Can someone explain bear hunting to me?

[Random guy]

To Tall, nobody is really sure anymore how it works when it comes to guided hunters; hopefully soon the DNR will give some clarification.

[Random guy]

This topic did get a bit off course and mostly due to my ramblings. I was thinking about bear hunting and what makes it enjoyable for me and a few things come to mind.

One is just getting out in the woods. Granted I make my living outdoors but something about pushing into the cedar bottoms and deep spruce edges in August holds something special for me. I am working in places that have been unseen since the last go around. I get to see what bears made the winter and what bears did not. What yearlings are now holding their own and I get to see the next generation of boars waddling behind mom. The skunks will be hiding in the same places and the porcupines will still retreat from my presence at ½ a mile an hour.

Second is the battle of wits against the old boars and the constant humbling they offer. Many do not give the bear credit when it comes to a challenge but any boar will frustrate you and often times leave you wonder why and how. To witness a 450 lb animal move like a ghost in the woods or burst away at break neck speeds with the cornering ability of an Indy car is amazing every time I see it. To be tending a bait only to realize the boar has been watching you the entire from forty yards away through the brush or to discover he has been letting you walk within thirty yards of his bedding area all season also has its emotions.

Third is the time I get to spend with clients as their eyes are the size of fifty cent pieces and hands are still trembling. Seeing just how the black bear and his ways have affected even the most seasoned sportsmen makes it bear hunting. To find guys so scared they won’t come out of the tree or guys that are just coming to the realization they just harvested an animal most will never see outside of pictures or nature shows also makes bear hunting what it is for me.

But most of all it is in ones blood. Once you start or once you have walked up to a bait where the logs are not moved but thrown thirty feet you get a feeling that walks the edge of excitement but often steps over into apprehension a hundred times a minutes. To walk up to a bait where the entire pile of 12-18 inch logs is just as you left it but only slid over three feet you then can’t help but feel the respect for an animal that is capable controlling that much power.

Bear hunting in its truest form is almost impossible to explain until you have gone unnoticed 10 yards from a boar or crawled the brush in the darkness with a flash light hoping you are making the right choice or even had the chance to witness a sow and cubs carry on with their everyday activities. Hunting bear is far from sitting over day old baked goods waiting for a glutton to show up; it is a hunt unlike anything else you have ever experienced.

[friz]

Couldn't of said it better myself Jonny P. I guess maybe to the casual observer it may seem like you can toss out some goodies and the boys just show up. I've been at it for a few years and yet have that happened to me.

Spent countless hours baiting, sitting on stand, going over 100's of trail cam pictures only to leave me scratching my head thinking those black fellas are pretty clever, like showing up 15 min. after you rebait or 10 min. after you leave your stand in the dark.

Yes, the opportunities have been there but to the diehard bear hunter it's way more than that. I laughed out loud one time watching mama & the kids doing some crazy things & have had some close encounters in the pitch dark all of which I wouldn't give up for anything.

Last year I did finally harvest a 390 lb. boar with an arrow. Skull measured 19 6/8. Guess maybe I had paid my dues and hope the lottery gods are good to me this year.

[00rowe]

I'm pretty simple, but I think the emphasis should be on the HUNT, not the kill. Bear hunting is the best example of this, making a 20 yd shot is not difficult for many hunters but after weeks of baiting and many long nights on stand it's tougher than shooting the target in the back yard.

TV is the worst at promoting the "KILL", some of these guys have hundreds of "trophies" on the wall, just doing from state to state on guided hunts and killing. Nothing against guided hunts, but the Real Tree guys still blast the first 130"er that walks out just to get a "kill" on camera, same goes with bears in Canada, gotta get the camera guy in on the action as soon as the host tags out. I think it would just get old, but I do enjoy spending time in the woods even when I don't draw my bow or pull the trigger.

Sorry about getting off topic a little.

Mike

[kelly-p]

to leave me scratching my head thinking those black fellas are pretty clever, like showing up 15 min. after you rebait or 10 min. after you leave your stand in the dark.

Other then trail camaras 90% of the bear hunters that were made a fool of by a big boar never even knew they were being made a fool of. The hunter sat in the stand thinking how dead it was while the boar was watching/smelling/listening while the hunter scratches bug bites or pick his nose.

[knowsnothing]

To be honest, I thought hunting over bait was too easy and had no desire to hunt bears until I did it. What I learned was that bear hunting is about multiple weeks of sweat pouring out of every crevis, muscles sore from dragging baits through the woods, gaining about 20 lbs just off the smell of my bait pile, lots of prayers that my thermal Cell would hold off a few pest, sitting endless hours in quiet woods, did I mentioned the drained wallet, constant advise from this site ( a big thanks to Boar), Frustration of your bait being nailed at 4:15 a.m., constant feeling that you have absolutely no clue on what you are doing, did I mention the drained wallet, Lots of dreams that I should be chasing fall Musky, day after day of wondering why the deer are all at your bait but you have yet to see a bear, Questions from the wife like "really....... nothing"?, did I mention the drained wallet. With all that being said, I WOULD DO IT AGAIN IN A HEART BEAT!!

[Random guy]

LOL! Perfect and couldn't have said it better myself.

[jerkbait]

X2, I am hooked for life now.

[x1957x]

Just your opinion. First thing is dont watch bear hunting video's if you dont like them or understand it. Second there is appx 25,000 bears in the state of mn. Maybe more. And how many deer and turkeys. Easy to decoy a deer or a turkey DURING breeding season with a little help from a calland proper decoys. Do you have bear calls and bear decoys that you can use? That is the next thing. BEAR SEASON IS CLOSED during their breeding season. O.K. with that said. How do you lure a bear in to shooting range? You have decoys for ducks and geese., for turkeys and deer. etc. The only other way is to spot and stalk. THE cover in mn. is just to thick. Watch a spot and stalk video and you dont see them stalking bear through dense cover!

[x1957x]

Whatcha been up to Jerkbait? Have you had any contact with Bear? let me know!

[Boar]

Its spring! I have a huge project going on, im tearing down my old crudy shop cause its actually decreasing the value of my home. So, I had to move all my bear bait into another garage for storage, four hours later, 125 buckets of grease an doughnuts, five 32 gallon garbage cans of doughnust an grease, 200lbs of fudge iceing, 40 gallons of orange flaverd iceing, 100lbs of trail mix, 40 packets of strawberry glaze, 100lbs of liqourice, 50lb tootise roll, 30 lbs of chocolate hearts, 45 lbs of cookie stuff idont even no wat to call it, an about 100 gal. of grease. WHEW!! i'm exhausted to say the leaste, but to say the most I CANT WAIT TILL BEAR SEASON!!!!!!! Boar

[Tim_Anderson]

Just came across this interesting topic. Brings to mind some good memories.

I've had some definite thrills in the bear woods. My first came in 1982 when I was 17 years old. At first light of opening day, a bear climbed my tree and looked over the floorboard of my stand. I shot that boar between the eyes two feet away from my boot. It fell to the base of the tree. I waited till I was sure it wasn't moving. When I climbed down the tree, I had to place my foot right beside it to get on the ground. The precise moment my foot touched the ground, the bear let out it's death moan - not sure why it waited so long - but I don't think I've ever gone up a tree that fast before or since! About soiled myself. It makes for a good story that I obviously still like to tell to this day.

Any other animal - I would have just stood there and shot it again. But the bear scared the heck out of me. I've hunted a lot of critters before, and none of them have ever done that since.

Except another bear.

So I found myself with another bear permit a couple of years later. This time, I approached my best bait on a rainy morning at first light. My trail leading to the bait was raked down to bare dirt so that I could approach quietly. My problem was that the bait was between me and my stand - as I used an already existing stand on county land. Doubt if I'll ever do that again, but back to the story. In the dim light, and with the rain coming down, I came within a few feet of three cubs monkeying around in the brush. I heard a grunt, and the sow took off in the opposite direction with said cubs in tow. I was breathing a sigh of relief when I saw a shadow moving behind a blowdown, and out comes another bigger bear. It continued walking toward me. Remember, I was still on the ground.

Mentally, I began calculating - how close do I let this bear come? I drew an imaginary line on the trail, and when the bear crossed it at five yards, I shot him right above the white spot on his chest. My second bear ran about 40 yards before running headlong into a tree and bellered it's fool head off - which is when I turned and ran, once again, directly to my truck. My heart was beating out of my chest, and I my shaking was out of control. I had to collect myself before I could drive - then came back an hour later with my backup (brother and dad) to collect my bear - another 300 lb. boar.

I was a little frustrated with the situation, because I just genuinely wanted to get in my tree and observe some bears - and maybe shoot a really big one. Problem was, I could just never seem to get the chance as these bears just want to come too close for comfort (with me anyway). Nice problem to have, huh?

My brother lives in central British Columbia. One spring day, we did a spot and stalk, and encountered 22 different bears in one day - all on foot. We finally killed one in the late afternoon. I learned a lot about spot and stalk, and getting close to and judging bears that day. That was a blast, and something that I would definitely do again. If I do, it will be with a bow to increase the challenge.

When my son was 11 years old (1999), I "guided" him to his first bear. 90 minutes after climbing the stand on opening day - he made a great shot and put his bear down fast, in tight quarters. I'm sure it's a thrill he will never forget, and it's something that I'm very glad we did together. Now my son knows how to do it on his own, and perhaps it's something he will pass on to his own son.

I don't tell these stories to boast about out great success, but to try to convey the excitement and thrill of encountering these amazing creatures to someone who possibly just can't relate. I enjoyed the challenge of the hunt, but probably mostly the thrill of getting so close, and how they scared me and made me nervous and put me "on alert." Call it sick, but it's what makes some of us "come alive."

I don't know about my uncanny luck with killing bears on opening day. I sure wouldn't say it was easy. It took weeks of scouting and preparation, and lots of sweat and back breaking work running those baits - not to mention gas and bait expense. I haven't hunted bears now for years, but guys tell me that as more and more people get into it - well, the competition gets fierce as many guys are hunting the same bears. They get cagey, and go underground as does a big mature buck. My heyday was back in the day when there were really very few people bear hunting. I don't remember ever having competition in my hunting areas.

Having said all this - even though it's been years since I hunted, I wouldn't trade those memories of bear hunting success. I've simply decided to put my time into other things that trip my trigger a little more. But I understand the guys that get it in their blood. It's the way I am with musky fishing, or white-tailed deer hunting. There's a lot of people that think I am crazy when it comes to those sports... they just don't get it! So we poke and jab and laugh about it.

First and foremost, as an outdoorsman and an american, I will always understand any mans innate deep desire to hunt, and his willingness to fight for that right. Who am I to question what he likes best?

As a guy with a wildlife biology major, I understand the need for bears to be managed.

For the guys that love bear hunting - I hear ya. And for those that don't, I trust there is probably something that you are passionate about that we/I likely don't relate to either.

We're all different. It's what makes the world go around.

[Boar]

thanks for sharing tim, awsome stories. Boar

[x1957x]

Boar, watcha been up to? Give me a call at 507-370-1694 or e-mail me and I will get back to ya. Jeff. How was fishing up on RED lake. Did not have time to go or would have came. Talk to you later. [email protected] is my e-mail add.

[jerkbait]

Whatcha been up to Jerkbait? Have you had any contact with Bear? let me know!

Who is this?

[jerkbait]

Its spring! I have a huge project going on, im tearing down my old crudy shop cause its actually decreasing the value of my home. So, I had to move all my bear bait into another garage for storage, four hours later, 125 buckets of grease an doughnuts, five 32 gallon garbage cans of doughnust an grease, 200lbs of fudge iceing, 40 gallons of orange flaverd iceing, 100lbs of trail mix, 40 packets of strawberry glaze, 100lbs of liqourice, 50lb tootise roll, 30 lbs of chocolate hearts, 45 lbs of cookie stuff idont even no wat to call it, an about 100 gal. of grease. WHEW!! i'm exhausted to say the leaste, but to say the most I CANT WAIT TILL BEAR SEASON!!!!!!! Boar

Sounds like fun Boar. And all I did was go ice fishing Friday eve and Saturday. I am jealous though that you will get to hunt this fall. I figure that I won't get drawn this year. Good luck with the project.

[x1957x]

Jerkbait. This is 1957. Havent been on the forums since last fall. Talked to you and boar a bunch. Posted some of my bear pictures. Whats been up? Have you talked to Jeff ( boar ) lately ? Just wanted to say hi!

[jerkbait]

OK. Got it now. I have been ice fishing a ton this winter and dreaming of bear hunting again. Never did get to soak a bobber with Jeff. He moved the boars nest over to south tip and never worked out to get over there. We also had a lot of company up fishing this winter.

[DR_FISH]

All hunting/fishing is the same if plan to kill the animal, it doesn't matter what you use as bait the animal will still end up dead.

[bobbymalone]

All hunting/fishing is the same if plan to kill the animal, it doesn't matter what you use as bait the animal will still end up dead.

In that case I want to rig claymores up to my bait pile and along game trails.

[TooTallTom]

In that case I want to rig claymores up to my bait pile and along game trails.

Forget that! Claymores ruin racks! (And that's what it's all about, right?) I want to pay people to tranq and tie trophies for me to go in at my leisure and kill them with a knife. People will think I'm a badd mamma-jamma when I show them my trophy room and tell them that I killed every one with a knife.

[Boar]

Hey JB, yea it was fun standing in boars bear bait emporium an dreaming, ya got apply tho, gota get that preference point if nothing else. howd ya do fishing.Hey 57 whats happinging bud, I said hi to ya on a nother thread ,must not of seen it. Fishing eas tough for me this year but ende on a realy good note of monster pike. Bloods pumping with bear bat now. JB, sory we didnt get together on a wet boober, but this spring an sumer were gonna be at the cabin alot so I call ya, maybe BBQ or something. Later guys, baor

[x1957x]

Hey Boar, here is my e-mail address( [email protected] ) Send me an e-mail and we can do some talking! You to JB. Yea this nice weather really gets the blood pumping when thinking about the elusive black creature of the northern woods! CANT WAIT myself. What zones do you guys hunt in? Did you fellas try my bear bait concoction or not. Gave it to the friend from Grand Rapids and he was literally amazed. Wont use the old bread and pastries [PoorWordUsage] anymore. Loves the stuff! He has already made 5 or 6 barrels of it already. Cant wait to hear from you guys>>>> Jeff.

[CANOPY SAM]

Tim. Your explanation of "Can someone explain bear hunting to me" couldn't have been written any better! Absolutely great stories, and your sense of humor, and appreciation of the animal, and the experience came thru vividly.

Thanks for sharing your insight. It's posts like yours that make this HSOforum a real pleasure to visit.

[wingedone]

It's interesting that you refer to Dr. Rogers and his research. Are you aware that Dr. Rogers is credited with establishing what we now have as rules and regulations for bear hunting in Minnesota, which includes baiting? He knows, as does any bear hunter, that bait is used in order for the hunter to get a clean, killing shot on a bear. As you have already read by good hunters on this subject, hunting over bait is not a guarantee...but it is the only way, in the dense woods of MN, that you will have the opportunity to put that bear down quickly, and mercifully. It is also the only way you will have an opportunity to view the bear when it is calm, which keeps you somewhat calm (well - sort of)...so that you can determine size, sex, and whether or not it is a sow that has some cubs nearby. Often times the sow will come in alone, and then call for her cubs when she feels there is no danger. Last year I had a sow bring in three cubs that I was able to watch for a good 45 minutes. Baiting has its purpose...and it's not as easy as most think. By the way - those cheddarheads can keep the dogs...that is one way I would never hunt bear. When I think of what that adrenaline must do to the taste of the meat....no thanks!