Black Bear sighting in my hunting area!


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On Friday, me, my dad and my two brothers went up to our cabin in Sullivan County. As we were unpacking the truck, a lady stopped by and told us that she saw a black bear in the field by our old camper a few days ago. It came down off the cliff, stood up on it's hind legs in front of her car and then ran into the field and stood up on it's hind legs again, then ran off into the swamp. After she told us, we were thinking, ok cool. Now, I go out and put birdseed and corn down in a few spots to chipmunk hunt over. It was really hot all weekend and I thought that the animals would all be bedded down doing not much of anything. Once it cooled down on Sunday evening to about 60*F, I got dressed and walked out to my spots. I got to the first spot, got to the field edge and leaned out to look. Right where my seed was, there was the big black bear! I couldn't believe it! Right when I showed up, he was done with the seed. My eyes were popping out of my head! He then proceeded to turn around and walk right under my dad's treestand. grin.gif Once, I was sure that he was far into the woods, I spun around and ran and ran and ran. All I had with me was the pellet gun and the .308 was back at the house. grin.gif

My dad said that my face was as white as a ghost. I just hope that he stays in the area until October. If he happens to waddle by after October 15th, it's on!

Also, his belly was dragging on the ground or atleast was close to it, and it didn't look like he had ears... old bear? Plus, it was alone, so my gueses is that it is a boar and not a sow because a sow would've had a cub?

Here are some pics of a track he left in the mud:

beartrack.jpg

bearclaws.jpg

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Re: Black Bear sighting in my hunting area!

Did you happen to measure the width of the front pad? You can get a pretty good of the size of a bear by the front pad. Small looking ears are a good sign of a mature bear. Sagging belly may or may not be, i have seen some 100 pound bears that looked pretty dang fat. And it could be a sow, many sows will not have cubs every year, particularly when they are old.

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Guest lilcrackshot

Re: Black Bear sighting in my hunting area!

He's an old bear I bet. The two things you described are one of 4 things I look for in a mature bear.

1: Sagging belly

2: Looks like he has no neck but head is attached to shoulders

3: Stubby legs

4: Small ears. They aren't really small but if it's a big bear they will look small compared to his head.

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Re: Black Bear sighting in my hunting area!

You guys are better than me, I can't even recognize it as a bear print. It's definately not one day old. Maybe you missed the newer ones it left behind?

Anyways, my understanding is that bears reproduce every other year. Rarely two years in a row. I'm not a biologist but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Next time bring a ruler, find the front print and measue the width. This will give a good estimate of the size. Seems to me you add 1 to the width. If it's a 5" track, it's 6' bear. Could be wrong but I've heard that many times.

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