Guest Andrea Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Any of you guys ever come across bears while elk hunting??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njbowhntr Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Re: Bear encounters???? Not while elk hunting, probably because I have never been. But I have come across several bears while out on the mountain bike. Kinda startles you when you come whipping around a corner and there is a nice blackie in the trail infront of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetailtrax Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Re: Bear encounters???? I've encountered bears numerous times while bowhunting elk. I've inadvertently called in 2 black bears with my cow call. They were without a doubt looking for a meal in my opinion. Another time I had two young-of-the-year cubs scurry up a tree just ten yards away - fortunately I backed out of the situation before I ever saw the female. I have a buddy that frequently bowhunts elk in big time grizzly country and he wonders why I always decline his invitations to tag along. Bears deserve a lot of respect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Re: Bear encounters???? Not while elk hunting, but while bird hunting! I didn't even expect it, it kind of startles you. I was walking down the trail, and I looked over, there he was about 8 yards off to the side of the trail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Colorado Bob Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Re: Bear encounters???? I've seen a couple while black powder hunting, that's in September here in Colorado. But never while hunting elk in October. It has a lot to do on where you hunt at timberline where I hunt in October the bears have moved out & down into the scrub oaks for acorns. In September they are still high becouse of the berries. I've baited bears awhile back in the spring. I like to see black bears----they are usually more afraid of you than you are of them. CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phaseolus (BeanMan) Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 Re: Bear encounters???? Colorado's bow season is when you see a lot of bears. Especially if you are hunting a little lower as CB was saying. When I still had time to archery hunt 15-20 days a season I would see maybe 8-10 bear every fall. My first encounter stands out. A group of us had been riding into the West Elk Wilderness most every weekend in the summer and using the same camp. Leftover food ws dumped into the fire pit when we left without thought of consequences. The day before archery season started I backpacked in by myself, the gang would be along in a couple of days. After walking into camp I was sitting on a log eating a chocolate bar. I heard animals in the creek behind me and thought they were deer. I let them get closer thinking I would give them a bit of a fright. I could hear that there were more than one animal. When they were about 15 feet behind me I slowly turned my head and was shocked to see a Sow and two cubs close enough to spit on. I stood up and yelled and Momma bear and one cub ran. The other cub climbed a tree next to my pack. I grabbed my bow and backed out of camp and stood on a rock about 40 feet away. Momma bear counted heads and came up short, she raced back into camp with the fur up on her back and making popping noises with her teeth. She never looked for me, the cub came down the tree and off they went. it scared the #### out of me though. I bought a Ruger SP101 in .357 to carry after that. There are fortunately no Grizz in Colorado, only black bears. BeanMan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest huntinsanobsession Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 Re: Bear encounters???? haven't seen one hunting but one got ahold of my fiances aunts bird feeder did a number on it its right next door but still havent seen one hunting or anyother place but the zoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted February 3, 2006 Report Share Posted February 3, 2006 Re: Bear encounters???? Ive run right into sows with cubs..at least thee times now. been charged too. one time the sow stopped within 3 feet of me with her bluff..... she did that a couple times, I just stood my ground, I heard her coming the first time, so I had time to pick up a stick and yell at her....I just slowly backed out and went around her. Another time I was shed hunting with the dog, she chased a bear with cubs up a tree..the sow came back after the dog, the dumb dog of course came back to me, with the bear right on her butt....here we go again!! I just stood there, when the bear came into the clearing and saw me she put on the brakes and stood up on her hind legs and looked at me.. I yelled and waved my arms, ..she left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest colohntr Posted February 5, 2006 Report Share Posted February 5, 2006 Re: Bear encounters???? I have come across a number of bears while elk hunting during archery season in colorado. Every time the bear ran off. CB is right they are more afraid of you then you are of them. I have only ecountered one sow with cubs and I am thankful we were able to back out without any confrontation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted February 5, 2006 Report Share Posted February 5, 2006 Re: Bear encounters???? I forgot to tell the outcome when I had my bear encounter. When I saw it I stopped and looked at it, it didn't look too nervous. I was carrying my Remington 1100 20ga, and fired a shot in the air. Even that didn't seem to bother it. I put another shell in the mag (#6's) so I'd have 3 in case she did approach me. I shouldered the gun with the safety off. I stood there like that for about 30 seconds, and it finally walked off. If it would have came over to me it would have got 3 #6's right between the peeps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted February 6, 2006 Report Share Posted February 6, 2006 Re: Bear encounters???? All the time. Too many tales to tell of both the black and grizzly variety. I usually hunt alone which is one reason I see so many, as there is less noise made and working into the wind allows for some close encounters. I have been bluff charged, have fended off an angry momma black bear (had claw marks on the limb of my bow) and have been within 15 feet of several others. It is all part of the experience. When you are far off the beaten path, in prime griz/black bear country, expect a few surprises and enjoy the experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slugshooter Posted February 6, 2006 Report Share Posted February 6, 2006 Re: Bear encounters???? Does having one under the house count. I never saw him, but I saw his tracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted February 6, 2006 Report Share Posted February 6, 2006 Re: Bear encounters???? I had them around me all of time on a mule deer hunt in western New Mexico. I found out they're real fond of Crispy Cream donuts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest colohntr Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Re: Bear encounters???? This past 2005 archery season we had a visit one night from bear. It came into camp sometime during the night and helped itself to a front quarter of a deer we had hanging. It left perfect paw prints on a game bag it had torn off of the deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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