Missouri Bear

[jsig]

Just drew a MO bear tag (bmz2) for this October. Would be my first time bear hunting. Ive heard its difficult so I have very low expectations but am excited.
Probably a long shot but anyone here ever draw a bear tag for MO? Any success or trends found? From what I've read so far seems like a good starting point is oak ridges w/ isolated water holes.
Also is there any bear specific gear needed (can't bait in MO).

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Awesome. No specific gear needed. Find the isolated white oaks.

 

[nomadicbohunk]

In Vermont, basically everyone who is successful hunts a stand on a trail into a corn field. I mean, ecologically they are basically giant raccoons. Here you get a hold of a farmer and they usually have a list and then they call you when the last person got a bear. Not my cup of tea to hunt them like whitetails (I just go to Maine or NH and bait them), but it's very successful. My one buddy has a story about seeing 23 different ones in one sit, but that is way out of the norm. Farmers are usually cool about it as they knock down a ton of corn. Like acres. They make some pretty mean trails where they go in, so it's not hard to figure out.

 

[JM151]

I checked the website but says results not available

 

[Billogna]

A buddy of mine drew that tag a few years ago and was successful! Be ready to put in the miles! White oaks are the preferred food but depending on the year they will switch to whatever is readily available. Their diet is more akin to wild turkey than anything else. They also don't stick around in an area for long. It can occasionally be more like squirrel hunting! Don't forget to look up in the trees! He shot his bear about 40' ft up in a red oak on top of a ridge that year. White oaks just weren't dropping. GOOD LUCK!! Be sure and post plenty of pics or a write up!!

 

[jsig]

I checked the website but says results not available

I got an email saying I drew

 

[TLammert]

Never bear hunted mo. I am a mo resident but I’m not putting in until we can bait. Just spent a week in Canada and I don’t mind driving or spending the money for the experience we all had. Only one night everyone didn’t see at least 10 bears out of 8 guys. Good luck! Hopefully you get one and share the photos on this forum when you do!

 

[Clatta]

I got mine for zone 3.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Dang, I would be putting in every year if I still lived there. Residents only can apply.

Congrats, hope to see a pic.

 

[jsig]

Never bear hunted mo. I am a mo resident but I’m not putting in until we can bait. Just spent a week in Canada and I don’t mind driving or spending the money for the experience we all had. Only one night everyone didn’t see at least 10 bears out of 8 guys. Good luck! Hopefully you get one and share the photos on this forum when you do!

Yea I get that. I know its going to be near impossible. But Im mostly going into it as a deer hunt w/ a bear tag in my pocket.

I will consider just seeing one a win. Especially cause i want to do it myself, ie not calling around looking for nuisance bears.

 

[jsig]

I got mine for zone 3.

Nice! Good luck

 

[TLammert]

Yea I get that. I know its going to be near impossible. But Im mostly going into it as a deer hunt w/ a bear tag in my pocket.

I will consider just seeing one a win. Especially cause i want to do it myself, ie not calling around looking for nuisance bears.

Yeah I’ve never seen a bear where we deer hunt or I would definitely feel different about it.