Early Spring, Early Bears

[hunter01]

Im thinking of 3 people right now off the top of my head personally known by the family who have been killed by horses. How many people do you personally know who have been killed by black bears? I need another punch on my man card because horses are obviously the apex predators in this scenario! Anybody care to buy a horse hunt? Bring a BIG gun and keep your whits about you lest you end up dragged from your tent and consumed like so many vaqueros before you. And thats only if you make it past the hogs. Life is dangerous. No need to make of it anymore than what it truly is.

[hunter01]

Mar 10, 2024 19:02:47 GMT -5 pleadthe2nd said:

Killed by an emu? I wonder if someone has an insurance policy for that..

AFLAC 🦆

[singleaction]

Mar 10, 2024 20:25:59 GMT -5 hunter01 said:

Mar 10, 2024 20:17:36 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

You haven't been looking.

I dont go looking for brown or griz attacks yet when it happens, its news. I guess its so common with blackies they just cant report them all so they choose not to report any.

Anecdotal evidence is not really evidence at all. We all certainly have our right to skepticism, and believe what we choose. 

[hunter01]

Mar 10, 2024 21:45:20 GMT -5 singleaction said:

Mar 10, 2024 20:25:59 GMT -5 hunter01 said:

I dont go looking for brown or griz attacks yet when it happens, its news. I guess its so common with blackies they just cant report them all so they choose not to report any.

Anecdotal evidence is not really evidence at all. We all certainly have our right to skepticism, and believe what we choose. 

Certainly

[bigbore5]

Bear attacks are rare and causes fewer deaths than many other animals no matter what kind of bear it is. But to deny the possibility in bear country is just not smart.

Here in NC, grizzly sized black bear are not really that unusual, but attacks are.However, I hunt them with dogs. By the time I get to the place the bear chose to bay, it's already fighting and will get a piece of you if it can. It's far different than when a smaller bear trees.

I've encountered females with cubs many times going about my daily business. They will normally chuff and bluster, then leave. But there's records of them attacking and eating people instead. It's rare but it happens. They are not normally overly aggressive, but seem to be getting more so as they're losing their fear of people.

[kevshell]

If all goes well I'll be buying my spring bear tag again this year.

There was a report today of the first grizzly already emerging from its den in Yellowstone.

[bula]

Where I'm going this weekend, Penn Elk range, is pretty bear rich. On my friends place last rut, 8 different bears were noted. He has my 2 old ATV's, one of them, the atv's , was mauled pretty good. Never been there without seeing tracks and scat. Fun will be had. His place is a south facing mtn side. Bears will have denned on the north facing side. When they come out, guess where they go ? Fun will be had, attention will be payed. Maybe find a shed, deer neat, elk ? That'd be coool. A few weeks to Penn trout opener. Will be at my camp then. Here, at my home place, just saw our woodchuck in the sun on my south facing backyard grass. 

[bula]

Came home last eve.. trout, grouse, deer and elk were seen. Bear scat yes, the big fur ball live n person, no. Fun was had. 

[rkcohen]

bb5 is on the money ref blackies in n carolina - gothunts.com/north-carolina-record-black-bear-confirmed/

i used to spend a good deal of time on the at when i was a kid in college and saw more black bears than i cared to, back then i toted a 4 1/2" blackhawk in 45colt (although for the sheldon cooper types, nowdays it's called 4.62") .

no "close calls" which is fine by me.

these days the appalachian trail groups - conservancy and parks folks are loathe to mention black bear "encounters"

needless to say when walking with the grandkids on the trail these days, i feel comfortable with my little s&w 69 on my hip - and yes, i practice draw/point/shoot at my indoor range - while the wife holds the button down on the target coming at me from 15 yards...

[bigbore5]

That article, redirect.viglink.com/?key=71fe2139a887ad501313cd8cce3053c5&subId=2842156&u=https%3A//gothunts.com/north-carolina-record-black-bear-confirmed/, is only partially correct about baits for bear.

In some areas, natural state (unprocessed or enhanced) baiting is allowed. No sweetener or scents may be used, but yellow corn, peanuts,sweet potato, and apples work for getting their attention. It's also not legal to shoot while they are eating the bait, and it's banned all together in other areas.