Hunting in grizzly country

[Idahogobbler]

I used to guide in the bob Marshall was told it has the highest population of griz in the lower 48 per capita idk if it's true but the man with the green pants told us that... I do know when it snowed there were tracks everywhere.... Only had 1 spooky situation...

One of my clients shot a bull in a canyon he did his hero shots with his camera then wanted to go back to camp to drink some whiskey and tell his war story's. I had to go back to get 2 mules anyways. We were about 1 hr from camp. Dropped him off was told by the outfitter that another guide would be about an hour behind me. So I take off with my horse and 2 mules. As I start dropping into the timber my horse starts acting weird and is not wanting to go. I figured it was because of all the dead fall so I get off and try to pull him down and he's not gonna go. So I tie him up and lead the 2 mules down. As I get about 75 yards from the bull they start snorting and kinda getting jumpy. I keep on going and pop around the corner and about 30 yards is the bull and a griz is sitting over it. He is already woofing and dosent look happy we are there. I grabbed my saddle gun which was a 45-70 and put two rounds into the tree behind him. He hardly blinked. At this time one of my mules had kinda stepped to my side and I could tell the bear kinda jumped back when ever the mules would move. So I slowly started walking towards it leading the mules he kept backing up and then turned and ran up the hill. He got to a cliffy clear area approximately 1-200 yards above and sat and watched. I had that bull quartered and was loading the 2nd mule when the other guide showed up. He said man that's the fastest I've ever seen some one quarter a bull. I pointed up to the rock where the bear had stayed and he went oh that's why. That bear followed us back to camp staying about 500 yards away up above the tree line. We elected to have our packer take the meat and the other two bulls that were hanging out that night.

That's my Wild West bear story not a big bear by any means but still a griz!

Be smart about it keep a clean camp and cherish the moments you get to spend in griz country... It's some of the prettiest damn place you'll ever get to see.... I hate the wolves as much as the next guy but id give up anything to be sitting around the camp fire drinking crick water mixed with a little whiskey listening to the wolves howl 35 miles in the back country right about now. Instead I'm sitting in my cop car in the city dealing with crooks and tweakers! I'd trade the tweakers for the griz any day lol


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[Jimbo V]

So this post came up at a convenient time, since I'm planning a solo archery hunt in MT this year. I was already trying to figure out how to avoid or deal with Griz country. The psychological aspect of it is where I'm stuck. It's hard enough to get over the mental hump when your in the backcountry and not seeing anything for a few days. Add the Griz element to that and I fear it will be all too easy to pack up and leave.
Anyone have any advice?
Maybe get a fence for added security?
Hunt somewhere without Griz?
I know going solo is probably dumb but I had a crappy hunt partner last year and I don't know anyone well enough to ensure this year won't turn out crappy as well if I bring them, which leaves me to going solo which i tend to enjoy. I have gone out quite a bit here in Colorado solo and appreciate the isolation.
I was also thinking "you only live once, pack the Inreach, a good knife, a tourniquet and hope to be able to tell one hell of a story!"
I know in the lower 48 attacks are fairly rare I would just like to be prepared.
I struggling with limiting myself to non Griz HDs
Any thoughts opinions advice would be appreciated.


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[Buglebrush]

So this post came up at a convenient time, since I'm planning a solo archery hunt in MT this year. I was already trying to figure out how to avoid or deal with Griz country. The psychological aspect of it is where I'm stuck. It's hard enough to get over the mental hump when your in the backcountry and not seeing anything for a few days. Add the Griz element to that and I fear it will be all too easy to pack up and leave.
Anyone have any advice?
Maybe get a fence for added security?
Hunt somewhere without Griz?
I know going solo is probably dumb but I had a crappy hunt partner last year and I don't know anyone well enough to ensure this year won't turn out crappy as well if I bring them, which leaves me to going solo which i tend to enjoy. I have gone out quite a bit here in Colorado solo and appreciate the isolation.
I was also thinking "you only live once, pack the Inreach, a good knife, a tourniquet and hope to be able to tell one hell of a story!"
I know in the lower 48 attacks are fairly rare I would just like to be prepared.
I struggling with limiting myself to non Griz HDs
Any thoughts opinions advice would be appreciated.


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I personally love hunting solo too, but I would recommend considering day hunts if you are going solo for elk in September. If you are packed way back in, you are playing with fire on getting the meat out on a solo hunt.

 

[Jimbo V]

Buglebrush, I looked at meat care, I have a buddy on standby who said he would be willing to help me pack meat. He just can't take that much time off from work to go with which kind of works considering what I said earlier about still being up in the air on a partner anyway.


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[Jimbo V]

Buglebrush, I looked at meat care, I have a buddy on standby who said he would be willing to help me pack meat. He just can't take that much time off from work to go with which kind of works considering what I said earlier about still being up in the air on a partner anyway.


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Sorry man didn't mean to dismiss your advice or be rude I should have started with ....Buglebrush, thanks for the feedback and advice.....

 

[wyosteve]

Jimbo, my .02 is to go hunt and enjoy it, but just be cognizant of the types of circumstances that could lead to bear issues. You're already aware of the meat scenario. I've lived and hunted in griz country over 30 years and have never had a problem despite seeing one or multiple bears each year. I think the electric fence around your tent/camp will give you peace of mind at night. The biggest surprise with the bears to me was the distance cubs will roam from their mother. TV makes it seem that the cubs are always 'by mother's side'. My observations have been that the older cubs will often be foraging up to 75 or 100 yds. from mom. That is the situation where you could inadvertently get between them and have a problem. Of course, going through heavy undergrowth is fraught with potential peril. I've been fortunate in that even on solo hunts, I always had several horses/mules with me and I also picket them close to the tent at night figuring they will raise a ruckus and wake me if a bear starts snooping around.

 

[Buglebrush]

Sorry man didn't mean to dismiss your advice or be rude I should have started with ....Buglebrush, thanks for the feedback and advice.....

No worries. I certainly never thought it was rude. Glad you have it lined out.

 

[Bigfeet]

I used to guide in the bob Marshall was told it has the highest population of griz in the lower 48 per capita idk if it's true but the man with the green pants told us that... I do know when it snowed there were tracks everywhere.... Only had 1 spooky situation...

One of my clients shot a bull in a canyon he did his hero shots with his camera then wanted to go back to camp to drink some whiskey and tell his war story's. I had to go back to get 2 mules anyways. We were about 1 hr from camp. Dropped him off was told by the outfitter that another guide would be about an hour behind me. So I take off with my horse and 2 mules. As I start dropping into the timber my horse starts acting weird and is not wanting to go. I figured it was because of all the dead fall so I get off and try to pull him down and he's not gonna go. So I tie him up and lead the 2 mules down. As I get about 75 yards from the bull they start snorting and kinda getting jumpy. I keep on going and pop around the corner and about 30 yards is the bull and a griz is sitting over it. He is already woofing and dosent look happy we are there. I grabbed my saddle gun which was a 45-70 and put two rounds into the tree behind him. He hardly blinked. At this time one of my mules had kinda stepped to my side and I could tell the bear kinda jumped back when ever the mules would move. So I slowly started walking towards it leading the mules he kept backing up and then turned and ran up the hill. He got to a cliffy clear area approximately 1-200 yards above and sat and watched. I had that bull quartered and was loading the 2nd mule when the other guide showed up. He said man that's the fastest I've ever seen some one quarter a bull. I pointed up to the rock where the bear had stayed and he went oh that's why. That bear followed us back to camp staying about 500 yards away up above the tree line. We elected to have our packer take the meat and the other two bulls that were hanging out that night.

That's my Wild West bear story not a big bear by any means but still a griz!

Be smart about it keep a clean camp and cherish the moments you get to spend in griz country... It's some of the prettiest damn place you'll ever get to see.... I hate the wolves as much as the next guy but id give up anything to be sitting around the camp fire drinking crick water mixed with a little whiskey listening to the wolves howl 35 miles in the back country right about now. Instead I'm sitting in my cop car in the city dealing with crooks and tweakers! I'd trade the tweakers for the griz any day lol


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Just had to say how much I enjoyed reading your post. Well written and, sitting here in my office, made me miss the times I've spent in the woods - listening to the wind and rain, listening to the wolves, listening in the middle of the night and hoping not to hear a bear approach, listening....

Grizzlies are always on my mind when hunting elk. We have a good number of bears in the Alberta rockies. Never had a harrowing incident, but bearanioa - an unreasonable fear that says, if you go into that basin today, something big is going to try and eat you! - has gotten me a few times. Hate it when that kind of thing stops me, but I like to think I'm being watched over.