Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: arees on May 12, 2009, 08:31:10 AM

Title: Bear Feeder
Post by: arees on May 12, 2009, 08:31:10 AM: I read another thread that discussed finding a bear feeder that was probably set out by DNR to reduce spring tree damage. While scouting a new area on Saturday I came across one a took some photos. The feeder itself is pretty simple:

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tgfoitwoods.com%2Fimages%2FBearStuff%2FBearFeeder1.jpg&hash=341f3820af12055e8b7e2b6f3a14eb429f4608d0)

Here is an interior shot showing the bear kibble.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tgfoitwoods.com%2Fimages%2FBearStuff%2FBearFeeder2.jpg&hash=633edca89d8bd4c61e1602deb8e6bd17308818b7)

Here is a shot of a recently peeled tree about 50 yards away:

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tgfoitwoods.com%2Fimages%2FBearStuff%2FTreeDamage2.jpg&hash=4411a50c89a1a6cd10de96a867a95bc27b8d6cda)

It was an interesting find, but I have seen better sign elsewhere.
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: saylean on May 12, 2009, 09:42:43 AM: weird find..I bet they prefer the natural stuff...I think I would rather eat bark than that hampster food!
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: boneaddict on May 12, 2009, 09:44:03 AM: ditto
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: stumprat on May 12, 2009, 10:10:04 AM: They love hog feed.
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: Bofire on May 12, 2009, 10:27:09 AM: :)Ralph Flowers developed some special feed for them that was supposed to work really well.
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 12, 2009, 10:34:34 AM: i think the slug was hungry!!!!
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: arees on May 12, 2009, 10:38:15 AM: If you look closely you can see that the slug still has tree bark in his mouth.
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on May 12, 2009, 10:51:00 PM: Quote from: Bofire on May 12, 2009, 10:27:09 AM
:)Ralph Flowers developed some special feed for them that was supposed to work really well.
:yeah:
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: Huntbear on May 13, 2009, 12:31:09 AM: ummmmmmm bears do not like pellet food. They like doughnuts!!!!!!! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: ICEMAN on May 13, 2009, 06:24:06 AM: Wouldn't it save the state some cash, to simply give out a few more spring bear tags with maps showing where significant damage is occurring? :dunno:
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: Lincoln4 on May 13, 2009, 08:33:03 AM: Quote from: ICEMAN on May 13, 2009, 06:24:06 AM
Wouldn't it save the state some cash, to simply give out a few more spring bear tags with maps showing where significant damage is occurring? :dunno:

Silly man... Of course it would...
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: Huckleberry on May 13, 2009, 12:03:35 PM: That feed is actually "bear" feed. A lot of time and money has been spent coming up with the right mix of fat, carbs, protein all while trying to maintain a taste bears like. The idea behind the feeders is to give them something to eat so they won't peel the trees. If peeling still occurs then the timber co. can get kill permits and remove the problem bears. This is just the first step.

The problem with issuing more permits is that 1) hunters are ineffective 2) the problem bear is usually not the one killed 3) allowing access is a hassle and creates problems for the land owner.
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: JBar on May 13, 2009, 12:34:09 PM: If the bears peel the trees for the sap, then wouldn't it be best to have a barrel or buckets full of tree sap or tree sap substitute instead of pellets? :dunno:
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: Bofire on May 13, 2009, 01:14:43 PM: :)Ralph Flowers is proably the most successful bear hunter that ever lived, he literally killed hundreds. He has passed on now, but likely knew more about bear than any biologist. Tags and hunters will never be effective. Its not a state problem the timber companies pay and the timber assoc.
Get Ralphs books, read and learn. Ralph said the feed was far better at keeping bears from peeling then he could ever acheive by killing.
Carl
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: singleshot12 on May 13, 2009, 01:44:53 PM: The tarheals up river started putting up bird feeders with corn and bread,,,they get their bear every year :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: markts on May 13, 2009, 06:03:19 PM: The bears are after the sweet cambium layer under the bark I believe?? Mark
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: rasbo on May 13, 2009, 06:06:29 PM: the feed that was used a few yrs back on hancock was senior horse feed,and they loved it.
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: huntncoug on May 15, 2009, 03:21:48 PM: Hey Arees, was that feeder on DNR land, I just talked to my buddy with the DNR and he says they dont feed bears at all.
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on May 15, 2009, 10:02:22 PM: Quote from: markts on May 13, 2009, 06:03:19 PM
The bears are after the sweet cambium layer under the bark I believe?? Mark

Yes! Bears are not peeling the trees for the sap.
Title: Re: Bear Feeder
Post by: arees on May 17, 2009, 10:54:43 AM: Quote from: huntncoug on May 15, 2009, 03:21:48 PM
Hey Arees, was that feeder on DNR land, I just talked to my buddy with the DNR and he says they dont feed bears at all.

I guess that depends on how far down the road I hiked. The road it is on starts out in the hunting area. I suppose if you walk down it far enough you wind up outside the hunting area. There are no signs indicating any change in ownership and I didn't have a GPS along.