Post by: jrebel on August 11, 2019, 05:56:14 PM
My son shot a small bear one of the nights and it let off a moan right behind out blind.
To my question.....is this common or is it just because we are in an area that has a dense population of bear? I assume they are vocalizing so they can avoid each other.....thoughts??
Post by: KFhunter on August 11, 2019, 05:59:59 PM
had em roar at me, both black and grizz roaring at me as I crept in tooo close to them
jaw popping
moaning and doing this chortling thing in proximity to other bears "I don't want no trouble, but I'll fight you if I hafta" moaning chortle but they'll do that to people too if you tree one
Post by: jrebel on August 11, 2019, 06:04:12 PM
heck ya they're vocal!
had em roar at me, both black and grizz roaring at me as I crept in tooo close to them
jaw popping
moaning and doing this chortling thing in proximity to other bears "I don't want no trouble, but I'll fight you if I hafta" moaning chortle but they'll do that to people too if you tree one
Yeah, I have been close and had them snap their teeth or growl at me......this is different. Clearly oblivious of my presence and often a very long way away. They have to be vocalizing with other bears or just being noisy.
It is very fascinating and probably one of the coolest things I have ever experienced in the woods. I can't believe it took this long for me to hear it.....maybe because I wasn't listening for that specific sound.
Post by: 7mmfan on August 11, 2019, 07:13:00 PM
Post by: KFhunter on August 11, 2019, 07:18:00 PM
So without being there I can't say for sure but here is my experience with this. I had a friend saying the same thing as you, almost verbatim. I went out with him and heard it too. Sounded very guttural, just like a bear would make but something was off. I finally was able to ID the noise as a diving nighthawk or some little bird. They dive and as they pull out their wings would make the sound. Next time you're out look up and see if that's where it's coming from.
Naw, I grew up under nighthawks and love listening to them in the evenings. I know that sound by heart. One of my favorite birds that aren't game.
Post by: jrebel on August 11, 2019, 07:24:29 PM
So without being there I can't say for sure but here is my experience with this. I had a friend saying the same thing as you, almost verbatim. I went out with him and heard it too. Sounded very guttural, just like a bear would make but something was off. I finally was able to ID the noise as a diving nighthawk or some little bird. They dive and as they pull out their wings would make the sound. Next time you're out look up and see if that's where it's coming from.
Funny you bring this up....I told my son, "I think it is a bird." Twenty minutes later the bear he shot made the sound withing 25-50 yards from the blind. I'm pretty positive they are bears. The other thing that makes me think they are bears; one will make the sound, then you will hear 2-4 others make the sound in completely different areas and at different ranges (one faint, one loud, etc.). The last night we waited to late, but decided to go stalk one of the sounds. We only had about 10 minutes of light left so we moved quick in hopes of catching a bear on the ridge. As we got closer the sound got louder and was clearly crossing the ridge we always see them on.
When I say vocal.....these sounds / moans start about 90 minutes before dark and occur until we leave. They will sound off ever 5-10 minutes and then go silent until they sound off again. I will see if my phone can record the sounds next time I'm out.....likely not but I will try. It sounds exactly like a bear moaning.
like this if the link works.
Post by: KFhunter on August 11, 2019, 07:40:14 PM
Post by: buckcanyonlodge on August 12, 2019, 06:16:14 AM
Post by: Elkrunner on August 12, 2019, 06:30:29 AM
Post by: buckcanyonlodge on August 12, 2019, 09:55:20 AM
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=what+sounds+do+nighthawks+make&view=detail&mid=1C9CBBB554BAE20FD26A1C9CBBB554BAE20FD26A&FORM=VIRE
Post by: jrebel on August 12, 2019, 10:06:16 AM
Is this the sound...turn up volume
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=what+sounds+do+nighthawks+make&view=detail&mid=1C9CBBB554BAE20FD26A1C9CBBB554BAE20FD26A&FORM=VIRE
I have heard that sound and yes that may be some of it. The other sounds are I am hearing are different. Also thought maybe a cow moose with a short Bellow at times. It is weird as this ridge produces a lot of sound as the evening gets closer. I will listen closer now that I have different ideas and knowledge of these birds. Maybe I also have an infestation of Nighthawks. I'm back up there later this week and will report back my findings. Im taking a video camera this time so maybe I can get good audio.
Post by: crowinghen on August 13, 2019, 10:38:58 AM
other than that i have heard a bear communicate with a kind of moan just a couple weeks ago, it was feeding in a thick patch of berries and it just sounded off.
I have also heard the teeth popping, that'll make you change your course of direction real quick!
Post by: bearpaw on August 13, 2019, 11:06:21 AM
So without being there I can't say for sure but here is my experience with this. I had a friend saying the same thing as you, almost verbatim. I went out with him and heard it too. Sounded very guttural, just like a bear would make but something was off. I finally was able to ID the noise as a diving nighthawk. They dive and as they pull out of it their wings would make the sound. Next time you're out look up and see if that's where it's coming from.
:yeah: I've had quite a few hunters who thought the night hawks were bear making noise.
Post by: 7mmfan on August 13, 2019, 11:08:46 AM
Post by: L8NITE on August 13, 2019, 01:08:02 PM