Re: Calling bears?
Originally Posted by
MichelD
I just can't seem to make predator calls work, or maybe the one I've been using is inappropriate for bears that have never seen a rabbit. I don't know.
I was in a bear-rich area last week and called and called with a Primo's 3rd degree. Nothing came in. Tried the same call in another scat laden area two weeks ago again with nothing coming in.
I have two other calls, an old Haydel's bear call that sounds like a squalling cub and another one that is more like a squealing fawn. I think I'll deploy that one on my next trip out.
The 3rd Degree did call in a herd of range cows and a coyote a couple years ago when I was trying to tempt a big black bear out of the woods I'd seen the day before.
Ideas?
How long do you blow on the call for? My experience is that you have to constantly call for upwards of 45 minutes of longer (which can be really hard to do); so one suggestion would be if you're hunting with a partner, take turns blowing the call. And make sure it sounds realistic, like how an animal sounds when its being eaten and dying. Fawn bleat can work great this time of year. And yes, some bears just don't care and won't bother wasting the energy to come see what's being eaten. But other times, it can happen really quickly and a bear can pop out of the timber and come charging in like you wouldn't believe (that's why its a bit safer to only call to a bear that you can see instead of blind calling). Always check behind you because like others have said they almost always will come in from an angle where you can't see and check you out and you wouldn't even know they're there.
Keep at it - it definitely can work. Just can take a while and will give your lungs and good workout. Good luck
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