p.1 #1 · Black Bears of the North Carolina Coastal Plains
I have been missing my bear encounters as I haven't made the trip to photograph them in about 10 months, so last weekend I did just that.
I took off Friday, left home at 2am, made the 4.5hr drive to get to my spot 1/2hr before sunrise, and of course after driving with nothing but stars above me for 4hrs, during the last 30 minutes of the trip an incredibly heavy fog sets in lol.
Oh well, I took the 90 minutes or so before the sun burned the fog off to get re-acquainted with the area, walked a couple of miles and after it cleared up the rest of the day and the following morning were gorgeous.
I spent about 10hrs in the field over 1.5 days and ended up with over 60 bear sightings. Some were good photo opps some weren't, however I feel like I ended up with a few decent pics.
Here are some of the highlights I wanted to share:
p.1 #5 · Black Bears of the North Carolina Coastal Plains
dclark wrote:
Excellent set of images!
I have the impression you are pretty close.
Dave
Thanks!
Some were fairly close but there was a small (though steep) irrigation/farming canal between us (the large bear in the foggy setting and the sow standing in front of corn, and the portrait with yellow bokeh below the face)
Two were while I was basically right beside my truck (The little cub standing up and the foggy sow and cub )
If I'm within say 50yds or so when I spot them, and I'm walking/hiking, I don't try to approach them any further. Sometimes, if they are just slowly moving/grazing I will take a different angle and try to get in a position to where they end up coming closer to me, but I let that be their decision . One reason is I don't want to stress them out but the other is that you'll just end up with butt shots anyway, if you try to get up to them.
There's enough bears out there to where inevitably one will walk out of the woods within 30-40yds of you anyway, give you a little look and then just slowly keep heading wherever they were going as long as they are comfortable.
There are some that will see you or your truck from 100yds away and run the other way immediately.
Some dont care about anything and wont even get off the road for cars trying to pass lol.
Its the 2-3yrs old you have to keep an eye on. They will try to approach you sometimes, though not aggressive, just too curious.
. One reason is I don't want to stress them out but the other is that you'll just end up with butt shots anyway, if you try to get up to them.