Elk in Grizzly country. How much is too much?

[2rocky]

Looking at a new area to call our Elk hunting "home". The area that is being considered is said to have 52 grizzly bears (from telemetry studies) in a 40,000 acre area according to one report I read. The Campgrounds in the area are closed to tent camping, due to bear issues.

would this impair YOUR decision making for a rifle hunt DIY?

 

[LJ Buck]

No but i live in Grizz country so no matter what i have to deal with them. If i had options then yes maybe.

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

They don't bother me that much, we will see how my hunts this fall go in Grizzly Bear mecca.

 

[Shrek]

I'd sleep better with an electric bear fence. I didn't even see a grizzly and only saw some tracks but it changed the way I felt about the place I hunted.

 

[Yellowknife]

Looking at a new area to call our Elk hunting "home". The area that is being considered is said to have 52 grizzly bears (from telemetry studies) in a 40,000 acre area according to one report I read. The Campgrounds in the area are closed to tent camping, due to bear issues.

would this impair YOUR decision making for a rifle hunt DIY?

If bears impaired my decisions, I'd never leave the house!

We have the luxury in Alaska of being able to just shoot most bears that want to argue over a kill, but if you can't do that then just let'm have it. Even in thick bear country it happens only very rarely. A small risk that I'm perfectly willing (actually don't have a choice) to take for good hunting.


Yk

 

[Bar]

The only thing that would concern me would be how my elk gun would do on on a grizz. Other than that. No change would be made.

 

[topher89]

The only thing that would concern me would be how my elk gun would do on on a grizz. Other than that. No change would be made.

As someone who doesn't live in grizzly country this would be my first thought. The 30-06 I shoot here might turn into one of the 300 Mags or a 338 Win Mag if there were grizzlies around

 

[Bar]

I'd be ok with a 30-06, but I hunt with a traditional Hawken style muzzleloader. I'd have to rethink the gun choice in grizz country.

 

[Bonedalien]

I'd be ok with a 30-06, but I hunt with a traditional Hawken style muzzleloader. I'd have to rethink the gun choice in grizz country.

or just have something extra strapped to your chest or waist.

 

[Bar]

or just have something extra strapped to your chest or waist.

Flame thrower?

 

[Bonedalien]

Flame thrower?

ha! that would probably turn a charge!

 

[mt100gr.]

Bears (grizzly) are a fact where I live, work, and play, too. Just be aware, know what "sign" looks like and keep your eyes up. They definitely influence how I move through the country but not whether I stay home. Even in bear-dense areas, there are places/ routes they are more likely to be...places to avoid.

4 years ago, the farm I managed had a serious bear problem. The neighbors had lost a horse and buried it only about 3 feet deep. Seven DIFFERENT grizzlies were caught on cameras using that carcass. I would see bears almost daily....sometimes pretty close.

The more you are around them, whether you see them or not, the more comfortable you get. Don't let your guard down and don't get complacent but also don't let them win. And by all means, if you have a chance to teach them a lesson and instill some fear of man in them, do it. Interpret that however you like...

 

[Matthoek21]

I've never hunted in Griz country but have camped, backpacked, and fly fished...Slough Creek, Pelican Creek and Valley, Cabin creek, Grayling Creek, Madison River, Gallatin River, South Fork of the Flathead, Beartooths, and all over Yellowstone as well as Alaska. Use to live in West Yellowstone after college. While living there I have talked to several bow hunters who no longer would hunt in the areas bordering the park in and around Big Sky down to West Yellowstone and out 287 towards Hebgen and Quake lakes, and actually now all the way to the West Fork area of the Madison in Cameron. All have told me the bears are thick and too much to deal with. Honestly that is one reason I have never hunted there. Heard of too many stories that are or were too close for comfort. Just not ready to try it yet. It definitely affects where I hunt and my decision making.

 

[Solitude]

I have archery hunted in grizzly country the last three years and I Abalone dive in the famous "red triangle". I have yet to see a grizzly bear or a white shark. I have a sneaky suspicion if I ever see either a white shark or grizzly bear up close/personal/aggressive I will more than likely bale on that particular GMU or forego diving sharky waters. But until that day comes, I will forge ahead.

 

[5MilesBack]

52 bears in 40k acres sounds like an awful lot of bears. That's one bear for every 1.2 square miles. Are you sure that number is correct? I think I'd have to change my shoes often there, walking through the piles of bear crap every 10 feet.

 

[Bar]

My only deal with grizz is when I worked a gold claim in Alaska back in the 70's. Me and my buddy were 50 miles back in the bush. I probably averaged seeing 3-4 bears a day. None of them really bothered us too much, but my head was always on a swivel. Back then guides used the .458 mag as grizz stoppers when their clients screwed up. That's what I had with me too. I wasn't hunting, but just wanted to stop a charge if it happened. I'm sure the 500gr bullet would have done that.

 

[jmez]

It wouldn't affect my decision. I damn sure respect them but wouldn't stay home because of them. I used to hunt the Thorofare and Buffalo River drainages just outside of Yellowstone so kind of grizzly central. Keep a clean camp and stay aware and you shouldn't have any problems.

Realistically you have a far better chance of being struck by lightning than being mauled by a bear.

 

[Schleppy]

It wouldn't affect my decision. I damn sure respect them but wouldn't stay home because of them. I used to hunt the Thorofare and Buffalo River drainages just outside of Yellowstone so kind of grizzly central. Keep a clean camp and stay aware and you shouldn't have any problems.

Realistically you have a far better chance of being struck by lightning than being mauled by a bear.

Kind of, I bet if you tie yourself to an antenna in a thunderstorm your chances of being hit by lightning go way up. And as such hunting in an area that many bears are competing for food in probably ups your odds of "winning the bear lottery".

 

[jmez]

Tied to an antenna or 10,000 foot up the side of a mountain.

 

[crumy]

Rocky, Where pat and I go is where there put the "trouble bears". The first year I was a little concerned, but after being there and not seeing any I settled in. Last year we saw a couple but they had no real interest in us. Plan on going back again this year. Maybe I am naive, but I am taking the keep a clean camp, and they will ignore you stance. I am more concerned about cougars, and not the good kind..