BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[eajonesyk2]

Has anybody taken a bear near their camp?
I am going to try the rabbit and fawn distress calls, but I had a thought regarding my camp location.
I have read more stories than I can count about bears approaching and entering camps. I will only be out one night at a time and solo most of the time. I am thinking about camping at the same spot each time so I can get to know an area well. My trips will be about a week or two apart. Any advice on shooting or not shooting a bear if one comes in close for a visit?
I am sure these are not camp bears where I am going but when they or it catches a whiff of my bacon, eggs and hash brown breakfast, I think a bear will deem it worthy of a look.

Thanks

[GBoyd]

I don't understand.

What's the problem with shooting a bear close to your camp?

If there's a bear tearing through your stuff and you happen to be on a bear hunt, I think it's the perfect opportunity.

[billythekidrock]

Depends on where you are camping. Are you out in the sticks or a state/county campground? Most bears in the sticks will stay away from camps, not all, but most.

We had a young one in our camp up in the sticks on time. The short story is..
"On the third day we almost had a bear in camp, literally. At 4 pm my brother was napping on the ground, my partner was crashed in his trailer, my son was reading in the tent and I was reading on a cot in the shade when nature called on me. I walked 20 yds barefoot out to the logging road to take a leak and as I reached for my “gun” I saw a bear at 35 yds walking along the edge of the road right to me. I holstered my gun with out firing a warning shot and ran back to get my “rifle” (one is for killing, one is for fun) and quickly debated on killing the small bear and waking up camp with the shot, but decided to call my son out of the tent and see if he could get a shot. I loaded two shells in my .270 and we went out to the road just as the bear jumped in the brush next to camp about 20 yds away. I thought about leaving my son near the road as I walk behind camp, but thought he might not hit the bear if it was running by, so he went and I stayed. The bear jumped and trotted a short distance and my son went back in deeper as the bear took off. He was able to see it, but would not have had a shot, even if he had a rifle with him. Not until we woke up the rest of camp did I notice that I had not zipped up my pants!"

you can read the whole post here. http://bearseast.proboards34.c.....amp;page=1

[expatriate]

One issue to be careful of is your state's regulations about baiting. There's a fine line between normal camp smells vs leaving bacon grease and food laying around to attract bears. In Alaska, for example, you can be found guilty of baiting grizzlies if you haven't taken appropriate care to stow your food and trash to keep it away from bears.

[ADKBEAR]

Bear in camp = short drag :thumbsup1:

The last thing you want is a bear tearing through your stuff! Makes for a quick end to a hunting trip when everything is wrecked.

[eajonesyk2]

The unlawful baiting concern crossed my mind. I read a story about a guy that was camping in a park and had a bear enter his site. He threw a piece of firewood at it and killed the bear. He was cited for something related to improper storage of food related items or such. Now if he had shot the bear I imagine he might have been in quite a bit more trouble.

I will be camping in the sticks. I have read that when you set up camp in bear country you should locate your cooking area at least 100 feet from your sleeping area. So if I was to set up my cooking area in an open area and my sleeping and lounge area with in sight about 50 yards or so away. I could keep an eye on it and perhaps try some game calls while my meals are cooking.

I should be able to avoid any legal trouble as far as storage goes if I hang the food and garbage properly when not in use. I need to get a camo tent although I think I will be sleeping in the truck if I cook a ham for dinner.

[eajonesyk2]

Here is a link to story about bear meets firewood:

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13539456/detail.html

[ratrivertrapper]

I've taken 3 off my camp deck lol and once shot a griz as it exited my buddies back porch ...do what ya gotta do