North Carolina has one of the largest black bear populations in the lower 48 and is known for having some of the largest bears in North America along it's coastal plain. Hell, even Jim Shockey went to NC for a black bear hunt. I was in a very good area with limited access because of private property boundaries. I also saw two sows with five cubs and two juevinal boars.Congrats. Lived in NC for 8 years and never seen a bear.