When you're hunting for deer, it can be so easy to be focused on your prey that you fail to realize the danger you're in from other animals. Few other creatures pose as serious a threat to deer hunters as bears, making it imperative that you take your safety very seriously. When you're scouting out your hunting area in advance of the season, you should watch for signs that bears are sharing the same land. Droppings are an effective way to tell that bears are present, and if you go forward with hunting once the season begins, you should be prepared for a bear encounter. Here are some tips that you should remember.

Stay Out Of Bear Pathways

As you survey the terrain in front of you, you can often identify pathways that bear customarily follow. You may notice droppings, trampled-down underbrush, and even paw marks in the mud. Your likelihood of encountering a bear in these areas is higher, so try to avoid using them. If you have to use these pathways, do so sparingly and always keep your eyes and ears open for threats around you. Don't be so preoccupied with looking for deer that you fail to identify a bear nearby.

Be Vocal Upon An Encounter

Unless you've accidentally gotten between a bear and its cubs, it's usually rare for a bear to attempt to attack you right away. Sometimes, you and a bear will notice each other from a distance, and the bear will generally be curious more than immediately aggressive. It's important to shout at the bear; doing so might scare away any deer that are in the area, but your safety is the immediate priority. Shouting at the bear will generally send the bear fleeing, which will save you the danger of a close encounter.

Carry And Use Spray

Every hunter who is hunting in bear country should carry at least one canister of bear spray at all times. This potent product is highly adept at discouraging a bear from getting any closer to you and can be the difference in saving your life in the event of an attack. Generally, spraying a bear will cause the creature to turn and flee, although you should always plan to spray the bear as liberally as possible, rather than make a short burst and hope that it's enough. When you keep these tips in mind, you can feel confident about keeping safe from bear attacks.

To learn more, contact a company that specializes in guided whitetail hunting like Broken Bow Ranch.