Bear noises?

[strattonje]

Okay so we went bear hunting this morning and evening and saw 1 bear at first like and just before dark we heard several growling grunting noises is this common? Or is it even bears?

[jrebel]

Definitely not an expert...but the bear I shot this year was popping his mouth at me and huffing and puffing trying to catch my sent.  Don't know how to explain the popping sound, but kinda sounded like my dog doing a 1/4 bark as she puffs her cheeks. 

[X-Force]

Sounds like it. Ive heard them be vocal all night while camping and shut up only after the sun came up. Normally when i though think of bear sounds its the distinct way they brake branches and move bushes it gets me excited every time i hear it.

[Kola16]

Definitely not an expert...but the bear I shot this year was popping his mouth at me and huffing and puffing trying to catch my sent. 

If it was making that sound, it already had your scent. The bear wanted you gone.

[sled]

  I have heard about the popping sound of the jaws, but have only heard one grunting.  It was in real thick brush last year about 15 feet from me feeding and tearing up a stump.  It was grunting and huffing, and snorting, before it winded me and took off.  I only know it was feeding and tearing up a stump because i went back the next day into the brush and found the stump.  I was that close but could not see through the brush.

[washelkhunter]

That popping is an agitated response. Its a warning to you that you are not welcome.

[huntnnw]

  Short grunts and popping are not a good sign 

[jrebel]

That popping is an agitated response. Its a warning to you that you are not welcome.

That is good to know.  I was really close when I heard that (30 feet) then he started walking away from me and not to much longer it was on a log where I could see him.  That is where he made his fatal mistake.  Actually glad I didn't know this info till now, may have ruined a good pair of underware. 

[grizzlyadams]

Just thinking about it gets the hair on the back of my neck standing up. Hearing those warnings from a bear but not being able to see it   

[dirty24d]

Okay so we went bear hunting this morning and evening and saw 1 bear at first like and just before dark we heard several growling grunting noises is this common? Or is it even bears?

I will say this there is a huge clear cut i frequent that holds a few bears but i have been tricked many times. There is a certain bird (im not aware of the species)  but they are constantly swooping like hawks but are way way smaller , anyways they vocalize to each others through a deep grunt that sounds like a bear! it sounds crazy but i'm 99 % positive its  those birds. Anyone else ever notice this or had this happen to them?

[Blacktail Sniper]

That popping is an agitated response. Its a warning to you that you are not welcome.

That is good to know.  I was really close when I heard that (30 feet) then he started walking away from me and not to much longer it was on a log where I could see him.  That is where he made his fatal mistake.  Actually glad I didn't know this info till now, may have ruined a good pair of underware. 

 

[JCKILLSHOT]

I will say this there is a huge clear cut i frequent that holds a few bears but i have been tricked many times. There is a certain bird (im not aware of the species)  but they are constantly swooping like hawks but are way way smaller , anyways they vocalize to each others through a deep grunt that sounds like a bear! it sounds crazy but i'm 99 % positive its  those birds. Anyone else ever notice this or had this happen to
them?

I have seen and heard those birds a bunch of times. First time I heard it I was hunting by myself and thought it was a bear so I waited there til dark glassing the clearcut until I noticed it was coming from those birds. They are dark greenish blue with a white stripe on their wings and they like to swoop right in front of your car when your driving out just after dark. We call them the crazy birds because they dive bomb a foot in front of the truck and have almost flew inside the truck. I wish I knew what they were.

[saylean]

Lots of times they will huff and pop jaws just before a charge (as previously stated, your not welcome, get out of here is what the bear is saying). Or, in the case I saw it, after 2 false charges...the third charge was close enough and ended that situation.

[ouchfoss]

By no means am I an expert but most of the times that has happened to me it turned out to be a momma with babies. Like everyone has said, when you get popping noises that means you are had and the bear knows you are there and wants you gone. Last year I walked into a new area and came across some brand new HUGE piles of blackberry poo and about 200 yards farther down the road I came up to a swamp area and decided to do some cow calling, (I was elk hunting at that time). After a few calls, I hear some brush breaking off to one side and then silence. Then about 30 seconds later, I start hearing the jaws popping and some more brush breaking as the animal is trying to circle me. Being that all I had was a bow with me and this animal was starting to get between me and my only trail back out of there, I just left the area and went back to the truck. The next day my uncle goes into the exact same spot looking to maybe call in a bull and ended up getting between a 300+ lb sow and her cub  ! All he had for protection was his bow as well. Lets just say he carries a sidearm from now on!  Not sure if it was the same bear from the day before or not but I'm thinking theres a good chance.

[billythekidrock]

Ouchfoss is correct. If it was bear, chances are very high that it was a sow with cubs.

[jrebel]

My bear was a bore that was estimated at 2.5 years old.  It was by itself with and it was definitely the one making the noise.  I followed him for 100-150 yards before I could get a good view and shot.  I am not sure it was the same "popping" you guys are discribing.  I obviously don't know for sure, but it sounded like my GWP "whoofing"  (1/4 bark) at something.  Never sounded pissed off, but I don't know how I would tell anyway.  He did this right after he winded me so very possible it was a warning.  Right after that he just walked away. 

[jrebel]

This very similar to what I heard.  Listen when the bear is out on the limb and is breathing hard.  I thought at this point my bear smelled me...then he did that small woof / puff / pop. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwbrown/4080193790/#in/photostream/

[strattonje]

Yea I thinks it's the birds I'm hunting a clear cut in the mason county area but I did see one bear at least and about 5 3 point plus bucks in one day

[billythekidrock]

My bear was a bore that was estimated at 2.5 years old.  It was by itself with and it was definitely the one making the noise.  I followed him for 100-150 yards before I could get a good view and shot.  I am not sure it was the same "popping" you guys are discribing.  I obviously don't know for sure, but it sounded like my GWP "whoofing"  (1/4 bark) at something.  Never sounded pissed off, but I don't know how I would tell anyway.  He did this right after he winded me so very possible it was a warning.  Right after that he just walked away. 

Bears have a variety of vocalizations. It sounds like you heard what most would call huffing/blowing.

The attached video has some huffing, chomping and bawling.
Two Angry Cubs

[billythekidrock]

I will say this there is a huge clear cut i frequent that holds a few bears but i have been tricked many times. There is a certain bird (im not aware of the species)  but they are constantly swooping like hawks but are way way smaller , anyways they vocalize to each others through a deep grunt that sounds like a bear! it sounds crazy but i'm 99 % positive its  those birds. Anyone else ever notice this or had this happen to
them?

I have seen and heard those birds a bunch of times. First time I heard it I was hunting by myself and thought it was a bear so I waited there til dark glassing the clearcut until I noticed it was coming from those birds. They are dark greenish blue with a white stripe on their wings and they like to swoop right in front of your car when your driving out just after dark. We call them the crazy birds because they dive bomb a foot in front of the truck and have almost flew inside the truck. I wish I knew what they were.

Those are nighthawks and the "deep grunts" are not vocalizations. That noise is from the male's wings as he pulls up from a dive in an effort to attract a mate.

[dirty24d]

I will say this there is a huge clear cut i frequent that holds a few bears but i have been tricked many times. There is a certain bird (im not aware of the species)  but they are constantly swooping like hawks but are way way smaller , anyways they vocalize to each others through a deep grunt that sounds like a bear! it sounds crazy but i'm 99 % positive its  those birds. Anyone else ever notice this or had this happen to
them?

I have seen and heard those birds a bunch of times. First time I heard it I was hunting by myself and thought it was a bear so I waited there til dark glassing the clearcut until I noticed it was coming from those birds. They are dark greenish blue with a white stripe on their wings and they like to swoop right in front of your car when your driving out just after dark. We call them the crazy birds because they dive bomb a foot in front of the truck and have almost flew inside the truck. I wish I knew what they were.

Those are nighthawks and the "deep grunts" are not vocalizations. That noise is from the male's wings as he pulls up from a dive in an effort to attract a mate.

good call billy, the most deceiving thing about them is that they frequent the cuts that i know hold bears and i've heard bear grunts that sound almost identical.

It makes sense on the wing noise because they are constantly swooping and you can hear that sounds from 200 + yards in the area i'm talking about.