Black Bear Population

[Bar]

I just read something that surprised me, but also made me smile as a bear hunter. It said there's more black bears in the US now than when the pilgrims landed. I'm not sure that can be said about any other big game.

Good time to be a bear hunter.

 

[5MilesBack]

Kind of odd too.......In over 30 years of big game hunting I can count on 2 fingers the number of bears that I could have actually shot while hunting (with any weapon). And one of those was a sow with cubs and two days before bear season started, so that one really doesn't even count. I just don't see many bears at all while elk and deer hunting. Rarely ever see any bear sign either.

 

[Bar]

Just goes to show how good bears are at avoiding us. I hardly ever see one either, but I know they're there. I'd sure like to see more when i'm hunting them.

 

[Bar]

I went back, and re-read it. He said the continent. So, I guess that would include Canada. I thought it was the US, because he mentioned Plymouth Rock.

Page 7

http://2bearhunt.uberflip.com/i/381406

 

[5MilesBack]

Just goes to show how good bears are at avoiding us. I hardly ever see one either, but I know they're there. I'd sure like to see more when i'm hunting them.

Ya, but even unseen bears have to poop, don't they?

 

[bowtech3dhunter]

It's the same thing for White-tailed deer. The agriculture and edge that we humans have created are perfect for them.

 

[Bar]

Ya, but even unseen bears have to poop, don't they?

I see a lot of scat, but I have a hard time seeing them drop it.

 

[dotman]

This year I had over 10 within 400 yards and three at 60 or less. I just couldn't get them to give me a good shot I was willing to take with the bow. I think if your not actively hunting or seeking them out you really probably walk by way more then you think.



Didn't take a pic since I was trying to get the guy that left this but he was a big bear.

 

[wawhitey]

I've seen dozens this year in the immediate area around my house. Like within a 5 mile radius as the crow flies. And I've gotten over 70 different bears on my trail cams this year despite the fact that 14 of them were pointed at nothing for 6 weeks. Thanks to the bears of course

 

[wawhitey]

Also I'm real curious as to how they know how many bears were around in the 16th century.

 

[5MilesBack]

I see a lot of scat, but I have a hard time seeing them drop it.

I've seen maybe 3 piles in 30+ years of elk and deer hunting covering dozens of miles every season. And for some reason I continue to buy a bear tag every year to support the CDOW. Maybe I really am an optimist.

 

[Vids]

I think it's terrain specific too. When I'm hunting "typical" elk country (high basins, dark timber, aspens, meadows) I see less bear sign. There are a few spots I've been where we saw way more bear sign than elk or deer. It was mostly lower areas that were more wet, with some oak brush, and plenty of berry bushes around.

I missed out on a bear tag for second rifle due to the CDPW website leftover tag debacle, which essentially guarantees I'll be covered up in bears next weekend.

 

[Bar]

I know some areas up at 10,000ft-11,000ft that have huckleberry bushes. I see tons of scat around those. I was going to use them for my bear hunt this year, but when I got to them during muzzy season the bears had already eaten the berries, left berry filled scat, and were gone. Sort of blew my bear hunt.

So, I went to plan B of trying to call one in. I did manage to call in two bears on separate days, but with my sidelock muzzleloader I needed to be within 50yds. They both came in, and both of them did the same thing. At 100yds they started to circle around behind me. Caught my scent, and wandered off. No bear meat for me.

 

[wawhitey]

I've seen maybe 3 piles in 30+ years of elk and deer hunting covering dozens of miles every season. And for some reason I continue to buy a bear tag every year to support the CDOW. Maybe I really am an optimist.

If you're ffeeling like you're missing out I'll send you a 50 gallon drum of bear crap for your own personal enjoyment. You just have to pay shipping.

 

[Bar]

If you're ffeeling like you're missing out I'll send you a 50 gallon drum of bear crap for your own personal enjoyment. You just have to pay shipping.

Add a little chili, and it makes a good dip.

 

[5MilesBack]

If you're ffeeling like you're missing out I'll send you a 50 gallon drum of bear crap for your own personal enjoyment. You just have to pay shipping.

Naw, just send the bears instead.

 

[dotman]

I've seen maybe 3 piles in 30+ years of elk and deer hunting covering dozens of miles every season. And for some reason I continue to buy a bear tag every year to support the CDOW. Maybe I really am an optimist.

You are probably about 2000-4000ft too high where youelk hunt. The Bears are all down in the oak brush by the end of Aug eating acorns and they don't head back up high until middle to late Oct or even Nov I believe.

 

[miller1]

We saw plenty of bear poo this year in Co. the last week of September and all of it was above 10500 ft, this nice pile was at 11500 and very fresh and the size of horse crap.

 

[djsmith46]

I admit it. I soooo want to post a pic of one of my mammoth dumps and pass it on to all you fellas as bear poo. Yes, I realize I'm immature

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I admit it. I soooo want to post a pic of one of my mammoth dumps and pass it on to all you fellas as bear poo. Yes, I realize I'm immature

Lmao you sir are twisted, I like that.