Bear hunting was exciting and dangerous work.
Before the weather got very cold and winter actually set in the bears crawled into a hole in a tree or a cave in the rocks, where they hibernated.

A favorite place for them was in hollow trees.

When the Indians found a tree with the scratches of a bear on it and a hole large enough to admit the body of a bear, an Indian climbed up the tree and with a long pole tried to punch Bruin out of his den.
Often this was a hazardous undertaking, for the bear would get angry on being disturbed in his winter sleep and would rush out before the Indian could reach a place of safety.

At times there were even two or three bears in one den.

Sometimes the bear would refuse to come out, and on these occasions, which were rare, the hunters would resort to fire.