BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[wlfdg]

This is my first season bear hunting. I hunted with dogs as a little kid.

I decided to give calling a go for my first season. I've had good luck! I've learned a lot. Read Billythekidrocks article :thumbsup1: Good stuff.

I've used a few different calls with different results.
Snowshoe Hare distress call-1st. time got a Grizzly :o
2nd.& 3rd. time-sow with cub in different areas.

Elk cow/calf- Both times Grizzlies different areas. :roll: Done doing that!

Fawn distress- Sow with cub in different area than the others. Twice. 3rd. time out saw nothing!

Rabbit distress- Coyote who got chased away by a grizzly.
Coyote who barked at me when I got up because I didn't know he was there.

No black bears that are legal game.

Could there be something I'm not doing or doing wrong?

I've tried different altitudes, habitats, etc.. I called today where I saw fresh tracks and scat without cub tracks. Sow w/cub. ::-k

[syndeis]

sounds like you are doing the right things especially when you are getting sows with cubs.

I think you guys that live with the grizzlies and blacks will know better than I, but when you are calling up grizzlies the chances of there being black bears around too aren't very good. Grizzlies will prey on black bears. There is a documentary in yellowstone about the black bear predations they have discovered there. Interesting findings from their investigations.

To me it sounds like your doing great. I would probably chat with a biologist that covers the area you are hunting and see if you can get a better idea of how the blacks are separating themselves from the grizzly population. Go from there.

P.S. how are you moving the grizzlies out that come calling?

[wlfdg]

syndeis wrote: sounds like you are doing the right things especially when you are getting sows with cubs.

I think you guys that live with the grizzlies and blacks will know better than I, but when you are calling up grizzlies the chances of there being black bears around too aren't very good. Grizzlies will prey on black bears. There is a documentary in yellowstone about the black bear predations they have discovered there. Interesting findings from their investigations.

To me it sounds like your doing great. I would probably chat with a biologist that covers the area you are hunting and see if you can get a better idea of how the blacks are separating themselves from the grizzly population. Go from there.

P.S. how are you moving the grizzlies out that come calling?

I'm not sure what you mean about "doing the right thing getting sows w/ cubs"?

There is a very fine line right now between grizzlies and blacks. Literally a couple hundred yards. It's incredible. The grizz population is new. Like this past year. I've yet to find bear scat with hair in it from either species. We still have lots of berries. Even with snow.

The grizz that pushed out the yote, I backed up the hill I was sitting on and stayed silent. He left. The others, I made my presence known. They left. Probably confused. Still scary though :roll: :lol:.

[syndeis]

I assumed when you wrote sow w/cub that you called a black bear with cubs

Keep calling and eventually that big boar will come in. Sows with cubs usually hit the dens first so later in the season might be just the ticket.

[billythekidrock]

I agree, it sounds as if you are doing the right things, but maybe in the wrong places. Less griz should mean more blackies.
Glad you liked the article.
Keep us posted.

PS. I killed two black bears in WA this year and neither were called.

[wlfdg]

syndeis wrote: I assumed when you wrote sow w/cub that you called a black bear with cubs

Keep calling and eventually that big boar will come in. Sows with cubs usually hit the dens first so later in the season might be just the ticket.

Yea, black bear sow w/cub. Thankfully I haven't seen a grizz and cub.

Season ends on Oct. 31st. It's still pretty warm here. Occasionally we get cold and snow like today. Tomorrow it's going back to near 50 F.

There is no clear definition of grizz/blackie range. I've seen blackie tracks 50 yds. east of claw marks on trees 8-10ft. off the ground.

Billy,
How did you score those bears?



I'm having a blast though :thumbsup1: . More fun than I thought.

[billythekidrock]

The two from this year were spotted in clear cuts. Matter of fact I think the last 4 I have killed were from glassing. Before that there were about 5 out of 6 that were called in.

[wlfdg]

Did you spot and stalk or shoot them long range?

[billythekidrock]

wlfdg wrote: Did you spot and stalk or shoot them long range?

Both were long range. One was 218 yards and the other was 268 yards.
Stalking was not an option on either bear this year. Something was always going to be an issue like bone dry woods (loud), the wind, lay of the land, etc.

[wlfdg]

What rig do hunt bear with? Caliber, bullet weight, etc...?

Thanks much for all the advice. :thumbsup1:

I went to an area yesterday where I've seen no grizz signs. Cow Elk is open so I was calling cow/calf. Hoping for a bear or an elk. Saw neither. I did see 3 bait barrels and 2 deadfall structures that looked like they could be used for baiting. Is this a + or - for me?They were all within a 1-2 acre area.?

[billythekidrock]

All my bears have been killed with a Win. .270. Bullets weights have varied from 130, 140 and 150 over the years. We are working on some handloads but right now I am shooting factory ammo.
This year both bears were killed with Winchester Super X 130 grn Power-Points.