Bear Management

[Ron Scott]

Bear Plan

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has adopted a new bear management plan that would allow Michigan's bear population to expand naturally and would adopt appropriate strategies as issues arise. The plan has four major areas of emphasis: 1) maintaining a sustainable bear population, 2) facilitating bear-related benefits, 3) minimizing bear-related conflicts, 4) conducting science-based management.

DNR list server

[Jeff]

Ron, how does this differ from past management?

[stonebroke]

what are the bear related benefits?

Stonebroke

[SwampDonkey]

Something needs to help keep the moose population in check.


I like having bears around, but a sheep farmer might take issue. Well, not many sheep farmers in this area anyway. Most I ever see in a herd now would be maybe 6 as a hobby. When I was a kid there was 3 sheep farms here, with many sheep.

[Ron Scott]

There are no major changes in bear management. There are sime hunting season changes to address the issue of competetion and interference with bear hunters, especially conflicts between bait hunters and dog hunters.

There is to be a quiet period in the Lower Peninsula 5 days prior to the start of bear hunting season. That essentially means hounds are prohibited during that time.

The plan also recommends that the first day of the hunt season be open only to bait hunters. At the end of the season, hound hunters would get 2 extra days. Dog training can begin July 8 for the entire state

The plan can be viewed at:

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/Bear_Management_Plan__FINALwith_Director_signature_283047_7.pdf

[Jeff]

not many sheep farmers in this area anyway. Most I ever see in a herd now would be maybe 6 as a hobby. When I was a kid there was 3 sheep farms here, with many sheep.

You've walked into something that I'm just going to have to let go, but you made it soooo easy. 

[SwampDonkey]

Well Jeff, eons ago there were not many bears around, but many sheep farmers. Then the bear population began to increase. Seeing a bear 100 years ago was not very common like it is today around here. Those old guides from the late 19th century until the depression years never mentioned hunting bears. The first mention of a bear hunt in NB I have found was in February 1938 in "Wood, Field and Stream".

[Jeff]

I was thinking more on the lines that as you grew up, they had to start hiding the sheep.

[pappy19]

Here in Idaho a number of years ago many of the locals including most of the ranchers complained to the Idaho Fish and Game (IF&G) that the black bear population was so high that they were ruining young Douglas Fir trees and eating a large percent of the calf elk population. The IF&G game biologist laughed at that, but the Game Commissioners made the biologist tag and monitor a number of black bears. Low and behold, the results showed that the black bear was having a 40% impact on elk calf mortality; added to a 20% normal and you have a large negative impact on herd increase. The IF&G decided to increase the black bear tags in certain areas and guess what, the herds made an increase every year. Now we have the wolf to contend with in addition to the rest of the calf elk mortality. Ever see wolves chase elk through the snow? It isn't pretty when they exhaust 10-12 head and slaughter them. You don't see that on the animal channel. Bad situation.

[Jeff]

I'm hoping to find out tomorrow if I am to be part of the 2009 Bear Management team. That's when they post results for this years bear hunting license draw.    I'd sure like to pull a license this year as we seem to have a high bear population on my property again.

[ErikC]

  The wolf situation is pretty bad I think. I went to Idaho and packed in for elk hunts a number of years, but the last time was 3 years ago. Heard wolves every day, followed their tracks in the snow, and the only elk tracks I found, wolves found first. I got to see the crows eating some bones from a cow and yearling calf. Hope it improves.  On the bright side CA bear tags are over the counter, so Jeff, if all else fails come on out.

[Gary_C]

Last week I was returning from delivering a load of pine pulp to a paper mill in Wisconsin and about 7 AM on a road that runs thru county forest land a good sized female bear came out of the woods and ran across the road about 50 yards in front of my truck. I noticed she kept looking behind her and sure enough, her cubs came across right after her. There were FOUR of them and all four looked about the same size. I did not know they had that many cubs at once. I think that twins are common, but not four.

Just a couple of years ago, in the fall of the year near this same place I hit a small bear at night with the truck. The bear just suddenly ran across the road in front of me and even though I could not nor did not have a chance to even slow down, I could see the bear could just make it across in front of me, but unfortunately for him, he stopped right in front of me and looked at the lights and then I heard and felt a thump as he dissappeared under the truck. I had a full load so it was not easy to stop and go back to see and in the morning on the return trip there was no sign of the bear. And even though it was a small bear, probably a yearling, I had little desire to go looking for a injured or dead bear late at night on a not well traveled road. I still have a dent in the bumper where he hit.

For what ever reason, I know the bear population is quite high in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. I think some of it may be the continuing encroachment of people with cabins and houses into the woods, but I think the bear population is up also.

[Jeff]

Congratulations! You are successful in the 2009 Bear Drawing. 

Drawing:   2009 Bear

Successful Hunt:   
Hunt Date(s):   09/25/09 - 10/26/09
Hunt Description:   NEWBERRY - 3RD PERIOD
Area:   0018
    
License to purchase:   
Item Number:   181
Item Description:   RES Bear
Available for Purchase:   6/29/2009

[chucker]

i also lucked out on the drawing for the mn. state bear hunt for 2009. starts on the first of september till oct. 18th.......

[Weekend_Sawyer]

 Jeff, I'm glad you got a permit. I enjoyed following your hunt last time, was it 2 years ago?

Jon

[Jeff]

Actually 3 years ago.  That was this thread.
Bearing of a different type.

Then last year was hunting with my sister

Chasing Bear in da U.P. 2008

And we can go way back to here

   
My Seaster Leanda got a Bar!

[SwampDonkey]

Gary, 3 cubs are quite common here and I have seen 2 or 3 sets of 4 cubs. One spring we picked rocks in the field beside the house and we treed 4 cubs, while the sow ran off into the woods. They all took up big aspen trees along the line fence. That spring the bear were thick, in an adjacent field we saw 4 other bears that would come out into the field as we picked the other end. They had a beat down path from one patch of woods to another that year. A lot of old apple trees, but they would not have fruit 'til fall, obviously. I don't know what the attraction was but they sure liked that patch of woods.

About 4 years ago I seen 3 cubs eating old corn cobs one spring in the field beside the house with sow.

[Gary_C]

Actually 3 years ago.  That was this thread.
Bearing of a different type.

Then last year was hunting with my sister

Chasing Bear in da U.P. 2008

And we can go way back to here

   
My Seaster Leanda got a Bar!

I don't have the time right now to read those so refresh our memories. Did you get a bear one of those seasons?   

Or did you get to see one?

I was just leaving for the woods so I will have to wait till this weekend for youir answer.   

[Jeff]

When I was hunting in 2006, I never saw a bear. Last year we saw lots of bear, but not one that Lynda was willing to shoot, other then one that she missed. Other legal bear were passed up due to the fact that Lynda had shot a bear before (last link)  and was only willing to shoot an exceptional bear.

[Ron Scott]

Congratutaions! on receiving permits.