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bnow0707 · Joined: 25 Aug 2003 Posts: 638 Location: Alabama

I live near Cheaha Mountain in Alabama and recently two black bears were released by the state into the area around the mountain and we have noticed fewer deer on our properties near the wilderness area into which the bears were released.Deer have always been scarce in this area but now they seem almost non-existent. Are bears capable of kiling a deer? Would they go to the trouble?

ChesterGolf · Joined: 17 Aug 2002 Posts: 1632 Location: Nova Scotia

Deer seem to shy away from bears. Bears will try to kill young deer(fawns) so the deer just keep their distance. It can really screw up your deer hunting when a bear hits the area. If the season permits it, shoot the bears then get your deer. Good luck.

bnow0707 · Joined: 25 Aug 2003 Posts: 638 Location: Alabama

No can do in AL bears are listed as "Protected" because there are only a few in the central part of the state (or that's what they say) . Even though Tenessee to the north seems to have plenty of them.

hunter777 · Joined: 28 Oct 2003 Posts: 1473

We had a few deer on a piece of land untill I started baiting. The bears came in and now the deer are gone. To a deer I think a bear smells bad!

Pick · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 8 Location: Vermont

In the past two years during Archery season in Vt I have seen many bear by my stands. But on a couple of occassions I have also had deer either a few minutes before or after the bear were near. On one occassion there were two cubs about fifty yards to my left and a doe walked straight in front of me. But for the most part I think deer will stay away from bear.

supersider34 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 274

Bears will kill deer and i think deer know when they are in a killing mood because we have tons of bears and deer and elk here in Idaho and I have been sitting over bait and had a 4x4 in Velvet come within 70 yds of my bait site and there where bears hitting my bait. I also have pics of elk 75 yds above my bait looking down to the bait. I think that in your area it might be a new scent aand the deer really dont know the smell except danger.

Billii · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2003 1:50 pm Post subject:

Yeah bears will kill deer, elk, & whatever else they can get their jaws on. It just depends on how hungery they are!! Last year my Dad & I were hunting elk & every single elk herd had at least one bear trailing it!! I kid you not sometimes they had two!! That year we saw nearly more bear than elk!!

BigE · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 241

My friend was speaking to an evironmental biologist who works for MassWildlife recently and he said that it is not uncommon for a mature boar to consume more than a dozen fawns in the spring when they come out of hibernation. They are ravenously hungry and the fawns were recently born and are pretty defenseless.
But, last year I had 2 does under me for about a half an hour before my bear walked up from the other side. The deer just wandered off without being alarmed....

maineguide · Joined: 03 Sep 2002 Posts: 250 Location: Downeast, ME USA

They like moose calfs also

Billii · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:07 am Post subject:

People too!! House cats, dogs, you name it they probably eat it!!

BigE · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 241

There is a great article on the predatory habits of black bear in this months Bear Hunting Magazine. It talks about how black bears prey on whitetail fawns. Very interesting article. There are even pictures of the bears eating the fawns.