Grizzly and black bears are found throughout our region and this is the time of year that bears are in hyperphagia. This is a time when bears increase their feeding activity driven by the need to fatten up before going into the den for the winter. Once they enter the den bears go without food and water for months. If they do not get enough to eat in the fall, the sows don’t produce cubs and some bears may even die of starvation.
We try to remind people this time of year to really pay attention to containing any attractants around their home. Keep trash or animal feed in a bear resistant canister, in a locked building; take in bird feeders; keep grills cleaned; fence your chickens with five strands of electric wire; feed pets indoors only or take in their food at night. These are all important reminders, and this time of year, there is more to think about.
It is bow hunting season for all sorts of game and soon to be rifle season. It is also game bird hunting season. Hunting is not only a form of recreation and a way to connect to nature, but just like the other predators on the landscape, this is a time for humans to potentially harvest enough meat to survive though the year.
When recreating in bear country, it is recommended that you are aware of your surroundings and make bears aware of your presence by making noise, wearing bells, singing on the trail and hiking in groups. Most attacks happen when bears (and humans) are surprised. However, these recommended activities are not going to allow you to sneak up on your prey, where the element of surprise is needed to take down your game.
First of all, if you are hunting alone, make sure someone knows your detailed plans and have a way to check in with your person. If you are hunting with a partner, do the same and make sure you know one another’s plans and have regular check in times.
While hunting in bear country, pay close attention to your surroundings. Learn about bear habits and habitats. For instance, grizzly bears often use tall, dense shrub fields for areas to sleep during the day, so hunters should consider avoiding these habitats and sending dogs into them.
Look for sign – not just for the game you are hunting – but also for bears. This includes looking for bear tracks, scat and evidence of activity such as turned over rocks, excavated tree stumps and flocks of scavenger birds that may indicate a fresh kill. Keep in mind that you may attract a bear and bring one to you unintentionally by bugling for elk, using other game calls and by using cover scents.
When bears become aware of human presence, they usually leave the area. However, it is important to practice encounter scenarios in your head and to practice using bear spray. While you’ll be carrying a weapon with you hunting, keeping bear spray within your reach is still important, as spray has proven to be a real deterrent to an attack and keeps both humans and bears alive.
If you happen to encounter a bear, keep the bear in your sight. Talk to it firmly and calmly while backing away slowly when the bear is not actively watching you and leave the area.
Finally, if you have had a successful hunt, attend to your dead animal and remove it from the area you killed it as quickly as possible. The longer a carcass remains on the ground, in the back of a truck or hanging in hunting camp, the more likely it will be discovered by an opportunistic bear. The sooner you can get your carcass into a safe, locked building and butchered, the better. Some grizzlies have been conditioned to gut piles and so will move toward the sound of gunshots. When cleaning your animal for transport, be especially aware of your surroundings and move quickly.
Should you have to leave a carcass for a period of time, you should take special precautions such as bringing a tarp with you. You can put the guts on the tarp to drag away from the carcass and then use that tarp to cover the carcass to deter scavenging birds. Carefully choose an observation point where you can clearly see the carcass upon return, and take the time to look for bears or other scavenging predators before you go in to retrieve the carcass. Should a bear be on your carcass or come to you as you are cleaning or retrieving your animal take care of your own safety first and relinquish the carcass if necessary.
You can learn more about how to stay safe while hunting in bear country, more about bear habits and habitats and about best practices for storing food (and game) by visiting fwp.mt.gov. To learn more about keeping your property safe by visiting Swan Valley Bear Resources at http://www.swanvalleyconnections.org/swan-valley-bear-resources.
Reader Comments(0)