Unwelcome response to elk calls

[Shrek]

For guys who hunt in grizzly country do you ever have problems with bears , wolves , or lions coming in on you ? Any stories ? Non problem ? I've had coyotes and bobcats come to doe bleets while whitetail hunting but thats not a big problem just an aggravation.

 

[tater]

Every place i've elk hunted (and moose) has moderate to high numbers of both wolves and grizzly, and my home region also has high mt. lion numbers as well.

I called in four young wolves while elk hunting two seasons ago (and no, there was no drama), but i am always aware of possible grizzly responses (so far no contact). After Bart Schleyer was killed in AK a few years back by a grizzly while cow calling moose i became really, really aware of predatory responses in grizzlies.

My scariest was when i wasn't calling, but doubled back on my tracks to find a large tom lion had been following me (his tracks in my tracks) for 300 yards while i was traversing between basins. When i'm in lion country i never call or even just sit unless my back is to a tree.

 

[trophyhill]

Never hunted griz country but everywhere I've hunted deer and elk in NM and CO is cat country. I don't think they actively seek out humans but mt lions are opportunistic feeders and attack from behind. My buddy killed a 90 lb Tom a couple years ago with his muzzleloader. The cat was fixin to pounce on him from 5 yards when he pointed and shot from the hip. I don't like cats

 

[dryflyguy]

My partner had a sow grizzly with two cubs stalk in on him while he was calling a bull in for me. She swung in down wind of him and was less than thirty yards from him when his sixth sense kicked in and he GTFO. We had a 30-second full on fire drill practicing our draw cycles on side arms and pepper spray.

 

[Shrek]

My partner had a sow grizzly with two cubs stalk in on him while he was calling a bull in for me. She swung in down wind of him and was less than thirty yards from him when his sixth sense kicked in and he GTFO. We had a 30-second full on fire drill practicing our draw cycles on side arms and pepper spray.

Damn it man ! Right after that I would be heading to the nearest creek to wash everything !

 

[orionsbrother]

Is there a preferred holster or something that you use for bear spray?

 

[Lukem]

My scariest was when i wasn't calling, but doubled back on my tracks to find a large tom lion had been following me (his tracks in my tracks) for 300 yards while i was traversing between basins. When i'm in lion country i never call or even just sit unless my back is to a tree.

No experience whatsoever with grizz or wolves, but spent a fair time with lions, and IMO they are nothing to worry about. Much more scared of you than you should be of them. If you've spent any time tracking lions in snow, you'll quickly learn that if they see a set of tracks, they'll hop in and follow them for easier walking for a period and then hop out and continue the direction that they were headed. Spent lots of time around lions never really been worried about it.

 

[belly-deep]

It happens, but not often. I'd much rather be using an elk call than a varmint call in griz country.

 

[archer60]

I guide in NM from Sept thru December. Primarily elk. Only twice in the past 10 years have I experienced something other than elk come to a call. At least what I've been able to see. Last year a sow black bear came on a string to 30 yards, I stood up, she woofed and took off....the hunter I was calling for needed depends, she walked 20 feet from him. A couple of years ago, same deal, calling and a big tom came in.....circled several times at 20-25 yards then caught our scent ....he couldn't get out of there fast enough....it was just a bit nerve wracking because he saw me and kept circling.

 

[KMT]

I called in a black bear 4 years ago. It came to within 20-30 yards before turning around. It walked away after I stood up and yelled. But it walked away slowly.