Off Colbert Creek Rd there is a trail head for the Colbert Ridge Trail. I've parked there and hiked to the ridgeline, where it intersects with the Black Mountain Crest Trail, then went...East, maybe Southeast, towards Mt Mitchell. That will bring you into the Mt Mitchell Bear Sancutary, which it does require an easily acquired permit to hunt within the sanctuary. Like $15 bucks. You cant run dogs within the sanctuary, so it kind of stays as a safe space for the bears during hunting season. You'll find some dogs running through there from time to time, but for the most part its dog free. I'll typically get in there, and start heading down the mountain. Slowly working towards my car over the next few days. Really steep country going down there off trail. I haven't pulled a bear from there, but they say there are a bunch of bears up there in the steep terrain. As far as the time of year, I've seen bear activity on the ridges, over 6000ft, as late as early December. Seems once the berries and grass dry up, the bears move to lower elevation. Passing over colbert creek you can usually find sign of activity. Anyway, that's the ways I've tried hunting Bear in Burnsville. If nothing else it's an adventure out there.
I'd like to add that bear hunting in that area is extremely difficult. It's just hard to get around. You cant always go quietly, or against wind. Kinda just gotta take what it gives ya. Whitetail hunting you may have a higher percentage for success. I'd recommend taking Roaring Creek Rd which I believe is in Newland. It's right off Hwy 19E maybe 30 minutes. Roaring Creek Rd will turn into a dirt road. Take it till it dead ends at the gate. You can hike up the trail, or up the dirt road which ends at a Red Barn, known as the Overlook Mountain Shelter, nestled just South of the AT. The barn is a comfortable place to make camp. You can sleep in the barn. Exiting the Barn area there is a trail to the AT, follow the AT up the ridge your camp is facing. It flattens out towards the top. I run into hunters up there every year who are pulling out nice deer. Last year I ran into 6 guys at the Red Barn, all of em got a deer. They even gave me some backstrap. It's a gameland, I think it's part of the pisgah National forest game lands. But that's the only place I know of up that way that has live action.
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