Great Dismal Swamp Bear Hunt
09-28-2009, 04:54 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Hampton, VA
Posts: 34
Great Dismal Swamp Bear Hunt
Hi all. I finally got drawn for the Great Dismal Swamp Bear Hunt in VA. Anyone on here have any idea how that hunt is run? Do they use dogs? Also, any tips on strategy? I've never bear hunted before....
09-30-2009, 03:26 AM
#4
Fork Horn
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location:
Posts: 466
Well not to burst your bubble but they only shot 1 undersized bear ever on their 2 hunts. That was in 2007. Guy got a ticket. Last year they took zero bears on the 2 day hunt.
No dogs. I live close to there and I wouldn't waste my time on it. Just my .02 ¢ on it.
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/greatdi...yfor%20web.pdf
No dogs. I live close to there and I wouldn't waste my time on it. Just my .02 ¢ on it.
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/greatdi...yfor%20web.pdf
09-30-2009, 05:10 PM
#5
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Hampton, VA
Posts: 34
Wonder why they don't do better? Guess I will see if I get drawn for a decent duck hunt on the same day before I commit. I have until 10/23 to pay up the $50....I was kind of hoping I'd have a better chance there. Supposedly there are some big bears in that swamp.
10-10-2009, 11:17 AM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Hayes, Va.
Posts: 2,332
Well not to burst your bubble but they only shot 1 undersized bear ever on their 2 hunts. That was in 2007. Guy got a ticket. Last year they took zero bears on the 2 day hunt.
No dogs. I live close to there and I wouldn't waste my time on it. Just my .02 ¢ on it.
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/greatdi...yfor%20web.pdf
No dogs. I live close to there and I wouldn't waste my time on it. Just my .02 ¢ on it.
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/greatdi...yfor%20web.pdf
I too wouldn't waist my time. In 2007 I got a tag, but didn't hunt. They only had one day for scouting and then it was on the opening day of deer season.
The guy that bagged that bear did so because he had a dingy and got across the water to the inner area. The only way to get there was by boat. You couldn't wade across it.
Too many negatives on this hunt. I waisted fifty bucks!
10-12-2009, 09:46 AM
#8
Spike
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 31
The way you guys talk doesn't seem like a good bear hunting adventure. Here in Columbia the boys run them critters w/dogs. It's a **** of a sound. Not as good as my deer dogs, but acceptable. But really they kill some bears in the county during the two bear seasons. The boys on my club usually kill at least 1 a day. One day last year they killed a 275 lber, 335 lber and a 577 lber in the same day. Not a bad day of hunting with all the dogs loaded up b4 4:00 pm.
