During the past two months of scouting for my location to set up my deer hunting stand, I've seen a large (approx. 350 lb.) bear crossing the poleline in the area I intend to Archery Hunt for Deer. I've seen the bear seven times this past two months. I've also seen deer, including a nice Nine Pointer in velvet in the same area. My question is: will the deer stay in the same area as the bear?
I've been told to locate another area for deer hunting but I question, WHY?

What kind of bear? If its a black bear I hunt in areas with bears and kill deer every year. I think the deer would be used to bear in the area.

If you're seeing deer and bear there at the same time I wouldn't worry about it. Deer and bear co-exist all over the place. My dad killed a bear while deer hunting at a wilderness area a few years ago and good deer always come out of that area. You may try to bag the bear too, bear meat's pretty good to eat and it'd make a nice rug or something.

My mind belongs to my work...
My heart belongs to my family...

But my soul...belongs to the woods.

Mel,
Hunt the bear and if you get the chance at a deer then take that but concentrate on the bear!
Good Luck


Greg

"Getting close to the game is the joy of Bowhunting for me, the harvest is a bonus."

Live 15 ft Python after eating a small Antelope!

Froman you say bear is good? I have only tried it once and it was in sausage and was so strong I could barely get it down. How do you prepare it?

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

We see bear when deer hunting all the time.
Bear can be good if its taken from the wild, especially if there is a good berry crop that year, they are what they eat.
Be carefull, bears are oportunists, last year a camp near us took a bear but found a nasty surprise when dressing it, there was a used diaper in its stomach!


"guns aren't for killing people, guns are for killing dangerous and delicious animals"
- Homer Simpson