Yes, you do not need dogs to hunt.
If you can bait, start now and establish a food spot for them. Go to local donut shop and get day old glazed donuts. Peanut butter, honey, grease, anything sweet. Put up some "bird" feeders, bears love seeds.
I find that bears just like to tear stuff up. Yesterday they took out 2 of my game cameras. Just busted them up for no reason. They knock down posts, bite and chew on anything you put up and generally tear it up. My tree stands are set on old telephone poles, I have bear claw marks and fur on almost everyone of them.
I am in Suffolk Va, so just north of you. I hear all the time of monster bears being taken around the dismal swamp in NC.
Good luck,