Elk in Grizzly country. How much is too much?

[mt100gr.]

I would say we are definitely more "exposed" to bear encounters than those stats give credit for. Especially with grizzly populations growing the way they are. Bear numbers are more concentrated in bear areas and we slip in there trying to be quiet AND making animal sounds. I personally have had lightning strike within 100 yards of me only once. (In town it struck the RR tracks as I rode my bike on the adjacent street...amazing) I have been closer than that to grizzlies a number of times. Not that I consider those "threatening" encounters but the exposure and frequency puts the odds a little more in favor of a charge.

 

[Bar]

Frankly, i'm more concerned with black bears. Although a grizz is certainly a dangerous bear. If they attack you can play dead, and survive. A black bear will continue to attack you until you're dead, and then will eat you. Always fight for all your worth in a black bear attack.

Also, don't count on bear spray as much with a black bear. It works pretty good on grizz, but black bears have been known to keep coming when sprayed. Carry a handgun, or at least a big knife to fight off a black.

 

[MTbowhunter36]

Hunting with a rifle in griz country wouldn't be a major concern for me. Unless, however you're in an area like some HDs outside Yellowstone where griz equate gun shots to dinner bells.

Archery hunting in griz country would be another story, for me anyways. It seems that every year there are archery elk hunters in MT that get mauled by grizzlies. Just recently a guy got mauled by a grizzly when hunting spring black bears.

 

[Brendan]

What precautions would you take if you're archery-bivy hunting? Obviously, you're carrying food in your pack, and wearing the same clothes day-in, day-out. I'm not talking Alaska, but let's say Montana for example.

Camp safely? Avoid it altogether? Hang food nightly? Hang all garbage? I personally would have both a .44 and bear spray with me...

 

[crumy]

Always hang food and garbage. Check out recommendations on how to hang for examples We don't even keep soap or toothpaste at camp. All hanging.

 

[mt100gr.]

Keep a clean camp. I usually hang food and garbage unless I have an opportunity to burn my garbage....I carry a sidearm and usually have spray handy as well. Other than that, "be bear aware" as a fella once said. There's only so much you can do before you convince yourself you'd be safer at home...

 

[Bighorse]

52 Grizzlies in an area that small. Wow! A single Grizzly in Alaska has a huge home range of like 100-150 square miles. A single coastal Brown Bear has a smaller home range of aprox 50 sq. miles. 40,000 acre is 62.5 sq miles. My opinion is that is TOO much Grizzly in one area. They need to issue tags.

That aside, I prefer to hunt where the bears roam. Going into a wild place with wild bears is where the action is. Bear don't inhabit junk habitat.

Be savy, give em space, be prepared for action if need be.

I've been hunting with Brown bears for a decade. I've had close calls and a few sleepless nights. It's an aquired taste, like strong coffee or beer. They know way more than people give em credit for. Your likely not to go unnoticed and they will.

The time to be most aware is when your in a stalking situation and your actively working the wind and concealing your movement. Thats when you'll both get suprised and bad things happen. The next bad situation is having a camp visitor tear up your gear. Lastly, always watch out for sows with cubs.

Best wishes for successful hunting bear free.

 

[jmez]

Well according to the Vital Ground Foundation the grizzly bear is teetering on the brink of survival in the lower 48.

Anyone else hear these garbage commercials on local radio stations?

 

[mt100gr.]

Well according to the Vital Ground Foundation the grizzly bear is teetering on the brink of survival in the lower 48.

Anyone else hear these garbage commercials on local radio stations?

Unbelievable...I haven't heard them but I can only imagine. All it takes is a little well placed, well timed, and well done propaganda and some people turn into putty. (Green putty...)

I, on the other hand, truly believe we have huntable grizzly populations in some areas of the lower 48 and need to capitalize on not only the hunting opportunities but the opportunity to instill the fear of humans in these bears. As their numbers continue to rise, the potential for many more not-happy-ending encounters goes way up. In rural western MT where I live, there are literally grizzlies roaming some of the "neighborhoods"

 

[MT_Nate]

In a nutshell, clean camp/dirty camp...none of that matters once you have an elk down in grizzly country. You'd better be fast and have your neck fitted to a turret while you pack out the animal...you're a bloody, living, moving animal that has an excess of some of the world's finest meat attached to you for multiple trips in and out. So far so good, but I've returned to areas where I left a carcass 2-3 days earlier, and lo-and-behold...the griz were there too.

I hunt the Swan/Mission/Flathead Ranges of NW Montana. Plenty of grizzlies running around...seen a few of them while being quiet and moving in on elk, and like mt100gr. said earlier, most do not pay attention to you, and a better number of them move off trying to get away from you! But there could always be the exception...and I always have a plan to leave an area if I run into them. Being mauled doesn't seem like a good way to have your life ended. I haven't had any bad encounters with 'em yet while hunting, but it's always crossing my mind when bull-fever doesn't rule it.

I make a rule to avoid areas with lots of grizzly sign and activity if I come across it - plenty of elk in other areas where the threat may not be as imminent.

 

[Fixitman]

Not to steal the thread or anything but this seemed like a good place to Ask. What brand bear spray have you guys had the best luck with. And what size are you taking

 

[mt100gr.]

I use 400 gr hardcast lead bear spray. And the "hairspray" I carry is UDAP. Thankfully I can't tell you whether it's good or not, but I trust it. The stats don't lie...but if I am not going lightweight I like carry a sidearm also.

 

[307]

Plan A: Avoid encounter.
Plan B: UDAP
Plan C: Ruger .480 (400 grain hardcast)

 

[wymtnpounder]

The only good thing about grizzlies is they keep a lot of other hunters out.