bksu
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 5
|
Post by bksu on Jul 30, 2024 9:09:42 GMT -5
I'll be hunting in bear zone 1 this Oct for MO bear. I'm just looking for advice on what to look for in environment to start looking for bear. I'm doing my own research of course, but if possible to lean on those with more experience is always a smart move. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated. I've been deer hunting the last 5 years and have taken a couple using a rifle. I know not cool. I've been practicing with my 44 mag's for the last 3 years to become a proficient shot and do my best to be an ethical hunter. I'm trying to decide what style of hunting would work best with which revolver. I was thinking if I can set up over a oat field or an acorn patch I'd use my 629-6 light hunter with a 2x burris, shooting 225 Barnes XPB running at 1430 FPS ( Chrono'd) I'm solid out to 150 yds with it from field positions. If that strikes out I was thinking of getting squirrely and predator calling since I've become a little obsessed with calling game for that I was thinking of using my Ruger super blackhawk in 44 mag that's magna ported and wears a vortex red dot. It'd be shooting the old school Speer 240 g jacketed SWC going 1350 FPS (chrono'd) I'm solid from field positions out to 75. Any and all tips advice pointers truly anything would be greatly appreciated this is the first time I've gone through the whole process to actually draw for a game animal. The thought of doing this with a handgun is so beyond exciting for me I couldn't think or dream of doing it any other way. Thank you in advance this forum has been an amazing help on this journey.
|
|
|
|
Post by pacecars on Jul 30, 2024 9:27:01 GMT -5
Can you bait? Hounds? Spot and stalk? What are you allowed to do hunt wise? As for the guns either will work and I would use the one that makes you feel the most confident
|
|
bksu
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 5
|
Post by bksu on Jul 30, 2024 10:56:00 GMT -5
Can you bait? Hounds? Spot and stalk? What are you allowed to do hunt wise? As for the guns either will work and I would use the one that makes you feel the most confident So MO regulations say no baiting, no hounds, no electronic calls, I was planning spot and stalk with my back up plan being use a mouth call ( fawn in distress, cotton tail, maybe bear cub, but that seems like asking for trouble) . I've got calls into a couple contacts I have down there trying to secure private land that I know has game cameras on it which would help alot with scouting. My issue is with work and coming back from my MN upland hunt I won't have much if anytime to actually lay eyes on the ground. I'm trying to get away a weekend here at the end of summer to try to get down there and lay eyes on the ground. |
|
|
|
Post by bula on Jul 30, 2024 11:58:23 GMT -5
Similar restrictions to where I hunt in Penn.. Fall season is FOOD.. Key on natural food. All hunting, any legal weapon is cool. WELCOME to the forum.
|
|
|
|
Post by jensonev on Jul 30, 2024 13:33:45 GMT -5
Congrats, I've put in the last several years. One year I'll be in the same situation(maybe). Keep applying for zone 2.
Since we can't bait in MO, we'll almost have to rely on word lf mouth "sightings" from landowners and then seek out places where there's an abundance of food sources. In the fall, acorns from oaks will be a primary food source for bears.
Don't suppose there are any orchards in bear zone 1 that have landowners around who are sympathetic to being a lucky draw are there?
|
|
bksu
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 5
|
Post by bksu on Jul 30, 2024 13:40:39 GMT -5
Congrats, I've put in the last several years. One year I'll be in the same situation(maybe). Keep applying for zone 2. Since we can't bait in MO, we'll almost have to rely on word lf mouth "sightings" from landowners and then seek out places where there's an abundance of food sources. In the fall, acorns from oaks will be a primary food source for bears. Don't suppose there are any orchards in bear zone 1 that have landowners around who are sympathetic to being a lucky draw are there? Thank you !! I've been applying since they started I was shocked when I get the email .Right now I've been using ONX to start mapping out all the areas that look to be think with white oaks. I haven't yet or even thought of that I'll start looking for some it wouldn't be shocking if there are. From talking to a couple other people who have drawn down in zone 1 most landowners seem to be more than happy to have you take a bear on their property |
|
bksu
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 5
|
Post by bksu on Jul 30, 2024 13:41:52 GMT -5
Similar restrictions to where I hunt in Penn.. Fall season is FOOD.. Key on natural food. All hunting, any legal weapon is cool. WELCOME to the forum. Awesome ! Thank you for he tip. in Penn are you more setting up on ag fields or are you looking for groves of oaks ? |
|
|
|
Post by hgunhtr on Jul 30, 2024 15:03:24 GMT -5
look for water- streams, sloughs, lakes near oaks and crop fields. bears are heavy coated and black. they absorb heat and need to stay cool. fall feeding should see a bear trying to take in copious amount of calories even though it might not have a long hibernation if any, still gets cold. look at the dnr harvest reports for specific counties with bear harvests in your zone. call your local warden or biologist in that area and ask for some tips. they may or may not throw you a bone. cant hurt. Good luck and keep us posted on ow it goes.
|
|
bksu
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 5
|
Post by bksu on Jul 30, 2024 15:08:08 GMT -5
look for water- streams, sloughs, lakes near oaks and crop fields. bears are heavy coated and black. they absorb heat and need to stay cool. fall feeding should see a bear trying to take in copious amount of calories even though it might not have a long hibernation if any, still gets cold. look at the dnr harvest reports for specific counties with bear harvests in your zone. call your local warden or biologist in that area and ask for some tips. they may or may not throw you a bone. cant hurt. Good luck and keep us posted on ow it goes. Definitely will do ! Thank you for the tips ! |
|
|
|
Post by bula on Jul 30, 2024 16:55:09 GMT -5
Hgunhtr's advice seems closer to your area. I'm hunting north central Penn.. Northern woods, little to no AG.. My friends property there has good oaks as does my place here in Ohio and our camp a couple counties west of his. His place a different drainage and will be bear heavy when acorns raining down, BUT his south facing acreage, south side of mtn.., ripens, falls and gets eaten first. Magically and sadly, they are gone by bear gun season. Large percentage of bears then move to north sides of mtns., for the later and last falling acorns. LOL.
|
|
|
|
Post by bigbore5 on Jul 30, 2024 21:20:25 GMT -5
As said, think food. Many people with fruit trees like apples that mature later don't care for bears because they will break limbs off trying to get the last fruit still on the tree. Acorns are okay, but they will also raid pumpkins and squash. Corn is also a staple. I've taken some really large Carolina bears from corn and sugar beet fields.
|
|
brant
.327 Meteor
Posts: 519
|
Post by brant on Jul 30, 2024 21:39:51 GMT -5
Try contacting the biologist for that area. I have no bear hunting experience but that is where I would start. I read about guys hunting them with bows in the Georgia mountains. They hunted the acorns. Don’t forget to look up in the trees. They said that they would climb them and feed, not just pick up off the ground. Food for thought. I envy you. I bet you have a ball.
|
|
|
|
Post by bula on Jul 31, 2024 9:30:03 GMT -5
Agree, the "bear biologist" in my camp area gave us some good advice. She wished we could use dogs or bait as numbers were starting to get worrisome to her. Current regs keep the success rate in the single-digits.
|
|
|
|
Post by bula on Jul 31, 2024 9:31:20 GMT -5
If you can't hunt the best food source, look for nearest swamp to it.
|
|
|
|
Post by x101airborne on Aug 2, 2024 21:23:35 GMT -5
Find the thickest, nastiest, thorniest sorry walking place no sane person would go. Cover and safety during the day nearest water and food will be their refuge.
|
|
