Black bears are relatively easy prey... Their eyes aren't particularly good and they're not nearly as wary as a mule deer. I think they hear at least as well as you and I, but again, not like a muley buck. You will have to stalk them while they're up and moving though because they bed in super thick stuff and you're not likely to find them or get close enough for a shot in thick, dark cover. Move quickly when they're looking away and/or moving and freeze when they look or turn their head - stay low like any other stalk. You can make up ground on them in this manner. Don't expect for a second that you can get away with any questionable wind - their noses are 10X better than anything I've hunted. If you see their nose go straight up in the air, you better shoot now because you have about 3 seconds before it's over.
I move quicker when stalking bears because they are less wary and they're often on the move. Many of the stalks end when they simply move off into cover so time is of the essence.
Good luck! Spot and stalk bears are a blast!
Coop
