Bear Hunting "Game Changer"

[bearpaw]

The story below made me think of two things:

1. I wonder how many spring bear hunters have taken the grizzly bear test? I had all my guides take the test again this spring until they pass with 100%. The three northwest grizzly states all offer grizzly identification tests:
https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/education/bearIdentification/
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/bear_cougar/bear/
http://fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter/bearID/

2. How many bear baiters in Idaho might run into a grizzly on their bait?

I was just told a story last week about an out of the area baiter who says he accidentally shot a grizzly on his bait last fall in north Idaho! IDFG is still investigating! I haven't heard of charges being filed yet, but I expect it will happen.


"Game Changer"
The rise in grizzly bear populations is altering the way bear baiting is done.

“Slowly over time the grizzly bears are creeping in,” Arnold says. “The last few years I have had baits that grizzlies come into. As soon as a grizzly comes in, I stop baiting it.”

Arnold doesn’t want a grizzly meet-and-greet, like a few other local hunters are already carrying the scars of, but he’s still out. He doesn’t want his outdoor game to change, but he’s worried about what grizzlies might mean to his future as a hunter.

- See more at: http://sportingclassicsdaily.com/game-changers/#sthash.SixN5sCZ.dpuf

[Karl Blanchard]

Tag.  I'll be in Idaho at the end of the month

[trophyhunt]

Did I mention I really don't like grizzlies!  Just about the only thing in the woods that bothers me is a grizz.  Idaho, Wyoming should be hunting these guys.

[bearpaw]

I guess the young guy last fall walked in to his bait, saw a large bear on his bait and blasted it. It was a collared grizzly, after the animal was dead for a short time and not moving, the collar gave off a mortality signal, IDFG was there in short order.

There are griz in north Idaho, in northeast Washington, and in northwest Washington, hunters should be very certain they know the difference between blacks and grizz before they go hunting! You know the importance of safe sex, this is probably even more important than that.

Be safe, take the bear tests, pass them all with 100%! 

[Karl Blanchard]

Did I mention I really don't like grizzlies!  Just about the only thing in the woods that bothers me is a grizz.  Idaho, Wyoming should be hunting these guys.

[Badhabit]

Very Graphic photos of a guy who was mauled in Alaska. Not for faint of heart to look at.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7f3_1462381273

[daddysprad]

Our cabin in north of Usk on the east side of the river.  We had one wandering around there last spring but haven't seen him this year so far.

[tgomez]

100% Idaho, 100% Montana, can't get Washington to load up and never can for some reason it reads "couldn't load plug in."

[HUNTaHOLIC5]

Very Graphic photos of a guy who was mauled in Alaska. Not for faint of heart to look at.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7f3_1462381273

That is awful. I can't imagine the pain of something like that.

[pashok23]

Very Graphic photos of a guy who was mauled in Alaska. Not for faint of heart to look at.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7f3_1462381273

That is awful. I can't imagine the pain of something like that.

  The numbers of grizzlies are pretty high in Montana,Idaho,Wyoming , and its growing by 3% every year based on Montana Fish,Wildlife@Parks.They needs to be hunted for sure.

[Bango skank]

Didnt some moron kill a sow grizz in washington a couple years ago and got busted cause somebody saw it in the back of his truck?

[bearpaw]

Didnt some moron kill a sow grizz in washington a couple years ago and got busted cause somebody saw it in the back of his truck?

Yes, they were seen with it in the back of their truck at the motel in Ione. That's how it got reported.

[Bango skank]

Didnt some moron kill a sow grizz in washington a couple years ago and got busted cause somebody saw it in the back of his truck?

Yes, they were seen with it in the back of their truck at the motel in Ione. That's how it got reported.

Pretty amazing that they couldnt tell the difference even after they shot it, up close and personal. 

[bearpaw]

Didnt some moron kill a sow grizz in washington a couple years ago and got busted cause somebody saw it in the back of his truck?

Yes, they were seen with it in the back of their truck at the motel in Ione. That's how it got reported.

Pretty amazing that they couldnt tell the difference even after they shot it, up close and personal.

YEP, that's why I think everyone should do these tests that plan to bear hunt anywhere near grizzlies.

[MountainWalk]

Back when I was guiding and packing, some guy from Texas shot one over bait, and later was not cited and fined. Not sure where at in the Selway or Church.  Grizz give me the jeebies.  They aren't too huge, super fast and unpredictable.   I've had a few encounters, but nothing close, thank God.

[KFhunter]

I suspect Grizz will come in on a string if they heard a fawn bleating or rabbit squalling.

something to keep in mind for all you predator callers 


good thing I use an Ecaller, imagine using mouth calls and have a grizz come in charging through the brush 40mph at you?

[Bango skank]

I suspect Grizz will come in on a string if they heard a fawn bleating or rabbit squalling.

something to keep in mind for all you predator callers 


good thing I use an Ecaller, imagine using mouth calls and have a grizz come in charging through the brush 40mph at you?

I may have some freetime to bear hunt in idaho soon.  If i do it will be in a grizz area, and ecalls are not allowed.  Pretty dumb to not allow e callers in a grizz area, but it is what it is.  Hand call game.

[silverdalesauer]

I guess the young guy last fall walked in to his bait, saw a large bear on his bait and blasted it. It was a collared grizzly, after the animal was dead for a short time and not moving, the collar gave off a mortality signal, IDFG was there in short order.

There are griz in north Idaho, in northeast Washington, and in northwest Washington, hunters should be very certain they know the difference between blacks and grizz before they go hunting! You know the importance of safe sex, this is probably even more important than that.

Be safe, take the bear tests, pass them all with 100%! 

Are there really Grizzlies in Northwest Washington? Never heard that before. Always thought they were in Northeast WA. Where in particular - close to Canada?

Just went to the Montana site and took the test. Got 100% on the first try...hope I never run into one though. I did in Montana at Glacier National Park. Crazy beasts that make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. 

[trophyelk6x6]

I was in the Selway Idaho hunting and a grizz got killed.  People always think they are big, this grizz was 300lbs at best. 

[TVHunts]

It's hard to believe a hunter couldn't pass the Montana test with less than a 100%.  The differences between the two are very distinct.

 Now, if it is charging towards me I'm pretty darn sure my identification skills would go to *ell in a heartbeat!  The awareness drill surely can't hurt any of us though.

[andrew_in_idaho]

The only ones I ever had issues with on those tests are the "which species left this track?" questions, frankly I'm not planning on shooting tracks so I could kinda care less anyway


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[snake]

They keep using Grizz as a reason to shut down roads in NE WA. More and more every year.  Lib tards don't want anyone in the hills.

[Mudman]

I took test and there are some intentional vague pics of color phase black bears that can be hard to identify.  I tell you in a split second decision it can be hard but if its charging it don't matter-bang.  It is not as easy as some think.  If you have time to watch there is no excuse for mistakes if educated.  Republic area has grizzly. It seems they are territorial to black bears.

[WAcoyotehunter]

They keep using Grizz as a reason to shut down roads in NE WA. More and more every year.  Lib tards don't want anyone in the hills.

When was the last time they closed a road?  There are lots of gated roads, but they have been that way for a decade or so....

[JLS]

I suspect Grizz will come in on a string if they heard a fawn bleating or rabbit squalling.

something to keep in mind for all you predator callers 


good thing I use an Ecaller, imagine using mouth calls and have a grizz come in charging through the brush 40mph at you?

Actually, you probably wouldn't hear him until he was right on top of you.  They are an amazingly silent animal when they want to be.

Really though, I doubt the danger posed is any more significant on a percentage basis than black bears are. 

I know a couple of guys that have had them come in to a cow call while archery hunting.  That said, I've logged a lot of hours bowhunting in prime grizzly bear country and have had no issues with them.

[jasnt]

They keep using Grizz as a reason to shut down roads in NE WA. More and more every year.  Lib tards don't want anyone in the hills.

When was the last time they closed a road?  There are lots of gated roads, but they have been that way for a decade or so....

i haven't heard of any roads closers but the area I hunted turkey last year up by power lake is now gated with no vehicle access

[WAcoyotehunter]

That's not Grizzly Bear Recovery Area.  More than likely the roads up there are getting closed because that whole area get overrun with dirtbags and trashed every weekend.

[snake]

There are signs everywhere talking about Grizzly bear and how they recover better with less human interaction.  Salmo Priest area to name one, and Northern Idaho as well.