MN Bear Hunting

[mnbwhtr]

I'll be area 41. Should be a good year as dry as it's been.Didn't get to go last year but the year before we had a couple of Big bears on the trail cameras. We do everything ourselves.

[Gordy]

Everyone ready for opener ? We have activity, but not sure exactly what is going on. One medium sized bear spotted at noon the other day.  :eek:  

Ground is so dry and hard, there aren't any tracks but plenty of paths beat down. Forecast looks a little iffy for Saturday. hhhhhmmmm

[oneeye]

2 baits - no activity. Just the way I like it with only 4 days left before opener! I will be putting up my stands tomorrow.

[Holm-Made]

No activity yet.  Planning on going to North Dakota for the opening archery season (deer) this weekend.  May try baiting later in the fall.  The bear jinx is still with me.  Chad

[kctreeman]

We leave Thursday morning for our hunt.  We chose Mike Bissonet as our guide.  He said the baits are being hit pretty good without the berries this year.  Said something about the hazelnuts being plentiful this year and that they dropped last week.  Looking forward to the hunt.  Got all my WW razor sharp and ready for business.  We will be up around Babbit and ELY.

[Gordy]

After second night on stand, we've had two bear. Last nights bear was probably about a 200-250 bear. Tempting, but not what we're looking for....and besides he had a good bald patch on his rump.

Tonight we had a better bear come in about 5 minutes too late with more activity in the brush. Hard to tell exactly how good a bear, but definetley respectable. Decided to hang in another night to see what might show up again. Had a hard time getting the bear off the bait without giving ourselves up. Was a fun time getting two of us out of the trees with a hungry bear refusing to give up it's spot. We didn't spook the bears and are anxious to give it another try tomorrow despite having other plans.

Hope all are having a fun opener. My hunting partner THEforkhorn  spotted a couple bowhunter GM suvs's from MO headed north on Fri just north of Forest Lake....wondering if it was the kctreeman ?

Good Times  

[Gordy]

Third night on the stand was a beautiful evening. Dead calm but no bear activity. Plenty of other encounters to keep us entertained though. 2 fawns, a woodpecker, a falcon, a skunk and a flying squirrel ! (no kidding....never seen one of those before   )

Will try again in another week

[mnbwhtr]

Got back sunday. 7days baiting 12 spots netted 0 hits. Our area had an abundance of acorns that fell the week of the 20th. Everyone in the area had the same thing. The registration station only had 2 bears by sunday. Will try to get back up the first week of Oct.

[oneeye]

2 very active baits - been waiting for a north or west wind and can not get it! Oh well, work hasn't allowed me much time to get out anyways.

[Gordy]

Well, my bait is still very active but not during shooting light.

We called it a season at dark last night. Had a fun opener with 2 bear at stands, and many small game encounters to keep it interesting along the way.

Hoping to draw again soon and see what that bigger bear looks like in a year or two.

Would like to thank my family and friend THEforkhorn for helping me out this year. We all know it's a group effort. Once again, was great fun.

Time to get after the deer. Fall is a couple weeks ahead and I'm a couple weeks behind.
Hope you all had a good time for the MN bear hunt too.    

[OH at work]

kctreeman,

Just checking to see how you did on your hunt last fall?

Joe

[Gordy]

I was just wondering that myself  

[bowdude]

I would also agree that they need to revamp the # of sites for baiting allowed in Wi.  It is ridiculous how people claim areas with their baits.

[kctreeman]

Joseph, Let's just say that I was less than happy with the bear hunt last fall.  Four hunters for the entire week and one bear sighting.  The guide was also less than accomidating.  

PM me and I can give details.

[OH at work]

kc,  pm sent.

Joe