Anyway, Griz let you know they are around? How?
They stand up and warn you? What about motherbear, with cubs??

I have never watched a polar bear stalk, except on TV, but don't you have to worry about those guys up there??? Seems to me they are rather large, and like to have a human snack, if the chance is there.

gs

Understand that I am as far away from any polar bears as Texas is to the Canadian border; this is a very large place. I could only speculate as to the white bear's tendencies (I've never seen one or been within a couple of hundred miles from one,) yet I believe that in the same sense, my previous statement might possibly apply. This is what I mean: brown and black bears smell badly, leave scat and tracks, root around and dig up the earth. They live in dark, wet, "thick" places and are always found around salmon streams. They move around almost any time of the day. They love to lay on top of carcass's they have claimed for their own; does not matter if they killed the critter or not. These kills also smell. Cubs sound off alot and can alert the wary person easily.
I call this "woodcraft" as it relates to being aware. I would say that the time frame you might have between any of these signs and seeing the bear(s) might be immediate or could be minutes. One would tilt the outcome of a bad meeting (IMO)to their favor by not letting themselves become complacent if they haven't "seen a grizz" for days.

Joel S,

I'm sure that I have missed many bears as they slipped by me. Most bears will and do. A very good thing for many people here on the Kenai is that the majority of bears do not want anything to do with people.
I had a sow an THREE 2 year old cubs (Brown variety, thank you) waiting at my bait station for myself and a friend as we came back to claim the black bear I had shot about 3/4s of an hour earlier. They were 20' from my bear, and 25 yards from friend and I. We were able to use terrain, wind and sound (mosquitos) to our advantage and jump up the tree stand. I was very happy that the vacated the area as fast as they were able, which was fast indeed!

hope this clarifies my meaning a little better(clearer.)
best,
bhtr

JoelS,
good observation, point on.

Please feel free to describe your situation, and game. I find it fascinating.

I sort of like bears. I think it's kind of intresting that they can be tamed, are very bright, and don't eat everyone they could.

Still, some dogs need to be put down...
gs

A guy really wanted to hunt bear. He'd never hunted bear before, or anything else for that matter. He went to a gun shop and bought a rifle, a hunting license, and some camouflage clothes. Then he headed for the mountains.

He stumbled around in the woods a while and finally spotted a bear. He carefully aimed and shot at the bear. He missed it by a good margin.

As the hunter was trying to chamber another cartridge, he felt something tapping his shoulder. He turned to find himself looking up at a huge grizzly bear.

The bear said," OK hotshot. You've got two choices. Either we have rough sex or I maul you to death and eat you. Which will it be?"

The hunter thought a moment and agreed to the rough sex.

The bear really gave the hunter a rough time and messed him up a bit. In fact, the hunter had to spend a few days in the hospital.

The whole time the hunter was in the hospital, he thought about that bear. The more the thought, the madder he got. As soon as he got out of the hospital, he bought another rifle to replace the one the bear took and went hunting again.

Shortly, the hunter spotted a large grizzly. Again he fired, and missed. Again, he felt the tap on his shoulder. Again, he found himself looking up to that gigantic grizzly.

"OK Bub," said the Grizzly. "You know the drill, rough sex or I eat you. Which will it be."

Terrified, the hunter again agreed to the rough sex.

Again, the hunter was very badly used, and again, he was hospitalized. This time he was hospitalized for over a week. Again, anger at the bear raged.

When he got out of the hospital, he bought yet another rifle and headed for the mountains.

Shortly he spotted a bear, and as he drew a bead on it, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

The hunter turned to once again face the gigantic Grizzly.

The bear looked the hunter up and down with a scornful expression and said:

Be honest bub. You really don't come up here for the hunting do you?

quote:

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Originally posted by Socrates:
Guys:
Alaska is as far from my reality as Africa is.

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Somewhere I've seen a map of the lower 48 with Alaska overlayed on top of it. Alaska is nearly as tall, and wide when you look at how the Aleutians curl out towards Russia. In the Southern part of the state, the vegetation is as thick as any jungle in many areas, and rainfall is very high. This describes much of the brown bear habitat. Start heading north, and as you cross the Brooks Range, slightly above the Arctic Circle, the trees are gone, and you are in barren tundra. This is inhabited by grizzly bears, which are ~ 1/2 the size of coastal brown bears, and at the Arctic Coast, polar bears which are ~ as large as coastal browns.

The polar bears live on the ice pack in the short summer, and during winter, will come ashore. I have spent time in the polar bears habitat, but have never seen one.

Much more fauna and flora I'm skipping over, but the state offers an incredible variety.

I was up at Lake Emma overlooking the Indian Creek Glacier when that pair of Boo hunters got roughed up by momma. Young friend and I were looking for blackies. Set in one place and put the glasses on the following:
18 black bears
24 mt. goats
50+ dall sheep
1 cow moose
3 brown bear (momma and twins)
this area is one of the wildest, neatest places I know of. We actually hiked over the top and around the glacier! It was real hairy in a couple of spots, and took us 2 1/2 days to do it.

When we came down, we were back home for several hours before we heard about the attack. Seems the fellows had seen momma and young-uns and waited for several minutes before continuing down the trail, but made mistake and ended in between them anyway. Is this your read? If so, they must of had the old thinkin cap in their back packs!
best,
bhtr

And I will say that when I set out my bait station last April, on the upper Kenai, in about 5 feet of snow, the first bear that hit it was a huge brown bear, on about April 26th, and that scared the day-lights out of me...he tore up that bait station and I later had to move it.

I got the same idea. Talked to a officer that was there when they tried to get the one guy to go back and show them where the mauling took place....he wouldn't go! I guess after he shot the sow off his partner he'd had enough for a day, don't blame him. I also agree on that being just an unbelievable area. I'll probably be in there this coming season as I didn't draw a sheep permit. Fishin' ain't too bad either!!!!!! We saw one of the biggest blacks I've ever seen up top. Just a great place.

Two foolish guys were hiking through bear country unarmed. When suddenly they rounded a corner in the woods and surprised a ferocious momma bear and her cubs!

Slowly they started to back back up when one of the guys sits down, yanks his boots off, and laces up a pair of running shoes that were in his backpack.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" asks his buddy, "you can't outrun that bear!!!"

"I don't have to outrun that bear.... I only have to outrun you!"

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Brian
The 416 Taylor WebPage!

[This message has been edited by BW (edited 02-03-2002).]

Thanks for your time

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dog

quote:

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Originally posted by Mark R Dobrenski:
I saw JD respond about a 35 pump, so I guess I am just wondering what you all think about a pump?

Dog

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Mark,
I've never owned a pump rifle, not because I didn't think they would work, just because I have not run across one in my neck 'o' the woods. I have shot a few rounds through a Browning auto and really liked the way it came up and pointed (w/iron sites!) I believe a pump woud be a real fast, lethal weapon for any bruin you might come in contact. 200 grns. @ 2500fps would just about do any bear, period!

I was wondering, what are the chances of an off color blackie in your area? I've done the "black"phase any number of times and would dearly love to collect an off-colored one.
best,
bhtr

quote:

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Originally posted by Kent in IA:
After reading post on were to shoot a grizzly I got to thinking. Obviously, I wouldn't use a shotgun especially with buckshot. It sounds like there is very little time to aim also it sounds like you may need to hit the bear many times.

Which would be a better bear protection gun . A large caliber such as a 458 Win Mag, or a big bore battle rifle like a M1A or FAL? Is the big bullet better or several smaller ones?

Kent

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>if hiking, etc<

I live in Penna.,down south near the Md. border. We occassionally see a black bear down here,but they are very rare. So,when hiking near home,I carry my .45 M1911A1,'cause I'm more concerned about bad people than bad bears.
On the other hand,I hike in the northern part of the state,near NY border,a lot. Lots of bears in the mountains up there,some have weighed in excess of 700lbs,so I carry either a .41 Blackhawk or .41 S&W N-frame. The .45ACP stays in a small of the back IWB,'cause there are still bad people up there.
When I'm bear hunting,I usually carry a 7mm Mag or .30/06,but a .41 or .44 or .45 Colt always goes along,just in case.Rifles get factory loads but the revolvers usually get loaded with a hard cast lead or Hornady HP/XTP,with a near max. powder charge.

Will report on color phases manya

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dog

Drop me an e-mail with info where I can track you down. Called your house Thursday, but the roomie said you were gone... headed to Great Falls? Anyway, I couldn't get you on the cell # you left either.

Was out shooting the 300 WSM yesterday... beautiful day!

Brad

Great stuff

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I love 45
santilli@singleaction45.com