Traditional Bear Hunt

[Muley_Stalker]

I've decided to just hunt for bear for whatever hunting I have left in this old worn out body. I'll keep it traditional and use a Hawken replica .50 with a round ball.

Our deer herd is hurting and i'll leave them alone. How many newborn fawns will be saved by killing a bear? I like the idea of having the whole month of Sept to hunt compared to just 9 days for deer or elk.

Some bear stew will be good next fall.

 

[MThuntr]

honestly I'm not so sure bears are making a huge impact on fawns but I'm likely wrong. Maybe 1 or 2?

I would wager coyotes kill far more than bears especially when coyotes significantly outnumber bears. To have an impact on coyotes you'd literally have to eradicate the entire population because removing only 1 or 2 creates a vacuum to recruit more coyotes.

 

[Muley_Stalker]

honestly I'm not so sure bears are making a huge impact on fawns but I'm likely wrong. Maybe 1 or 2?

I would wager coyotes kill far more than bears especially when coyotes significantly outnumber bears. To have an impact on coyotes you'd literally have to eradicate the entire population because removing only 1 or 2 creates a vacuum to recruit more coyotes.

We're forced to buy a small game license now to be eligible to put in for a big game tag. So, coyotes are on my kill list too. I'll stake out every gut pile I run into. We can kill as many coyotes as we want and the season is all year long. I'll be doing a lot of coyote hunting during the year and all of Sept it will be bear.

A predator after predators.

 

[Red Fox]

I think it all depends on the bear, some are very good at finding fawns and others don't even care about them.

 

[Muley_Stalker]

I can't imagine any bear would pass up easy meat. Especially, in the fall when they're trying to fatten up.

I don't hunt them because they eat the fawns. It's just a perk for killing them. I always hunt for the challenge and meat. Only for that too. Zero interest in any trophy. Even when I manage to kill a trophy I give it away. It sure makes it easier to get tags.

 

[wyoboypt]

honestly I'm not so sure bears are making a huge impact on fawns but I'm likely wrong. Maybe 1 or 2?

I would wager coyotes kill far more than bears especially when coyotes significantly outnumber bears. To have an impact on coyotes you'd literally have to eradicate the entire population because removing only 1 or 2 creates a vacuum to recruit more coyotes.

I don’t disagree. But I’ve read that bears are extra good at finding fawns and calves due to their insanely powerful sense if smell. 7 times stronger than a canine I think . ??

 

[thebestusernamesaretaken]

I've decided to just hunt for bear for whatever hunting I have left in this old worn out body. I'll keep it traditional and use a Hawken replica .50 with a round ball.

Our deer herd is hurting and i'll leave them alone. How many newborn fawns will be saved by killing a bear? I like the idea of having the whole month of Sept to hunt compared to just 9 days for deer or elk.

Some bear stew will be good next fall.

Please keep updating on your progress. I'd be interested in how you did.

 

[geetar]

Best wishes on this adventure. And yes please post more about it.

 

[Muley_Stalker]

I will but I have to warn you. My units aren't very good for bear hunting. Not a lot of natural food for the bears to get fat on.

I have 30 days to try and find one and then get within 50 yds. Which is my max distance with primitive sights. More challenge = more reward.

 

[BrentD]

I can't imagine any bear would pass up easy meat. Especially, in the fall when they're trying to fatten up.

I don't hunt them because they eat the fawns. It's just a perk for killing them. I always hunt for the challenge and meat. Only for that too. Zero interest in any trophy. Even when I manage to kill a trophy I give it away. It sure makes it easier to get tags.

I can't think of any instances where bears were not major factors on ungulate fawns, particularly black bears. Be it moose, deer, elk, they are all preferred prey of bears in spring and early summer everywhere I have seen data. I would bet they are much bigger predators, per capita, than coyotes.

 

[Muley_Stalker]

I just did some research on it. They did a study in PA and bears came out ahead of coyotes for killing fawns.

Colorado says one bear will average 43 fawns in the spring. Times 17,000 bears.

 

[Sask hunter]

I just did some research on it. They did a study in PA and bears came out ahead of coyotes for killing fawns.

Colorado says one bear will average 43 fawns in the spring. Times 17,000 bears.

I think bears kill more elk moose calves and deer fawn then they get credit for. I love bear hunting would hunt them regardless of the impact. Saving a few moose calves is just a bonus

 

[Muley_Stalker]

Yup!