Author Topic: Bear Management (Read 4752 times)

Ron Scott · « **on:** June 26, 2009, 10:49:40 am »

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 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 26, 2009, 12:27:31 pm »

Ron, how does this differ from past management?

stonebroke · « **Reply #2 on:** June 26, 2009, 02:36:55 pm »

what are the bear related benefits?

Stonebroke

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #3 on:** June 26, 2009, 07:25:07 pm »

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 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 26, 2009, 07:28:04 pm »

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 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 26, 2009, 09:08:40 pm »

Quote from: SwampDonkey on June 26, 2009, 07:25:07 pm

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 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2009, 05:17:23 am »

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 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2009, 01:18:39 pm »

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

pappy19 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 28, 2009, 09:52:06 pm »

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 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 28, 2009, 10:04:53 pm »

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 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2009, 10:43:49 pm »

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 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 29, 2009, 06:22:24 am »

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 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 29, 2009, 12:34:14 pm »

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 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 29, 2009, 12:58:35 pm »

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 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 29, 2009, 03:42:06 pm »

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

Jon

Jeff · « **Reply #15 on:** June 29, 2009, 04:11:12 pm »

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 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 29, 2009, 04:14:52 pm »

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 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 29, 2009, 04:27:55 pm »

Quote from: Jeff on June 29, 2009, 04:11:12 pm

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 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 29, 2009, 04:52:19 pm »

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 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 29, 2009, 07:13:51 pm »

Congratutaions! on receiving permits.

Ernie · « **Reply #20 on:** June 30, 2009, 01:14:28 am »

Quote from: Jeff on June 27, 2009, 01:18:39 pm

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

He's not an Australian immigrant is he?

stonebroke · « **Reply #21 on:** June 30, 2009, 09:20:00 am »

I am still waiting to hear the advantages of having a lot of bears roaming around.

Stonebroke

Ron Scott · « **Reply #22 on:** June 30, 2009, 11:45:22 am »

Bear add to the "Watchable Wildlife" programs in many forest areas. They are also featured species for management of certain forest ecosystems.

A huntable population of bear allows for increased sales of hunting license and improves the economy of rural areas by the $$ spent by bear hunters.

Jeff · « **Reply #23 on:** June 30, 2009, 12:24:09 pm »

Personally, some of my most enjoyable and stress relieving times of the last few years have been in bear hunting activities, although I have never killed a bear. Just sitting on ones property watching them is quite fulfilling.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #24 on:** June 30, 2009, 04:55:52 pm »

Talk about ruining fir trees (balsam fir), the moose last winter traveled the perimeter of the harvest block we are thinning with brush saws this week. Any green branch and if they could reach the tops, was pruned off by the moose. I was in one area this morning that was like a manure pile with all the moose marbles on the ground. Of course all the birch and maple they pruned back and made apple trees out of, goes without saying. There ain't a maple tree in there worth a darn.

Not all moose damaged, many are stump suckers, red maple.

thedeeredude · « **Reply #25 on:** July 01, 2009, 06:16:30 pm »

What caliber are you guys using for bear? My grandpop and great grandpop used 30.06, but I think it was just what they had, one gun for everything, deer,bear and groundhog.

Jeff · « **Reply #26 on:** July 01, 2009, 06:28:40 pm »

I'm using a 35 Remington, Marlin Lever Action

Ron Scott · « **Reply #27 on:** July 01, 2009, 07:18:14 pm »

Ruger Model 77, 30-06 with Leopold Var II variable scope. The last one I killed was with a 38-55 Marlin though.

thedeeredude · « **Reply #28 on:** July 01, 2009, 07:36:36 pm »

Jeff, is that the new lever evolution? If so, how do you like it?

Jeff · « **Reply #29 on:** July 02, 2009, 06:00:38 am »

I dont know what the lever evolution is. This gun is about 10 years old. I've always preferred a lever action, and I like this gun fine other then its had some bad luck in the past, like getting the stock broke and the one thing I hate about it is the button safety besides the half-cock safety. All my other marlins through my life did not have the safety button, so I'm always forgetting this one when it comes time to shoot.

ellmoe · « **Reply #30 on:** July 02, 2009, 06:26:33 am »

I've got a .35 Marlin lever action. I bought it in about '76, only has the half cock safety. I've killed bunch of deer with it as well as hogs and turkeys. I can shoot that gun better than any other one I have. The only problem with it is finding the ammo. I usually have to special order it, and then half the time, I still don't get it. The bullet drop is pretty excessive too, but I once killed a buck at 400 yards with it. Luckily for me (and unlucky for it), he was standing in water and I could see the bullet hit. It took three shots to get the range. I held about two feet over the back to finally connect!

chucker · « **Reply #31 on:** July 02, 2009, 06:33:07 pm »

.338 remington mag 225 gr. nosler partioner made by federal shells ( minnisorta missle launcher )

Ron Scott · « **Reply #32 on:** July 02, 2009, 07:29:05 pm »

The Canadian black/brown bear heads off through the brush after a quick picture. Photo was taken up along the Canadian/Montana border last weekend, 6/09.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #33 on:** July 03, 2009, 02:06:20 am »

I've never seen any brown or white phase black bears. The only white ones I heard of was up near Kitimat in the BC coast mountains. Never seen a brown one shot even.

ErikC · « **Reply #34 on:** July 03, 2009, 09:50:37 am »

Leverevolution is an ammunition made by hornady. It has a pointed bullet with a polymer tip for better ballistics on the old lever action cartidges like 30-30, 35 rem, and so on. They were always blunt nosed for safety in the tube magazines until this. Not a firearm.

olyman · « **Reply #35 on:** July 04, 2009, 08:46:12 pm »

Quote from: ellmoe on July 02, 2009, 06:26:33 am

I've got a .35 Marlin lever action. I bought it in about '76, only has the half cock safety. I've killed bunch of deer with it as well as hogs and turkeys. I can shoot that gun better than any other one I have. The only problem with it is finding the ammo. I usually have to special order it, and then half the time, I still don't get it. The bullet drop is pretty excessive too, but I once killed a buck at 400 yards with it. Luckily for me (and unlucky for it), he was standing in water and I could see the bullet hit. It took three shots to get the range. I held about two feet over the back to finally connect!

ever thought of reloading??

ErikC · « **Reply #36 on:** July 07, 2009, 12:51:24 am »

A fire was started a couple days ago over in Big Bar, across the divide from our place, by Smokey jr. Apparently the little feller climbed a power pole. He got tangled up in the wires and sparks fell to the ground. The fire was contained but the cub didn't make it.

Probably won't be long and I guess we are going to have to bear-cub proof all the power poles.

Sprucegum · « **Reply #37 on:** July 07, 2009, 02:48:58 pm »

We call them brown/black bears "cinammon" so as not to confuse them with brown/grizzlies.

I shot a small one on my woodlot 2 years ago and saw a BIG one the year before that. We saw a medium size cinammon 2 weeks ago. They always look bigger than a plain black bear. I think its 'cause their fur stands up more.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #38 on:** July 07, 2009, 05:01:40 pm »

Even a 250 lb bear looks big from a distance. They have rather long legs and can really move.

Seen one this spring that made three leaps and was across to pavement and he was going down into an old logging road. A well traveled bear route, by-the-way. I drove up and seen he was only a 250 lb'er or so. Looked big from 500 yards.

Same sized bear that poked his nose out of the thickets onto my trail about 20 feet away. Run away! Yup he did, back down through the thickets.

Jeff · « **Reply #39 on:** July 16, 2009, 07:21:14 pm »

A 250 lb bear IS a big bear. At least its bigger then average.

beenthere · « **Reply #40 on:** July 16, 2009, 07:38:01 pm »

Record bear taken in WI (and recorded) was 700 #'s (so says the DNR).

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #41 on:** July 16, 2009, 07:54:52 pm »

Yeah Jeff, big enough to wrestle for sure.

But thinking along the lines of 400 lb'er for comparison, one as big as the door casing.

Something 700 lb would be rare in these parts because we have a regular bear season in spring and fall. Last year I seen a blind set up for fall hunting near a den. Found 4 or 5 dens, all on hardwood sites. I guess one was on an aspen/fir site, he had the little fir tops all broken off around his den.

Jeff · « **Reply #42 on:** July 16, 2009, 08:40:14 pm »

I heard once the average bear harvested in Michigan was less then 150.

Reddog · « **Reply #43 on:** July 16, 2009, 08:51:43 pm »

Quote from: Jeff on July 16, 2009, 08:40:14 pm

I heard once the average bear harvested in Michigan was less then 150.

Sounds about right. Also most are last years cubs.
Hard to see the big ones in the dark, once they are over 200#'s they seem to go nocturnal.

beenthere · « **Reply #44 on:** July 16, 2009, 09:47:02 pm »

Wisconsin info on adult bear from DNR. Where indicates the 250# is the lighter weight of adults.

Quote

Adult male bears, called boars, average 4.5 to 6 feet in length and weigh 250-500 pounds, with the average being 300-400 pounds. The smaller females, or sows, weigh 225-450 pounds and measure 4 to 4.5 feet long. When standing on all four paws, adult bears measure 2 to 3 feet tall at their shoulders. The largest bear ever recorded in Wisconsin was documented in 1963 at an astounding 700 pounds! But that's the exception to the rule.

Sprucegum · « **Reply #45 on:** July 16, 2009, 11:27:39 pm »

Two years ago a couple tourists bumped into a 120 pound bear. That bear gave them a whoppin' like they had never had before

Fast, agile, strong, and smelled bad too

Jeff · « **Reply #46 on:** July 17, 2009, 10:42:58 am »

Quote from: beenthere on July 16, 2009, 09:47:02 pm

Wisconsin info on adult bear from DNR. Where indicates the 250# is the lighter weight of adults.
Quote

Adult male bears, called boars, average 4.5 to 6 feet in length and weigh 250-500 pounds, with the average being 300-400 pounds. The smaller females, or sows, weigh 225-450 pounds and measure 4 to 4.5 feet long. When standing on all four paws, adult bears measure 2 to 3 feet tall at their shoulders. The largest bear ever recorded in Wisconsin was documented in 1963 at an astounding 700 pounds! But that's the exception to the rule.

You can't go by mature adult size to get the average real life observed bear size, as there are lots of younger bears out there, you also have to consider the region in which the bears exist, whether or not the population is on the upswing, or on the down.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #47 on:** July 18, 2009, 04:52:35 am »

Yes, I would agree and add in there the weight of bears being harvested (you probably mean that as well). I've seen fellows shoot spring cubs and about scared to death with the shakes before shooting, especially the ones that like to climb the tree stand. Grandfather would tell about such incidents and I'd about fall over laughing.

ErikC · « **Reply #48 on:** July 18, 2009, 10:58:26 am »

In Ca we have a lot of bears, and I would say the average is 150 or so here too. We hunt them a LOT, and a 200lb bear is a nice bear, 300 lb or bigger is a big bear, and almost always a boar. That fact of sows being a lot smaller will lower your average adult weight well below 300 lbs. I have killed several over 400 lbs, and one that was 540, (these were able to be weighed) People way overestimate weight on bears as a rule.

Sprucegum · « **Reply #49 on:** July 19, 2009, 08:03:42 pm »

A bear's size will change dramatically depending on whether it is coming towards you or going away. They also get a lot smaller the moment they drop dead.

ErikC · « **Reply #50 on:** July 20, 2009, 10:52:19 am »

Those are pretty much the weight calculation factors sprucegum

sjfarkas · « **Reply #51 on:** July 26, 2009, 05:06:32 pm »

I like bear meat. My whole family will eat it. We think it is better than dear. Good luck hunting and get the crock pot out.

nas · « **Reply #52 on:** July 26, 2009, 09:25:40 pm »

If bears are like people it's not the 700lb ones you worry about

pappy19 · « **Reply #53 on:** August 02, 2009, 09:47:27 pm »

Quote from: sjfarkas on July 26, 2009, 05:06:32 pm

I like bear meat. My whole family will eat it. We think it is better than dear. Good luck hunting and get the crock pot out.

I have seen too many bears eating a rotten carcus with maggots, including dead and rotten fish, garbage, etc. I will never eat a bear knowingly. Same thing as a possum IMO. I'd eat a cougar or a raccoon before I'd eat a nasty bear. Not to mention that bears are known for tricanotious; you can have all my bear meat.

Ron Scott · « **Reply #54 on:** January 14, 2012, 11:36:07 am »

Healthy orphaned cubs return to Sierra National Forest

On January 10, two orphaned bear cubs were returned to the Sierra National Forest nearly five months after a poacher killed their mother. The distraught male cubs were undernourished and underweight for their age and biologists determined they would not survive on their own. Named "The Fresno Brothers," the cubs spent their time in captivity eating leafy vegetables, watermelon, sweet potatoes and live fish. To prevent them from bonding with humans, handlers avoided contact and placed their food out of sight. Now about 1 year old, the cubs were deemed ready to return to the wild. In preparation for their homecoming, two small dens were dug in the Kaiser Pass Wilderness on the forest to house them once they were tranquilized and transported. The den openings were then covered with sticks and logs with the hope that once the tranquilizer wears off, the cubs will hibernate until spring.

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Author Topic: Bear Management (Read 4752 times)