Countering dangerous game while hunting
 

My friend and I nailed down a spot with a lot of big game, and there are also several cats and some large black bears.

Obviously, we are going to carry sidearms to defend ourselves if we need to.

To the experienced hunters who have hunted the same type of areas, did you set up with solid cover behind you? Did you make it a point to only hunt from elevated positions?

Honestly, I have hunted in bear and cat country my whole life....hardly ever had I had a problem. Only once in fact. A big ole bear that was wounded wouldn't back down....until I hit it with a rock, then it scampered. Almost without fail, black bears are scaredy cats and cougars would much rather melt away without you ever knowing they were there.

I hear ya. It may be something in the water up here, but the cats and bears around here like to attack hunters. The local hospital gets hikers and hunters fairly regularly that were wounded by them.

Otherwise, I might just refrain from taking naps while hunting. :)

I carry bear spray, but I never had to use it, or any other problem with bears and cats.

They're more scared of us than we are of them. Unless you're talking about grizzly's.

I carry a 10mm when I scout and hunt muzzleloader. Its not for the bears and cats as much for the not so nice people I ran into in the past. I never had a problem with getting bothered by wildlife even when cubs are around. I wouldn't let that effect how you hunt.

The most dangerous game in the forest walks upright on two legs and carries a rifle. In 40 plus years of hunting bg in the mountains of CO I have never had a problem with the four legged kind....seen several but they went on their merry way. No so with the two legged variety.

I hear ya. I guess what it comes down to is doing what you feel is comfortable. Being that I have no experience hunting in areas with bears and cats, I'm gonna do what I feel necessary to give myself the advantage over any threats.

I'd carry some spray for piece of mind, but wouldn't lose any sleep (or change how I hunted) worrying about it. I had a cousin who had a black bear get a little aggressive with him while trout fishing. He was on his way back to his truck, wearing waders, and had a creel full of trout -- couldn't move too good with the waders, so he gave up the trout. The bear was satisfied with that.

I worry more when fly fishing the high mountain creeks. It was the actual reason I bought the bear spray. Unlike hunting. When fishing the creeks the noise of the creek drowns out any other noises. Plus, i'm concentrating on the water, and not looking around at all. It would be simple for a bear to walk right up to me, and i'd never know it. The last bad thing is that's where bears hang out is around the water.

I never worry while hunting, because they couldn't sneak up on me, and i'm carrying a gun if they do. If I was a bow hunter. The bear spray would be enough, but even then. I'd have a bow.

Hard to stop a bear with a fly rod.

Really ......."It may be something in the water up here, but the cats and bears around here like to attack hunters. The local hospital gets hikers and hunters fairly regularly that were wounded by them"
Do you have any links to all these cat and bear attacks, I have not heard of any recently, heck they been less than 10 bear attacks in all of Washington state in the last 50 years, with very few cat attacks also!!! me thinks someone might be messin with yer head...........I don't carry a hand gun when I'm hunting, I don't need it I have a high powered rifle that works much better for dispatchin pests!!! Why carry the extra weight in case of a none existant threat???
You asked for advise as you say you are inexperianced but then don't want to listen to said advice... then why ask??? I would worry about a fellow hunter mistaking me for game and shooting me before I would worry about a black bear or cougar!!! JUst my two cents and I have been hunting Washington state for about 50 yrs now!!!!

Hey look, man- I made a decision a long time ago not to get all fired up about what people write on forums like this. If you wanna start a fire, you'll be the only one gettin burnt.

Back to the topic. Sounds like I might have been a little over precaucious. I appreciate the input you guys gave to help me understand that a lot of what I've been hearing about were probably just tall tales.

Once I get a few years of hunting under my belt, hopefully I'll have the same casual attitude.

It doesn't hurt to be cautious. Even if a state has had only 10 bear attacks in 50 years. Try to tell those 10 people than bears don't attack.

NOBODY says they are casual about it, just not freaked out about it to the point of feeling the need to carry extra weight around, when you have more than enough firepower in yer hands to kill anything in the woods!
I am always aware of my surroundings, even here in town as there is more than one type of predator out there.
Yes bears and cats could attack but the circumstances have to be right, most likely a bear attack would be from a sow with cubs and the cat attack maybe from a sickly old cat or disoriented youngster that can't catch a deer!

A cat will also attack if you get near it's kill. A sow with cubs is very common.

I'm just saying to always be careful no matter what the numbers tell you. I'b be foolish to go into bear country with no protection. Hell, I stick bear spray in my pocket when I take my dog out at night, because bears have been spotted in town lately.

We used to see blackies come into the sub-divisions that were close to wooded areas in Colorado Springs when we lived there. They loved to go through people's trash cans.

I pretty well agree with the others, however I have been bluff charged which is not a pleasant experience.. Chances of an attack are slim but it has happened. Carry a can of bear spray, it's cheap peace of mind. Me? I would have a Mt. Lion and Bear tag and I'd be sitting in that tree. :-)

Not just in town, but across the street where I take my dog. It's pitch black when I take him out there. Common problem in the spring.

9 out of 10 blacks aren't looking for trouble. They don't come in that order, but they will avoid you for the most part. I hunt in grizz and black terrain, and there are cats everywhere. A 375 H&H is my companion, because you never know. I have seen lots of them, but never had a problem with any of them. If a bluff charge ever happens, I guarantee that I will have a new rug. Anything that outweighs me by 500 pounds isn't going to get the chance to get close enough to maul and chew my old bones. Just relax and keep your eyes open.

Countering dangerous game while hunting
 

This pretty much sums up my experience also.

I've hunted Colorado, Montana, Alaska, and Canada for almost 50 years. Every black bear and the 3 cougars that I've encountered have all been quick to run away when they realized that I saw them.

Years ago, the Forest Service Ranger in Big Timber, Montana asked me to dispose of a dead horse in the Absaroka Wilderness south of Big Timber. A grizzly had been feeding on the horse and charged several horseback riders on the nearby trail. When my helpers and I hiked to the dead horse, the griz was on it and when it saw us it ran away and was never seen again.

If you're really worried about encountering a bear or mountain lion, carry a can of pepper spray that is easily accessible and know how to use it.

Another time a Grizzly came into our hunting camp where my partners and I had the quarters of two elk and a moose hanging. He wouldn't leave until I bounced a rock off him.

Best Prevention
 

I've found the best prevention is paying for a tag, then they will do all they can to stay way the heck away from me. Call it insurance. :barmy: