Alpen Optics Talks Bears with Hunting Expert Gary Lewis
 Editor's Note: Gary Lewis of Bend, Oregon, just has completed a new book titled, "Black Bear Hunting" with Lee Van Tassel, his co-author, that's published by Creative Publishing International in Minnesota. To purchase the book, which sells for $21.95, go to garylewisoutdoors.com or visit the publisher's website, www.creativepub.com. A critical ingredient in finding and taking bears and helping Lewis get the information needed for this book has been Lewis's Alpen binoculars. This week we'll talk with Lewis about the binoculars he's used, and what he's learned about bear hunting.
Question: Gary, why are binoculars important to your style of bear hunting?
Lewis: One of the techniques for finding and taking bears is to watch the sides of steep, long canyons. Some of these canyons will be a mile or more long. Because the hills are so steep where I hunt, we can sit down at the heads of these canyons and use our Alpen binoculars to view a large expanse of terrain. By using our optics, we save ourselves a lot of boot leather.
Question: Are you using spotting scopes as well as binoculars, Gary?
 Lewis: We use Alpen spotting scopes when we can. However, much of this country we're traveling in to find the bears requires a long walk. Since the binoculars are lighter and much easier to carry than the spotting scopes, that's what we generally take with us. I like the Alpen Tetons in either the 8x42s or the 10x42s. We do use a spotting scope if we're hunting an area we can get to by only having to hike 1/2-mile or so. But many days, we'll walk 2 to 3 miles into the backcountry before we even start looking for bear.
Question: What states are you primarily hunting for bear?
Lewis: Oregon and Alaska. In Oregon, we can't bait bears. In Alaska, hunters can get a permit to bait bears, but they really don't need the bait, especially if they're hunting the places like we hunt. They'll see plenty of bears. We're primarily spot-and-stalk hunters, and for this type of hunting, I guess my favorite binoculars are the Alpen Teton 10x42. These binoculars are so clear that I can see stalks on flowers on a faraway hillside. When I was in Africa, I took my Teton 8x42 with me. Because the sky was so clear, I could see the rings around Saturn with them. These binoculars have extremely good clarity, even in low-light situations, which are bears' favorite places to move.
Question: Gary, how far away are you spotting bears with your Teton binoculars?
 Lewis: We were spotting bears at 300 - 500 yards on a recent hunt when we were out calling bears. I have spotted bears with these Teton binoculars out to 700- 800 yards away. One of the important keys in successfully hunting bears is not only to be able to see them before they spot you, but also to have binoculars that are powerful and clear enough to be accurately field-judge the bear, before you go after a bear. Another critical ingredient to successful bear hunting is to be able to see the terrain well enough to learn what kind of hazards (creek crossings, ditches, thickets, etc..) you may encounter as you stalk the animal. You also have to study the terrain and decide how you can use it to stay concealed as you attempt to get in close on the bear.
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