Trad Gang

Main Boards => Dangerous Game => Topic started by: Margly on July 17, 2010, 09:50:00 AM

Title: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: Margly on July 17, 2010, 09:50:00 AM: Been reading several stories about archers that have shot bears and the distances is from 6-20 yards.

I have never hunted bears but sure wanna do so.

How do you secure yourself?
Do you carry a sidearm?
How aggressive is the black bear?
Is the a big difference in the black bears contra the brownies/grizzly?

:coffee:

Thanks Margly
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: BUFF on July 17, 2010, 10:07:00 AM: you can not even compare the black bear to it's bigger brothers. While the black bear is equiped to do alot of damage they rarly do. it is a hoot to be close to one on the ground none the less.

http://www.buffsblackwidow.com/oldvideos/bearhuntday33.wmv
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: T Lail on July 17, 2010, 11:33:00 AM: Black bears and grizzlies being compared is like comparing a bobcat to a tiger....both can kill you, but one is more likely to do the most damage and do it quicker....
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: Manitoba Stickflinger on July 17, 2010, 01:08:00 PM: I killed my bear this spring from the ground at 14 yards. I'll post the video in the next few weeks. There really isn't much to worry about since you do have a weapon in your hand. I take pepper spray and no other weapons other than my bow. When I have a friend or someone uneasy about bears they are welcome to bring a firearm. You need to feel comfortable and not worried about the hunt or you won't be having fun. One thing I don't like using is manufactured blinds as I find they obstruct your view. I need to see!!

I'd say overall....bring whatever "backup" allows you to hunt securly...and have fun cause it's a blast...Ryan
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: Margly on July 17, 2010, 01:16:00 PM: http://www.buffsblackwidow.com/oldvideos/bearhuntday33.wmv

Thanks for sharing the video!
How far away was the shot?

Thanks :thumbsup:

Margly
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: BUFF on July 18, 2010, 01:28:00 AM: The shot was just a little over 20 yards. He was within 6 or 8 yards when he first came in but I was afraid to move so I didn't get the camera turned on until he had moved away a little.
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: ChuckC on August 08, 2010, 09:07:00 PM: Keep in mind... more folks have been killed or mauled by black bears than by grizzly's. A very large black bear is bigger than an average grizzly. It is not exactly bobcats and tigers.

Black bears will, however, likely run away whereas I believe a grizzly will defend itself.
ChuckC
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: Manitoba Stickflinger on August 08, 2010, 10:28:00 PM: Go to my attached link and click on "photos"....then scroll down to "Bears...what Bears" and watch the video. I know not all bears are the same but most are just like the bears in the video.

My wife hates when I do that BTW!!!!
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: Terry Green on August 09, 2010, 09:15:00 AM: Quote
Originally posted by ChuckC:
Keep in mind... more folks have been killed or mauled by black bears than by grizzly's. A very large black bear is bigger than an average grizzly. It is not exactly bobcats and tigers.

Black bears will, however, likely run away whereas I believe a grizzly will defend itself.
ChuckC
Yep!
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: razorsharptokill on August 09, 2010, 04:53:00 PM: Well I'll be in Idaho in about 3 weeks after them on the ground. Here's some statistics I found.

http://www.blackbearheaven.com/bear-attack-statistics.htm

Dating back to the early 1900's, out of 55 deaths, 23 were from black bears, 27 from brown bears, and 5 unknown according to my count.
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: ChuckC on August 09, 2010, 10:43:00 PM: Awesome stuff Jim. Spread it out to include attacks and not just killings. When a grizz attacks you, you are in trouble.

Course we just lost one person and got several injured just this past week or so from a smaller sow grizzly out west.

I didn't notice an account for the death of Bart Schleyer in that list. Wasn't it thought that a grizz was involved ?

ChuckC
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: razorsharptokill on August 10, 2010, 07:19:00 AM: Yeah I noticed it wasn't broken down into non fatal attacks.

Yes I believe that is what is believed with Bart Schleyers death. Quite a man he was.
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: Ragnarok Forge on August 12, 2010, 11:07:00 AM: I live in bear country and have been close to lots of black bears. They get hunted hard here and run as soon as humans are noticed most of the time. I think where you hunt the bears will determine what you need to protect yourself. Some areas have more agressive bears than others.

When I am specifically targeting bears, I predator call a lot and carry a big can of bear spray. At 6 to 20 yards your not going to get your pistol out and the bear killed before it tears you up. Bear spray on the other hand has made a few over agressive boars that came in looking for food run instantly. On another note if your predator calling and a sow and cubs shows up. Stop calling! Not a fun experience that one.
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: motorhead7963 on August 13, 2010, 01:06:00 AM: cool video !! those two could be Yogi and Boo Boo. They don't seem to mind sharing space with you, especially with the thought of some snacks being prepped right in front of them.
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: canoeman on August 17, 2010, 01:07:00 PM: On bears in general. My dad always told me not to worry about bear spray or out running the bear, just take a fried with you that you can out run.
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: Manitoba Stickflinger on August 17, 2010, 05:13:00 PM: Thanks Motorhead.....that bait is amazing. Almost any time you go there the bears are just hanging out. There was only one spring that the bears seemed moody....had to be careful that year.
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: ber643 on August 17, 2010, 07:29:00 PM: Great blood trail, Buff.
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: joe ashton on August 21, 2010, 10:56:00 AM: I asked our local DOW officer about carrying a gun while blood trail an arrowed bear. She said that " this is American and carrying a gun is constitutionally protected, but you can not use the gun during bow season to anchor that bear. If you shoot it with a gun you better bed bleeding"
Joe
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: Don Thomas on August 21, 2010, 08:46:00 PM: Some of the statistics cited above--although I don't doubt them at all--are misleading. There are far more black bears than grizzlies in North America, and they inhabit areas that contain a lot more people. Therefore, there are many more encounters between black bears and humans that create the possibility of an attack. The really important point is that bears are individuals,and what holds true for the first hundred may not hold true at all for the next one. Unpredictability is a hallmark of bear behavior. I have spent a lot of time up close with members of both species, and they still continue to do things that surprise me. that's what makes them so fascinating. Don
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: Wolfkiss on August 23, 2010, 11:47:00 AM: ooops..
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: mambashooter on September 21, 2010, 02:31:00 PM: I was a police officer for many years. Hell guys worry more about the drive to get there. Alot more dangerous. :readit:
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: snuffysmith on December 07, 2010, 11:12:00 PM: I've killed 5 with a bow so far, always carry a largebore hand gun for back-up, but so far have never had to use it.
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: bigugly1 on December 12, 2010, 08:05:00 PM: There are way more black bears, therefore more bear human interaction. Saying that in Alberta and BC there are more people attacked by blackbear than any other. In my province of Ontario there are only Black bears. The largest I've seen on the ground from a friends arrow was 525lbs field dressed 22.5" scull. The largest I've heard of was 725lbs taken close to my cabin. I would not want 725lbs of bear coming at me.
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: bigugly1 on December 12, 2010, 08:07:00 PM: Oh and we can't carry handguns, I take pepper spray but haven't hunted them in years.
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: timbermoose on December 13, 2010, 03:08:00 AM: i just have a zwickey tipped arrow at the ready and shoot fast and true if needed. never needed as of yet, but that would be one heck of a rush. i have had one 15ft away feeding on berries while i was deer hunting, seen me and wondered off. swear he was bitching about me breaking up his snack.
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: joe ashton on December 13, 2010, 03:05:00 PM: I hunt bears every year here in Co., I should say I buy a license every year, to have during the elk season, in case I have an opportunity. I've been close a dozen times but no shots YET. I asked our local Game Warden about legality of taking a gun to follow up on an arrowed bear. She said sure it is a constitutional right to bare arms. But you can't shoot the bear with a gun unless YOU ARE BLEEDING.
My experience is that bears run away....
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: TDHunter on December 15, 2010, 04:27:00 PM: I too carry bear spray and a huge knife and have been within 5-10 yards to many blk bears, never had a problem.

I usually take a shotgun if I'm Grizz hunting with the trad gear. But it's only good for walking into my Grizz hole because once I'm hunting the guns on my back, which will do me as much good as a pair of boxing gloves.

That or it gets left in the truck because there's nothing worse the trad hunting with a nice light bow and having a 7lb chunk of steel banging around. Just don't feel right.

Bear spray is light and easy.
Title: Re: When hunting bear from the ground how do you secure yourself?
Post by: smokin joe on December 16, 2010, 09:22:00 PM: I was in the hospital years ago getting something fixed. I met a guy who was in there because he had been chewed up by a black bear. Let me tell you, a black bear can make a mess of a person in a hurry. Black bears may be generally shy, but the one that wants to chew you up is going to get his way, and you will need some serious surgery to be put back together again. The poor guy that I saw was one heck of a mess.