Bears Crashing the Elk Hunt

[breakaction]

Anyone else getting more bears coming in while sending out cow calls or location bugles this season?

I was out this evening, set up at the top of a steep drainage and could hear the trees crashing on the opposite side of the valley after sending out a few calls. Soon enough the crashing was heading through the creek and up my side, sounding more bear than bull. Next thing a beauty jet black boar came charging out about 30 yards up. Unfortunately on a speed walk past my shooting lane leaving no chance of a shot. Head up, wide shoulders and high off the ground. Different from the ones eating apples out of the yards down low.

Last year it was mostly dodging the large increase in cubs, but this year it seems just straight up predation is the trend with more big boars around. Anyone notice the same?

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Generally speaking, Dry years yield poor berry crops and an increase in late summer/fall bear encounters.


SSS

[J_T]

Yep. We had grizzlies come in a few times when calling. Particularly when using the calf call. Bears and wolves interrupted some great action.

[KodiakHntr]

Definitely more bears coming in to cow calls this fall. 4 black bears and a immature grizz to calls, plus one black that came in spooky quiet to uncomfortably close distance in the dark while I was separating the last quarter.

Keep your eyes open and listen lots this fall.
Have had a ridiculous amount of bears in my yard this year as well.

Truck driver watched a black bear catch and kill a muley doe in an uncut field yesterday right across the road from the sawmill in FSJ in the middle of the day.

[Lobot Doog]

I called in 3 different bears while bowhunting in one day on the 7th. Also called in a giant bull to 45 yards the day before. Not close enough for my recurve, but an awesome experience.

[Livewire322]

You all are filling 2 bear tags a year, right?

[northof49]

Have frequently had griz come right in to my elk calling….pretty much expect it and they sure can be sneaky quiet.

[dapesche]

nah. just big ol elk.

https://i.imgur.com/tzFSH7Z.jpg

hahaha

[BGHA]

Man, that's a nice looking elk!

[Ron.C]

Duplicate post

[Ron.C]

nah. just big ol elk.

https://i.imgur.com/tzFSH7Z.jpg

hahaha

Awesome!!!!!!

[dapesche]

absolute tank of an elk for sure.
I had to joke around re: the OP question.


In regards to bears and calling. If you're having bears come in to locators and cow calls, I don't think you're moving enough.
Be more selective about your call locations. If you have a set up with bugles, I don't think we stand around for more than 10 mins. That usually includes raking and other random acts of stupidness.

For cow calls, we never use them as a set up. We need an answer first then we'll muck around with cow calls as we move close.
I'll make lost cow calls as I move through the timber hoping to catch a bull off guard. Sometimes they'll give you a short bugle and chuckle to come in.