I have lived in and around Black bear all of my life. At one time I did quite a bit of guiding for bear hunters. Through the years of living closely with them you learn all the "rules" of their "game". Don't leave any garbage around, have strong doors on sheds and garages. If you feed deer, do it when the bear are in their dens. If you feed birds, clean up the chaff and dropped seeds in the spring, or remove the feeders altogether. So anyhow, I did all that except for two bird feeders that were attached to the sawfit in front of the kitchen window. The bottom of the bird feeders is 7'10" from the ground. In 12 years of living in this house not one bear has been able to reach them. You guessed it. Both of the feeders were on the ground smashed three nights ago. I couldn't believe one could do it but there was ample evidence. After alot of glue and duct tape, got the feeders back in shape.

OK, plan B. Every evening remove the bird feeders, hang again in the morning. Next night, 12:30, awake to "thumping" coming from the kitchen. Get up, get to the kitchen and can hear the bear trying to climb the siding to get at feeders that aren't there. I rapped on the window to scare him away and the thumping stopped. Waited a few seconds and cranked open the window, turned the flashlight on and away he went. He actually looks like he might be crossed with a Suburban! Took a look at the siding, all scratched to $hit...

Last night, 1 a.m., more thumping...only he took off when I turned the kitchen light on. More scratches on the siding. Last night was the end. I AM PI$$ED!!. The 30-30 is loaded and so is the 12 gauge.

It's Big Black Varmint Season!! (Bear recipes to follow)

Jim

Hi Jim:

Hey join the club..... My black beauty has gotten at least 5 different bird feeders. The SOB is fearless also. My Pocono Mt. retreat butts up to about 40,000 acres of state gamelands and a huge swamp a half mile to my right.

I have tracked this black SOB in bear season and loose his tracks in the swamp all the time. He also likes to visit our trash collection site for our development. When he gets mad he just rips the heavy doors off the dumpsters.

He just got me again this past Saturday night. The wife and I were baby sitting our grandsons all day long and were bushed.... SHE forgot to take the bird feeders in at night. He just reaches up and bends a semi solid steel pole of over 7 feet and actually takes off with the bird feeders.

I always carry a 357 or 44 Mag with me when I am prowling the woodlot, sooner or later that bear is going to get it. He looks to be about 500 LBS now.... he was big three years ago, and now he's eating well to boot.

By the way last year they shot a 650 lb blackie right down the road from me.... and they even got a few 700 and one or two 800 pounders in PA...man thats the size of a grizzly...

Regards... Jim P.