Grizz in Elk Units - What to Plan For

[dead river]

I am sure the western guys will get a kick out of the easterner worrying about it, but it may save us some trouble to know what to expect. Me going into a unit with grizzzly is probably about like some of yall trying to go through the breakers at hatteras inlet before daylight with a tide bucking the wind and 10' seas....it may not go so well. That said, i know that hunting with grizzly bears in the unit is just another day at the office for most of the WY and MT hunters so the question is, what should i be doing to manage risk in a unit that has Grizz. We have a few WY pps but i dont want to burn them yet. It looks like the best chance i have at a draw and not use them will be in units that are reported to have them. We will most likely spike camp but that is still being determined based on what unit we draw (or if we draw). I may haul my foxtrotters that are pretty trail wise from NC but that is a long haul. If not, i will rent a few, mostly to pack camp in and meat and camp out. So, keeping in mind that we will be in a 2 man backpacking tent, spike camping away from roads, probably be leaving horses on a high line while we hunt, etc. what are some good rules of thumb to keep me out of trouble?

This will be a first of Sept. hunt if that makes any kind of difference. (i assume they will be feeding heavily to prepare for hibernation and fairly active the first week of Sept).

 

[Boehunter]

clean camp, bear spray, common sense. you could pack in an electric bear fence if you really wanted to feel safe, bear shock is one brand i know of. If you are rifle hunting and get one down sometimes in heavy grizz areas the rifle shot can be like a dinner bell. talk loudly when you pack out and try to avoid packing out in the dark.

 

[Tim McCoy]

Another great idea from Mike Eastman about kills in bear country, forget where I saw it. If you have to leave it out overnight, make sure you separate the meat a ways from the gut pile. Then pile some branches on top of the meat. The next morning, approach the meat cautiously, and from a distance check to see if the branches were disturbed. According to Mike a bear will disturb the branches, no guarantees, but sounded like a great idea to me. We keep Coyotes away by peeing a circle around and a ways from the meat and leaving some smelly clothing on top of the skin on carcass.

 

[dead river]

Thanks Tim and Boe. Sound like practical solutions. I hadnt thought about the loud talking. Being on a hunt would have made me try to keep noise to a minumum without realizing the bigger problem. That was about all we could do in Glacier on a 5 day backpacking trip where we unarmed. (dumb enough 20 yrs ago to not have bear spray either, but there was no internet to gather info and a couple of "green" guys from SC wanted to backpack in the rockies. It sounds like the most likely place to have a problem is at the kill and packing out?

Do they bother horses? My horses will probably go ape$^%# and leave me on the mountain if they even smell one....

Do you stop your hunt if you see one while you are glassing and relocate to a new basin or just hunt where you are? It seems with the ground they cover you could move to the next basin and he may be there before you are.

We will be archery hunting and i plan on having bear spray and a S&W .44 ultralight (329PD) but would use spray first...

Thanks for the input.

 

[Tim McCoy]

I've been on horses that I swear a mouse would bugger. Odds are a wiff of Griz and they would try to turn themselves inside out. Probably depends on the horse. You might check on horses and wolves too. You said you planned to leave them unattended. I have no idea if they are an issue, but my friends in ID get followed by them on horse back a bunch. All the spots I hunted in WY were grizzly free or close to it. I was told in the fall griz in NW WY like white pine, may have the wrong species, but it was a pine, for the seeds? I have hunted south of the Tetons several times, very few griz there and plenty of elk. I'd call one of the horse renter wrangler places, and ask. If no one on here with experience comments, the rental folks would know. Just make sure to save that last
.44 round for yourself...

 

[eodmickelson]

I went on vacation in Hatteras last summer and chartered an off shore fishing trip out of Oregon Inlet, it sure can be rough waters! 3/4 of those who went got seasick! Definetly keep bear spray and maybe a large caliber gun, keep a clean camp, and Dont runbif you come face to face with one! Just stand your ground and slowly back away if you can safely put distance between you.

 

[RICMIC]

Ditto on what has already been stated. The pine seeds were a main part of the bear diet, but much of the trees have died off because of pine bark beetles, so the bears may not frequent those areas as much. I spike out solo in an area like this, and there was a bear attack (DOA bear) 10 miles south of me. That's south of the Tetons, so there are some griz there. Cook away from camp, and hang up ALL food and "smellables" away from camp also. The pee and clothing on a carcass is prime advice, and you may want to have a lookout posted while breaking the game down.

 

[OregonJim]

...... is probably about like some of yall trying to go through the breakers at hatteras inlet before daylight with a tide bucking the wind and 10' seas....it may not go so well.

I'll take the 10' ebb chop over a face to face with a grizzly any day....... except it sounds like work only add 8'..

Bear spray and a a good amount of common sense and you should be fine.
I have a great story about camping in Kodiak without a gun!!!!!!
Longest night of my life.

 

[dead river]

I agree! I dont think anything in the wild in North America compares to a face to face with a grizz (hope i dont actually find out).

Rented horses may be the way to go for several reasons.

I was figureing we would put them on a high line and hunt away from them, but yall might tell me that is crazy...a lot to figure out for this years hunt....we kinda got comfortable with the less remote hunts but this year is like starting all over again .

I am making notes on all the good comments. I appreciate the input!

 

[THelms]

Grizz on Grizz,

Rule 1: Be Prepared to meet a bear - Mentally: know how you plan to react or interact ahead of time... visualize it.
- Physically: Bear Spray, Shotgun, Handgun, Electric Fence... Bear Spray is THE most important of
these.

Rule 2: Food Strorage - Follow the rules and you'll likely be fine.

Rule 3: Don't hunt, scout alone - I've had lots of Grizz encounters while both alone and with a partner or group; without a doubt the group encounters were the most secure and the most enjoyable.

Rule 4: Limit after dark travel & travel through cover you cannot see into/through.

Take Away: Grizzlies are amazing creatures and encountering one in the wild is one of the most pure and exhilarating experiences in all of life. Enjoy your time and enjoy the bears. Respect the animal but do not fear them.

 

[dead river]

Grizz on Grizz, T..............ake Away: Grizzlies are amazing creatures and encountering one in the wild is one of the most pure and exhilarating experiences in all of life. Enjoy your time and enjoy the bears. Respect the animal but do not fear them.

I guess i will find out how I feel about it when i run into one. i would imagine the shear power the exude is impressive.....