Category Archives: Wyoming

Bear hunting in Wyoming. Black Bear hunting in Wyoming.

Join the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association

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Why join the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association (WBHA)? Because we have strength in numbers and if bear hunters don’t stand up to defend our sport, who will?

Wisconsin Black Bear Hunting

“Why join the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association (WBHA)? Because we have strength in numbers and if bear hunters don’t stand up to defend our sport, who will?”

Below is a story about three bear hunters. Their names are Everybody, Somebody, and Nobody. It’s a story about what happens if you depend on everybody else to look out for your interests…

Once upon a time a state legislator introduced a bill to ban the use of bait and hounds for bear hunting in Wisconsin. Everybody was shocked, but nobody did anything about it.

Somebody thought it would be a good idea to go to the capitol and oppose the bill. Everybody thought this was a great idea, everybody said they would go, but nobody showed up.

Then somebody had an idea to hold a fundraiser to raise money so the bear hunters could hire help in opposing the bill. Everybody offered to help with the fundraiser but nobody did. Everybody was too busy that day so nobody showed up.

Everybody had a lot of great ideas but nobody took the bull by the horns and made any of them a reality.

The legislature had a hearing on the bill and nobody bothered to testify. Everybody was too busy doing other things. Somebody even mentioned that being involved in government was dumb and bear hunters should only worry about hunting.

Every animal rights activist in the state wrote a letter to their senator urging a YES vote on the bill, Nobody wrote a letter urging them to vote NO. Pro-sportsmen senators wanted to hear from somebody in favor of the bill but they hear from nobody. They wondered where everybody was.

Then the Governor signed the bill into law and nobody cared. Everybody tried to blame somebody. Then everybody asked “How could this happen?” and somebody said, “It’s Nobody’s fault.” For whatever reason, nobody bothered to say that in reality it was Everybody’s fault.

So now everybody – even if they are a real somebody, cannot use bait or hounds in Wisconsin. And when we look back there is only one person who deserves thanks and praise for trying to stop it from happening: Nobody.

Everybody who cares about bear hunting needs to be more like a Nobody! Get involved, stay involved. Join the WBHA. Let’s become the biggest group of Nobody’s in the state!

Join Today! Email us for a membership packet.

Download the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association membership form [pdf +]
Source:  Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association
Wisconsin Bear Hunting Info: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Bear Hunting Blog

Wyoming Grizzly delisting next year?

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Grizzly Bear Hunting in Wyoming

“Grizzly bears could be delisted in the next year or so, but it must be proven the bruins can get by without whitebark pine nuts.”

Grizzly bears could be delisted in the next year or so, but it must be proven the bruins can get by without whitebark pine nuts.

That’s what Mark Bruscino said at the Wyoming Outfitters Guide Association and Cody Country Outfitters and Guides Association meeting Saturday morning in Cody.

Bruscino is the Wyoming Game and Fish Department statewide supervisor of the large carnivore management section.

He was part of a panel comprised of state and federal officials and one outfitter.

“I’m optimistic — knock on wood — that we’re going to move this thing forward in the next 12 to 14 months,” Bruscino said.

Whitebark pine has declined by 90 percent in some areas of the northern Rockies.

Bruscino said he hopes the service will issue a delisting rule saying whitebark pine is not a major obstacle in the grizzly’s recovery.

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead supports delisting, said Steve Ferrell, policy adviser to the governor and former Game and Fish Department director.

Two years ago, the governor sent a letter to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar saying the population was recovered. Mead is expecting a delisting rule by April 2014, Ferrell said.

Salazar wrote to Mead last summer and said he was expecting a report in 2014 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service analyzing the effects of decreasing whitebark on grizzlies.

“All participants agreed that the Yellowstone grizzly population was recovered and that declines in whitebark pine do not threaten the future of the grizzly population,” said Salazar in July 2012.

Most in the scientific community do not believe whitebark will cause a major impact in the grizzly population in the Greater Yellowstone Area, Bruscino said.

whitebark pine in Wyoming

“Grizzlies eat whitebark nuts when available and switch to other foods in whitebark bust years, such as young ungulates and truffles, Bruscino said. Truffles are a sort of wild potato.”

Grizzlies eat whitebark nuts when available and switch to other foods in whitebark bust years, such as young ungulates and truffles, Bruscino said. Truffles are a sort of wild potato.

“They (grizzlies) live in a lot of places where there is no whitebark pine,” Bruscino said.

Scientists don’t know what the future holds for whitebark or the decline of native fish and ungulates, but, “we think the bear will be fine,” said Dan Tyers, U.S. Forest Service grizzly coordinator.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service likely will issue a draft delisting rule in 2014 followed by a final rule in late 2014 or early 2015, Bruscino said.

If people or groups disagree with the rule, they can challenge delisting in court, Bruscino said.

An audience member asked what are signs the grizzly bear recovery area is at carrying capacity.

Some bears would have less body fat due to food competition, and subordinate bears would be pushed out of good habitat by older bears, resulting in increased bear-human conflicts, Bruscino said.

BJ Hill, a Jackson outfitter, said he has problems with older grizzlies entering his hunting camps.

Hunting could be used to reduce conflict bears. Hunting pressure could be directed in the front country where the problem bears are at to reduce conflicts, Bruscino said.

Environmentalists hold Yellowstone and Grand Teton park bears in very high regard, Hill said.

One of Hill’s examples was grizzly bear No. 399, one of the most photographed grizzly bears in Grand Teton National Park.

“Grand Teton, it’s the celebrity status that is going to make delisting an issue,” Hill said.

There were an estimated 610 grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Area in 2012, under the current counting model, but that is a conservative estimate. The actual number could be 20 percent higher than that, Bruscino said.

Hill said he believes there are 1,500 to 2,000 grizzlies in the greater Yellowstone area.

“I think that’s high,” Bruscino said.

With delisting would come Grizzly bear hunting.

The quota would be low the first year. What is important is to remove all the wolf and bear hunting hype, Bruscino said.

The population will be monitored. “It’s not a free fall,” Tyers said.

If there is any indication the population is declining, hunting will be the first thing to go, Bruscino said.

The Game and Fish has done all the grizzly recovery work in Wyoming. It can successfully manage the bear as a big game animal into the future if it is delisted, Bruscino said.

Written by Gib Mathers
Source: Powell Tribune
The Bear Hunting Blog

Black Bears & Grizzly Bears, The Difference is…

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Hunting Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear Hunting

There is no such thing as “a” bear. There are bears…plural. That is to say, there are different species. Most people are familiar with the polar bear. Some might have even heard of the Kodiak bear. For those that enjoy bear hunting, the two most commonly cited bears would be the black bear and the legendary grizzly bear. Is there much of a difference between black bears and grizzly bears? Actually, there are quite a few pronounced differences and those wishing to head out into the great outdoors to hunt bear need to know such differences.

Bear hunting is one of the more misunderstood sportive activities one could take part in. There are a great many complexities required to succeed with this type of hunting. The skills required are quite vast and many of them will center on how to make such a hunt a lot safer.

One other aspect that people do not realize is that different strategies need to be employed for different bears. In most regions of North America, the primary bear indigenous to the land mass would be the black bear. However, in certain areas, black bear live side by side with grizzly bears. (Granted, some of this co-existence is far from peaceful) Now, when you are hunting bear, you need to be sure as to what type of bear you come across in the field. In certain areas, black bear season and grizzly bear season may occur at different points in the season. Other areas may require you have two separate bear licenses for each animal.

Hunting Black Bear

Black Bear Hunting

And, most importantly, the way you hunt a black bear is different than how you would hunt a grizzly bear. Often, these differences are designed to take safety concerns into consideration. Black bears are dangerous. No one is denying that fact. However, grizzly bears can be even more dangerous and more aggressive. They can also be a lot more difficult to kill. Black bears have been hunted in states such as New Jersey with shotguns. Very few hunters would take such a risk hunting grizzly bear with such a weapon.

This is why it is so very necessary to be able to clearly determine the difference between a grizzly bear and a black bear. There are some definitive differences between the two. Here is a look at those differences:

Most people will say the main difference is that black bears are black and grizzly bears are brown. (Grizzly bears are commonly referred to as brown bears) Generally, this is true. However, not all grizzlies are brown. Many are jet black. And yes, some black bears are brown. And both of them can be…blond! So, you cannot always go by the color of the bears as the only way to tell which species they are. You need to look at other attributes to determine the differences.

Size would be a major factor. Grizzlies are huge huger on average than black bears. Yes, there will be the errant black bear that is large in size. And there will be some undersized grizzly bears. However, most grizzlies are in the 500lbs – 800lb range. Black bears will be in the 200lbs – 400lbs range. The average height of a grizzly is three feet on all fours and well in excess of six feet when standing. Black bear are decidedly smaller being 3 feet on all fours but rarely more than six feet when standing. Again, there may be exceptions so you cannot always go by size.
The key differentiating factors include the following:

The face of a grizzly will be significantly depressed. This is most evident in the eye/nose region. The ears of the grizzly will also be short and round. Black bears are quite different. The ears of the black bear are significantly longer and more pointed than a grizzly. The nose of the black bear is more extended.

The body of a grizzly has a large hump on the back. A black bear has NO hump. This is probably the most definitive distinguishing factor between the animals.

The claws of a grizzle are significantly larger than a black bear. It is certainly not recommended to get close enough to the bear to tell the difference. However, if you are examining bear tracks, the larger grizzly tracks will have pronounced claws.

Few single items can determine which bear is which. But, when you put all the factors together, you can make a perfect comparison.

Source: Outdoor Base Camp.com
The Bear Hunting Blog

Black Bear Hunting With Bait

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Bait Hunting for Black Bear

Black Bear Hunting With Bait

by Chris Larsen

Black bear range and populations are expanding as is the popularity of what was once a hunt reserved for a select few.  Bears are typically hunted utilizing one of three common techniques; over bait, with hounds, or spot and stalk.  In my home state of Wisconsin baiting is the most common method.  Bait is placed for several weeks before the season. Items such as candy, bread, pastries, pie filling and fruit are placed in hollow logs or holes in the ground covered with a rock.  As a precaution against the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, the rock (or other heavy object) is required to prevent access to the bait by deer.  Animal products such as meat and fat are not permitted.  There are also restrictions on bear baiting near public roads or trails.

At first glance, hunting over bait may seem unsportsmanlike, but it is common practice.  Bears are nomadic and don’t pattern the same way deer will.  To increase success, bait and stands are set in areas that offer heavy cover.  Bears won’t frequent open areas during daylight hours.

Hunters often get excited when they find their bait cleaned out day after day.  Veteran hunters know a clean bait pile is often the result of several smaller bears using the same bait area.  If the bait is being used but left unfinished, it’s a good sign your bait log is being used by one large bear.  A large bear will keep smaller animals out of his territory.  With today’s trail camera technology guesswork about the specific bears using your bait pile is a thing of the past.

Another common occurrence for bait hunters is a sudden drop in activity around the bait pile in the fall. After attracting bears during the summer it seems like they suddenly disappear.  As autumn leaves begin to drop, berries ripen and acorns and hickory nuts hit the forest floor.  Bears gorge on hardwood mast to pack on pounds for the winter hibernation.  Placing your stand and bait in hardwood areas will help keep bears close during this time.

Size restrictions are in place in many states.  In Wisconsin, the bear must measure at least 42 inches from the tip of the nose to tip of the tail.  It is also illegal to kill a bear that is with cubs.

Bear hunting can be serious business.  They are powerful animals and the methods for hunting them are unorthodox to many.  Obtaining a tag may take years in many states.  Accompany a more experienced bear hunter while waiting to draw a tag.  Keeping the bait log full takes a lot of work and the hunter with a tag will appreciate any extra help.  This experience can help the novice bear hunter be more prepared for their future hunt.

Source:  ForemostHunting.com by Chris Larsen
The Bear Hunting Blog

Tips For Black Bear Hunting Success

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Hunting Black Bear

Tips for Bear Hunting Success by Naomi K. Shapiro

By Naomi K. Shapiro

Bear hunting is quite different from most other hunting. You’ve got to mentally come in with a clean slate as to what you want to do to ensure your chances of maximum success. First off, you start your hunt months in advance. You do your scouting. You check out population density, stuff like that; and that is like most other hunting. But that’s often where the similarity ends.

With bear hunting you prep and bait your stand area. With bear, you want them to pattern you and that’s the total opposite what you do for other game, particularly deer. You want the bear or bears you’re targeting to get used to coming in to your bait station, and in close proximity to where your stand is located. You want to make sure the bear comes in every day, and that everything is always the same. You make sure your bait station is ready at the same time every day. You make sure that your bear uses the same path, same approach, same everything. This is the exact opposite of deer hunting.

When you get to your stand, bang on your tree; put the cover on your bait and the logs or whatever concealment you use back exactly the same way. Get the bear comfortable. The bear knows you’re there and gets used to you being there. And believe it or not that bear will come in to your bait station every single day, at the same time! Indeed, a bear will to come to your bait station within 10-15 minutes of your leaving, and that’s what you want.

OK, it’s the day you’re going to hunt. Bring along an extra person with you; family member, hunting pal, or friend. You’re going to do the hunting, and this other person is going to help you get started. When you get to your bait stand, you have your friend rebait the pile, while you climb the tree. That conceals the noise of your climbing up the tree. Don’t kid yourself, you will make noise and that can spook the bear. He’s not used to someone climbing up a tree. They’ve got superb hearing and smell. After you’re in your stand, and your partner has rebaited the station, that person leaves.

And what does that do? A lot! The bear hears you come in and also hears you leave. Except the person who left wasn’t you! That way the bear is totally relaxed and comes in within 10-15 minutes, just like always. On paper what I’ve just said sounds real good, and it does work, but some days a bear just won’t come in. What you need to do is play the wind when bear hunting… big time. You see the bear has one of the best noses in the woods. That’s how it found your bait in the first place. Bring a spray bottle of bear attractant scent with you, and spray it around yourself and your stand at different intervals. What this does is it keeps the scent aroma going out into the woods, while still concealing your scent. Many bear hunters lose their chance, when for whatever reason the wind direction suddenly changes, and instead of being upwind form the bear, you’re downwind, and that’s not good. Using this scent technique will at least provide you with some cover if the wind does change. And of course, you want to make sure that your stand is situated in such a way that from what you’ve scouted, you know will be in an upwind situation regarding the direction the bear is coming in to your bait station. You may indeed have to change your stand position, if you find that the initial site becomes downwind to where a bear is coming in.

What you need to do, particularly if you’re a bow hunter is bring the bear in to within 20 yards of your stand. Believe it or not, a bear kill zone is very small, and you must be accurate with your shot. With a rifle, you can be successful at 50 to even 70 yards or so, depending on your line of sight, and of course accounting for trees & brush and the like that may hinder or block your line of sight.

Novice bear hunters don’t realize the need to be mentally prepared to suddenly see a big bear within a few yards of where they’re located. People don’t see a lot of bears in real life. You’d better be mentally ready to see a bear standing right in front of you without any warming. You might think this wouldn’t freak you out, but it can, and often will. And while all of those “bear horror attack” TV programs or movies are not always accurate, those images might be ingrained in your mind. One big thing is that you often will not hear a bear coming. As big as they are, they’re very quiet in their approach. Be prepared mentally. It will help a lot.

Source:  ForemostHunting.com by Naomi K. Shapiro
The Bear Hunting Blog

Continental Inland Black Bear

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Saskatchewan Black Bear

Continental Inland Black Bear

Because of its very adaptive nature, black bear distribution originally spanned the entire North American continent. However, due to over hunting of these bears throughout the late 1800′s and early 1900′s the black bear can now only be found in about 15 U.S. states, most all Canadian provinces, and some central regions of Mexico.

The smallest and most common bear on the North American continent is the American Black Bear. Growing to an average 5 feet in length and weighing between 200-300 pounds (some weighing as much as 500 pounds), these bears are also among the most pursued by hunters. Not all black bears are completely black however; cinnamon, brown, and even blonde are very common.

Because of the reclusive nature of these bears, estimating this population can be a very difficult task. Additionally, bears can travel great distances in search of food, sometimes crossing agency and political boundaries, making the task even more daunting. It is estimated that at the time of the first American settlers the population of black bears was at around 500,000. Today that number is said to be much higher, closer to 700,000 bears throughout the current home range, despite it being much smaller.

Black bears can be found in a wide variety of habitats across their home ranges. Although these bears prefer larger forested areas with a lot of underbrush, they have also been documented on ridge tops, in tidelands, agricultural fields, swamps, and even the dryer sage habitats of the far western states. Black bears typically hibernate in dens throughout the winter; finding shelter in hollowed out tree cavities, under larger logs and rocks, caves, and some shallow depressions. The bear will usually not eat, defecate, or urinate during hibernation. However, black bears do remain at least somewhat active, female bears even give birth and nurse their young during this time.

Once spring arrives, black bears will emerge from their long sleep to venture out in search of food. Most commonly the carrion from winter kills, including deer, moose, elk, and smaller animals. Along mountainous home ranges, these bears can be found searching the southern slopes at lower elevations, where the sun will remove snowfall amounts at a faster rate.

Source: BearHunting.com
The Bear Hunting Blog