What to do?

[miadarola]

Here's my deal, last week I'm scouting in my woods and halfway into it I'm crossing paths with a bear, he was about 100 ' away but I had to turn around and head home. Has anyone here haad this situation? What would/have you do? I want to hunt his year I just don't want to be the one hunted. Obviously, I am new to this but how can I avoid the bears until they hibernate for winter? Thanx!

[KeithF]

Heh, I see what you're saying about wanting to be the hunter, not the prey!

We don't have many bears where I'm at, so have 0 advice to give, other than "play dead".

[buckfever]

it would be hard for me to play dead

[toddmcc3]

My first thought is- "When's bear season?

My second thought is- "What are you using for a sidearm?"

My third thought is- "What a rush that must have been, and did you have any candy in your pockets?"

In all seriousness though, do you have a partner to go hunting with you and I would recommend doing a lot of research on the type of bear and their habits.

[critter gitter]

in general bears wont bother you but if they do try to look as big as possible. I also live in bear country and see them all the time and if you can't scare it away by doing that, shoot a warning shot into the air.

[miadarola]

Thanx!, I think it's time to go gun shopping! Have you ever heard of " Bear Bells" if so do you know anyone who have actually used them? Thanks again for the advise.

[critter gitter]

where I live it's not the bears you need to worry about we are getting more and more wolves here.

[rockman57]

Where I'm hunting now the main predators other than man are coyoties and a few lions.They say there are a few bears left but I've never seen a track much less a bear.I have seen plenty of yotes and a few years ago a lion passed within 50yds of me going along the edge of a thicket and I let him walk.It paid off because right at last light a buck stepped out and started workin the scrape I was watchin.I dropped him in his scrape.A nice 8pt.Don't let any animal keep you out of the woods.Just be vigilant and defend yourself if you have to.From what I've heard the big old boars and the young cub mommas are the ones to watch closely.
Good Luck

[Bukmastr]

They will leave you aslone if you leave them alone. I have been around a few bears and the only time I had a bad run in with one was when we were tracking a woun ded one and I unknowingly got a couple feet away from it. They fear you way more than you fear them.

[wisconsinshotty]

Originally Posted by critter gitter

where I live it's not the bears you need to worry about we are getting more and more wolves here.

critter gitter lives a bit north of where i live but we experience the same things. typically wolves wont bother if you dont bother them first, bears are generallly shy.....if no arms are available, throw rocks and large sticks......a bear actually was looking down a varmint hole in my back yard about 50 ft. away......i scared him for my dogs sake because he was outside