weather

[jay83196]

Just wondering how weather effects bear movement, curious what some of you long time hunters have learned over the years. Thank you...

[pulleye16]

I guessing there will be alot of berries this year...

[bogwalker]

Heavy rain may limit their movement but it depends on how close they are to "hibernation". Some are already bedded down for the winter in September. There are bears that do not seek shelter for the winter. They just curl up and stay there in the open until spring. One boar comes to mind that would lay down on a beaver dam for the winter. As far as I know only boars who are some of the last to settle in for winter do this.

[lichen fox]

We've found that extreme heat can sometimes slow down the baits or at least push some of the bears into the nitetime hours, but it also depends on how far you are from water when it's really hot...thunderstorms and heavier rains will also slow movement as bogwalker said, and snow really throws them for a loop! One year we had 11 inches of snow about the first of October or so and when we checked the next day we only had two out of ten baits hit, the snow melted the next day but the weather stayed quite cool for the rest of the season...we ended up with about 5 active baits after the snow as a few more bears came back, but only two of those were ever being hit before dark...I harvested a 13 year old boar that year on the second to last day of season that weighed 550 pounds field dressed....

[Boar]

The only wether related movement of bear ive witnessed is the heat as mentioned, had sites that just stoped cold with a heat wave but pick up again as it cooled. Makes a guy wonder what he is doing wrong, when its nothing hes done. I agree witht he heavy rain limiting movement but I'm not gonna be out in that junk unless I get caught in it. Boar

[cherokee]

I find it interesting that bears are thinking about hibernation so early. Thanks for the information.

[jay83196]

I kinda noticed last year when it got hot I had less activity on sites. Rain didn't seem to effect it as much, hope we have a cooler September... how much time you guys spend in your stand to hunt?

[bogwalker]

I try to be at the site by 3:00 and stay until it is too dark to see. Many sites are ruined by hunters leaving before dark turning the bears nocturnal

(possible exception would be young bears).

[lichen fox]

As little as possible!! I've had my spine fused and I have a hard time sitting in a portable for extended periods of time, about 3 hours is my limit...we time all our baits and write down the results every time we bait...when we have what we think is a decent bear hitting at a good time consistantly we'll set up on that bait about an hour ahead of the time he hits and this has worked extemely well for us over the years. We've shot bears at two in the afternoon after as little as a five minute sit and right at dusk after a two and a half hour sit, and everywhere in between...we make the decision on what baits we plan on hunting when we're checking the baits, based on times, (we revue history before going in), wind direction that day, etc...If it looks like it may be huntable that evening we bring a stand with just in case it's hit at a good time again...

[bogwalker]

I had to give up tree stands because of my back too. Now I sit on the ground with my back against a tree.

[jerkbait]

Bog, do you ever use ground blinds?

[bogwalker]

Bog, do you ever use ground blinds?

I used a full size ground blind with my son a few years ago. I did not like the limited field of view. I also tried a chair blind but it restricted any movement with my rifle too much. My wife uses a ground blind and she likes it. After sitting in the open on the ground and taking a bear this way, nothing seems to match the excitement. It is pretty comfortable too. If I have to move I can do so without a chair or stand creaking.

[bogwalker]

My son-in-law took his blind down one afternoon last season and decided to sit on the ground a few yards back up his trail. He knew there was a good bear coming in but it would not show itself. Sitting on the trail with ferns around him he heard something behind him. The bear was walking down the trail he was sitting on. He took this bear which was only 2 to 3 yards away from him. It weighed just under 400 pounds. Now he too is hooked. Stands and blinds are not the same after this type of encounter.

[jerkbait]

Did he have to clean out some under garments after that?

[Boar]

Hey bog, I hunted from a ground bluind an really enjoy it also, since ya dont like the full size blind, do you build your own? or do ya recomend a store bought. Ive have a amristep that I have used for bear but dont like it cause of zipper noise. I guess I could leave the door open an just back out but that would kinda silloute me in the blind. I've seen where a guy can rope off a couple of trees an cut brush an hang upside down on the rope then cut shotting windows. Can ya leave a ground blind up on state land like a tree stand? If so thats probabley not recommended eh? there kinda spendy. Later boar

[bogwalker]

Hey bog, I hunted from a ground bluind an really enjoy it also, since ya dont like the full size blind, do you build your own? or do ya recomend a store bought. Ive have a amristep that I have used for bear but dont like it cause of zipper noise. I guess I could leave the door open an just back out but that would kinda silloute me in the blind. I've seen where a guy can rope off a couple of trees an cut brush an hang upside down on the rope then cut shotting windows. Can ya leave a ground blind up on state land like a tree stand? If so thats probabley not recommended eh? there kinda spendy. Later boar

Boar, I don't use a blind for bear anymore. Just sit on the ground with my back against a tree. Nothing between me and the bear but good fresh air. My daughter owns a guide service and they use blinds at some sites. No problem leaving the blinds up so far. 2 Years ago I took a 290 pound (field dressed and weighed) bear probably no more than 20 - 30' away. You should try this!

[bogwalker]

Did he have to clean out some under garments after that?

jerkbait, You might think so but he is hooked now too. The only real concern is a sow with cubs walking in. I am careful not to hunt sites where a sow with cubs are feeding. If they are the only ones feeding there I will abandon the site.

[x1957x]

Bogwalker, think I will have to give it a try. Just gets me excited talking bear hunting. ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh yeah. just a month until BAITING begins. cant wait... Also, I have left a ground blind up on state ground and never had a problem, although there is some thiefs that do still walk the bush. I have had 3 tree stands missing, just by taking down and leaving on the ground. It is really disheartning when you walk in to get in your tree stand and it's not there!! jeff

[bogwalker]

x1957x, 2 Things I have learned. Pick a couple spots to sit to allow for wind direction changes. Also, you do not want to walk across your bait site to get to the place you will be sitting. Good luck!