any comments on experience hunting black bear in north woods solo?  techniques, vocalizing, maybe scents? bow or rifle.

NO LUCK

solo and not using dogs or bait?  Stay home!

I offer fall bear hunts that are spot and stalk hunts only in wheat and oat fields.

i don't use dogs (it's illegal up here) or bait...and i don't stay home either... and me and my family seem to kill quite a few bears. either calling or just spot and stalk. seems to work well for us....
         always scent up jdennis anything you use for deer hunting will work and try a dieing rabbit call. the blackies will often come on over for an easy meal..good hunting to all...

I can't speak for "up north" we are out west here in Oregon, but we can't bait or use dogs and we kill giants almost every year.  Depends if you are fall hunting or spring.  In spring, we use a "bear bomb" spray in our shop, hang our clothing over it and we end up smelling like cake frosting...(that's legal here if the sent is on the person)...we also use bear calls (sow moaning) in fields that are green in the spring cause they are eating a lot of high fiber, grass material that time of year out of hibernation to get the innards moving....look for lots of scat, near dense cover and water.  Look for green fields not far away and start calling and glassing early...good luck