I have been an outfitter in that area for the past 6 years and do have some camps in region H. We hunt the upper Hoback region, the Horse Creek drainages to the south of the Hoback and everything inbetween. 6 years ago I killed a 4x5 bull elk on opening day of archery season and sat on the gut pile waiting for a bear. The gut pile was only a quarter mile from our base camp. It took a day and a half to get the bear. I killed a nice chocolate phase black bear that had been raiding our Mule Creek Camp every night.
Our hunters will cover a lot of miles on horse back, probably 3-5 times the country you would ever cover on foot, and we have 2-3 guides out every day. At least one of our hunters will see a black bear during every week of hunting season.
Bears may not seem so plentiful if you are on foot. Also available forage has a lot to do with bear sightings. If there is a very dry year, no berries, pine cone crop failure etc. you will see a lot of bears out looking for food. Gut piles are especially good those years. If you have a year of good moisture you will not see nearly as many bears... In a dry year the female bear mortaility will be filled the first few days of rifle mule deer season, in a wet year the quota will not likely be met because less bears are seen. We have had more rain this year than anyone can remember. Lots of forage this year. Not the best prospects for seeing lots of bears.
Yes, we have grizz. My son was guiding an archery moose hunter in 2010. Fortunately they had a 450 marlin lever action in hand when they met up with a grizz. They had a bear charge them from 13 yards, came busting out of an alder thicket while they were stalking a big moose. Took three rounds to drop the charging bear at their feet. That triggers a federal investigation, bear autopsy, multiple interviews and inquisitions etc. Usually you have to have some chew marks on you to avoid a ticket for that but sometimes just having blood on your shoelaces is enough. Ultimately all charges were dropped, justifiable self defense. The bear was estimated to be around 700 pounds, 7 year old boar in apparent good health. Just wasn't much food around that year.
I have been face to face with a grizz while guiding an archery elk hunter in the south fork of the Hoback. 2 years ago we had a sow with 2 cubs in the Lead Creek drainage that parallels the trail we take to camp from the trailhead. Jacob (my son, chief guide and outfitter of record) has found multiple dead beef cows cached by grizz in some of the hoback creek drainages for the last 2 seasons. We have a lot of bears. We have to respect them and carry at all times, even when you take a dump. I really enjoy archery elk hunting in September, but cow calling around a deep dark cool wallows hole loses some of its allure when bears are so prevalent. If I can't see 50 ft I have my hand on my 44 mag. If I can't see 25 ft, I have it drawn and in my hand. They are quick and can be on you in a heartbeat. When you see young boars you tell yourself they are just passing through, looking for territory. When you find a sow with cubs you know they are there to stay and should take precautions.
If you are going to hunt this area you have to keep your wits about you, carry at all times, run a real clean camp and hang all of your food, cook away from your bedroll etc. We run multiple electric wires around our camp, 50,000 volt, 50 mile electric fencer. Runs off of a marine battery. You have to watch out for the fence cause it will knock you on your behind if you get too close to it. That fencer will throw a blue spark about an inch and a half if your feet are wet and you make contact. The electrified fence does give us a little peace of mind.
Topic: Wyoming black bear advice (Read 292 times)
