day to get them rounded up. In dog hunting, the dog decides when the hunt is over, not you."

More Information
At the time this article went to print, the framework for the 2009 bear-hunting seasons in Tennessee were consistent with the last two years. For information on specific hunting season dates, consult the TWRA's 2009 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide or www.state. tn.us/twra/bearseasons.html. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency publishes a wealth of information on its Web site that can assist bear hunters, including harvest data broken down by county and WMAs. To see this information, go to www. state.tn.us/twra/bearmain.html.