Bear Zone 45

[fireman]

I was just wondering if anybody has had any experience hunting bear in the Huntersville or Lyons state forest? Just curious as to the experience you had, good hunt, alot of competition with other hunters, etc. We got turned down for our usual area 41, so looking to try a new area that still has some leftover tags. Thanks in advance and happy hunting.

P.S. Not long now....

[Swamp Scooter]

Fireman,

Last year I went to one of the DNR seminars for bear hunters and they had printouts of registered bait pits they showed us, by year. I do not see them on the dnr HSOforum but I know they have them. I would give them a call and ask if you can find out where there were bait stations in your area. Since you are supposed to send in your registration for them they have the data and should be able to give it to you from last season by now.

If you can put out a few test baits ASAP and see that you have a bear or two in the area then get a couple of baits established and posted. From my experience there are a lot of bear hunters that do not roam too far from the trails so if you go back and find a small hidden pond or a good dense swampy area you will probably have it all to yourself.

Also it is good to remember that the best bait wins on opening day! If you have something a little different or special to start setting out just before the season starts you should get a bear to hit it daily. If you do then you can feel a little more comfortable about not being disturbed. I hunted where I thought I was the only one out there but some locals "stumbled" on to my pit. They did not do anything to it, that I could tell, but I heard in town that someone was hunting back in the swamp...that was me and they knew it(they were on the other side). I had better bait and got the bear to come to my bait first in the day. They were a little ticked but I was successful.

Area 45 is a little different in terrain than some of the others too. There are a lot more open fields and farms. I used a topo map to see where I might find an out of the way spot and then had to make a few trips up there to build a pit and stand so I was confident that I was not being surrounded.

It is high time to get a spot picked out, you are right. I am not hunting bear this year but will next. Good luck.

[fireman]

Swamp Scooter,

Thanks for the info. I never thought about checking with the DNR about the bait registrations. I will have to do that this week. Thanks again and good luck this fall.

[Swamp Scooter]

Fireman,

What is an e-mail address for you? Got some info to pass on.

[fireman]

Swamp Scooter,

My email is [email protected].