Double Creek

I killed a bear over bait back about 8 years ago. Went up to Sask. and only saw 1 bear the first year, went back and arrowed once the first night the next year. Beautiful brown phase black bear. Didn't make the book, but I was proud of him. For me it's one of those things that once you've done it, there is no desire to do it again.

adams

I'm curious DC what makes you not have the desire to do it again? Was it the fact the animal was baited, meat wasn't good, not as exciting as whitetail hunting?

I've been grapping with the baiting issue but fear if I pass now the chance may pass me by for good. I've wanted a bear skin rug for as long as I can remember. Now I just have to convince the wife to allow me to keep it in the house.

Rich Baker

IMO, Baiting or hounds is the only ethical way to harvest bear, Spot and stalk is not a effective way to harvest bears, to many small bears and sows are killed that way. they look big through a scope at 200 yards with bait you have a chance to study the animal and determan if it is a bear than should be taken. Hear in oregon the use of bait and hounds has been banned and the age class of bears has been very low , many cubs are shot each year that would have had a chance to grow into nice adult bears if they could have been observed at close range. People who have never baited or run hounds don't understand this. many a big sow has been shot dead while her two young cubs were out of sight when the shot was fired. these cubs wont make it because some pompus better than you hunter looks down his nose at your baiting and shoots the first good bear he see's at 200 yards. Off soap box!!! now that said I am done.

adams

Excellente post Rich.
As I'm sure you can see I've never hunted bear. Getting the pov of someone who has and has seen the effects of poor management techniques is eye opening. Being mostly a whitetail hunter it's a foreign concept that baiting is the ethical way to hunt a specific animal but with the examples you provider it is clear why baiting has its place. The Maine Dept of inland fisheries and wildlife fought the ban tooth and nail as it is there most sound managment practice.

Rich Baker

Baiting deer is a different story all together. I also dont agree that it shouldn't be done. bears on the other hand is a diferent story. people in our hunting community are quick to dismiss practices based on emotion/ lack of opprotunity. IE. the hound issue. its a lot of money to keep 8+ hounds pluse training and what not. many hunters dismissed the practice of couger hunting with hounds in this state because it was not ethical in there mind. ( most of these people would have done it if they had the time/ money/reasorses.) so they voted to bann it. in 96 now they are all crieing about no elk and deer to hunt but the cougers are why over populated.now they want the hounds back

nodog

Might have been the moni monies of an expiring bear. I know someone that had one pile up right under his stamd and carry on for awhile. Pathetic.