Bear tracking help

[skagitsteel]

I like bears within reason.  When fawn and calf recruitment rates are in the crapper, and i get more bears than deer on my trail cams, something needs to be done.  In had 1 week to hunt for a buck i was after in early september in 2017, then left the state until november (this buck always disappears mid september.)  In that one week in stand i saw 3 deer.  All does, zero fawns.  But i saw 10 bears.  That ratio is a bit skewed.  I have some cameras up that get bears walking by nearly every single day in july and august.  So many damn bears.  I want their numbers reduced, but i dont hate them.  With a few exceptions of course.  A bear has come into my back yard twice this month to rip up my 3d targets that are 20 yards from my house.  I hate that bear.  Another ripped down the fencing around 6 of my young chestnut trees, stomped the fencing flat, then the deer ate the trees.  I also hate that bear.  Oh, and i hate every bear that flips my trail cams over and screws up a 9 month soak.

You are correct it’s true, too many bears in much of this state.  I have noticed in areas that have multiple bears I get almost zero fawn pics. I was talking to one of the bio’s and he said if we had any idea how many fawns/ calves  the bears take out we would have a bounty on them.

[mountainman]

Pac, did you ever go back with a dog??

[CAMPMEAT]

PM me if you want. I know Ferry County and people very well, since I lived there almost 17 years.


Wolves might be eating on it, so watch out !!

[Pac_NW]

I wasn't able to get anyone out there with a dog. I spent last Wednesday combing the area, but that has been it. I had to handle some things at home over the holiday weekend. I doubt the hide would be good after 10 days. What do you guys think?

[Doublelunger]

I wasn't able to get anyone out there with a dog. I spent last Wednesday combing the area, but that has been it. I had to handle some things at home over the holiday weekend. I doubt the hide would be good after 10 days. What do you guys think?

After 10 days their is nothing left to salvage. Chalk it up as a loss and learn from the experience. You can even lose sleep over it if you want. A younger and more naive version of myself might have felt bad about letting a bear go to waste, but the current version of myself wouldnt care too much.

[2MANY]

Yup.
About equal to an above ground mole.

[bobcat]

I wouldn't waste any more time on that bear. Go find and kill another one.

[D-Rock425]

I wasn't able to get anyone out there with a dog. I spent last Wednesday combing the area, but that has been it. I had to handle some things at home over the holiday weekend. I doubt the hide would be good after 10 days. What do you guys think?

After 10 days their is nothing left to salvage. Chalk it up as a loss and learn from the experience. You can even lose sleep over it if you want. A younger and more naive version of myself might have felt bad about letting a bear go to waste, but the current version of myself wouldnt care too much.

Yup.
About equal to an above ground mole.

  I totally agree you should get after it and find another bear but I wouldn't take as far as saying it's just a ground mole.  I loose any animal I've shot and i'm sick about it for a while. 

[Rainier10]

I hate it when I shoot something and don't find it.  The not knowing what happened eats at you.

You gave it a good effort to find it.  They are tough animals and sometimes the shot isn't as good as you thought.  Lots of variables.  I would get back out there and try to fill that tag.  You never know you might shoot a bear that you already shot once.

Good job trying to locate it and good luck filling that tag.