Calling Alaskan Browns?
- Thread starter Dirtydog
- Start date
Redfrog
Moderator
Sounds like fun /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I haven't done it myself, but check with NASA, he had something heavy fall on his head so he may be in the right mind to try to put a pointy stick through a brownie. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
If I were going to call a brown bear, I would:
Do it long distance with whoever has the least dropped calls /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Try the "hunter crapping his pants" call /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Go !! have fun!!! you only live once. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I haven't done it myself, but check with NASA, he had something heavy fall on his head so he may be in the right mind to try to put a pointy stick through a brownie. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
If I were going to call a brown bear, I would:
Do it long distance with whoever has the least dropped calls /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Try the "hunter crapping his pants" call /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Go !! have fun!!! you only live once. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Been watching to see if anyone with experience would pipe up. Still hopeful. As usual however, those of us without experience will speak with authority.
I'd do it. Just make sure your brother has a skookum back up rifle and the backbone to use it. Not like a friend of mine filming grizzlies with a back up when a bear charged. He got some great photos of the bear as it closed, hoping it would break off the charge, then stepped aside and knelt so his back up could have a clear shot. At that point he saw his back-up man running away with the rifle. (Fortunately the bear did stop the charge.)
As the biggest predator, a brownie should respond easily to a call. I've called several grizzlies, as well as blacks, and I'd be confident if I tried calling a brownie.
However, there are two problems with calling bears if you want to be selective in what you shoot. First is that if there is brush, etc. it can be really hard to judge a bear's size when it comes to the call. Second, and probably compounded by brownies, is that the bear may be so agggresive that you have to shoot it, whether it is the size you prefer or not. I've had female blacks with cubs come in to a call, and that could be a problem with an aggressive brownie.
You can hedge that in your favor by finding an isolated bear and looking him over before you set up and call. One you didn't see may still come in and complicate things of course.
As to a bow, its been done, and you can do it. Seems to me that Fred Bear or one of the men who did it used extra heavy arrows tuned to the bow, for max penetration. Shaving sharp goes without saying.
The probablilty is that the bear will run off when hit. If not, I'd want at least a .375 in cool hands. Forget shotguns and don't put faith in hand guns unless you are a very skilled and cool pistol shot.
I'd do it. Just make sure your brother has a skookum back up rifle and the backbone to use it. Not like a friend of mine filming grizzlies with a back up when a bear charged. He got some great photos of the bear as it closed, hoping it would break off the charge, then stepped aside and knelt so his back up could have a clear shot. At that point he saw his back-up man running away with the rifle. (Fortunately the bear did stop the charge.)
As the biggest predator, a brownie should respond easily to a call. I've called several grizzlies, as well as blacks, and I'd be confident if I tried calling a brownie.
However, there are two problems with calling bears if you want to be selective in what you shoot. First is that if there is brush, etc. it can be really hard to judge a bear's size when it comes to the call. Second, and probably compounded by brownies, is that the bear may be so agggresive that you have to shoot it, whether it is the size you prefer or not. I've had female blacks with cubs come in to a call, and that could be a problem with an aggressive brownie.
You can hedge that in your favor by finding an isolated bear and looking him over before you set up and call. One you didn't see may still come in and complicate things of course.
As to a bow, its been done, and you can do it. Seems to me that Fred Bear or one of the men who did it used extra heavy arrows tuned to the bow, for max penetration. Shaving sharp goes without saying.
The probablilty is that the bear will run off when hit. If not, I'd want at least a .375 in cool hands. Forget shotguns and don't put faith in hand guns unless you are a very skilled and cool pistol shot.
Ditto to Mo'bob if it is your first bear. My "go gettum" post was serious, but it assumed you have quite a bit of bear and shooting and hunting savvy. Though the bear will probably run away, poking a really big bear with a sharp stick has significant percentages toward bad things happening. The one doing the poking better have some idea in advance what those bad things are likely to be and what he plans to do about each. You're not likley to be in a tree stand but on foot.
The less experienced you are at bow hunting, and bear hunting and the less general game/hunting experience, the more your odds for success drop and more important, your odds of genuine danger go way up. Blood trailing a bow hit black bear in fairly open timber (without a firearm) was a cautious experience for me. Blood trailing rifle hit bears in alder and willow was hair raising. You will probably have to blood trail a brownie hit with an arrow, and probably have to trail him in thick alder and willow. Not many bears want to run into the open when hurt. It will be pretty crucial to call the shot, where the arrow hit if at all possible, so you know what the blood trail means. That requires mental control at the shot, and hard, ruthless honesty: where the arrow really hit, not merely where you aimed or wanted it to hit.
I'd still do it if that's what I wanted to do. Just really think it through and weigh your skills, experience, your comfort with risk/reward ratios, and honestly face the potential of death or permanent crippling. There's no shame in hunting with your brother with a rifle, and that carries danger.
The less experienced you are at bow hunting, and bear hunting and the less general game/hunting experience, the more your odds for success drop and more important, your odds of genuine danger go way up. Blood trailing a bow hit black bear in fairly open timber (without a firearm) was a cautious experience for me. Blood trailing rifle hit bears in alder and willow was hair raising. You will probably have to blood trail a brownie hit with an arrow, and probably have to trail him in thick alder and willow. Not many bears want to run into the open when hurt. It will be pretty crucial to call the shot, where the arrow hit if at all possible, so you know what the blood trail means. That requires mental control at the shot, and hard, ruthless honesty: where the arrow really hit, not merely where you aimed or wanted it to hit.
I'd still do it if that's what I wanted to do. Just really think it through and weigh your skills, experience, your comfort with risk/reward ratios, and honestly face the potential of death or permanent crippling. There's no shame in hunting with your brother with a rifle, and that carries danger.
I have been up there before for blacks. I have taken my bow but ended up only using his rifle. I am comfortable judging size and with my archery skills. I DO believe in having good backup. Fact of the matter is that I only really use a rifle for coyotes and maybe antelope. I have a hard time getting real excited about shooting a buck at 250 yards and hate the "sea of orange".
I was wondering if an calling senerio would work with a FX3 and ambushing the down wind side of the FX3. Either that or spot, setup and let him do the stalking.
DD
I was wondering if an calling senerio would work with a FX3 and ambushing the down wind side of the FX3. Either that or spot, setup and let him do the stalking.
DD
crapshoot
Well-known member
You have seen this video right?
And this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dopLg4SqzpA&mode=related&search=
And this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dopLg4SqzpA&mode=related&search=
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AlleninAlaska
New member
Deer fawn bleet call will work.
tripod3
New member
I have a friend that guided in Alaska for a while. He had a client that insisted on using a black powder pistol for grizzly. He insisted the client forget about that pistol. Two days later he found the client in a tree with a very mad bear bleeding. It was tough to put down, he considered shooting the client instead.
Jay Johnson
New member
If you want to use your bow that's fine just make sure you have a backup a very good shot with very large gun!
Last May i went on a guided interior grizz hunt in the AK Range. It was all snow and a physically taxing adventure. The guide said he often calls them to get them to present a good target. We weren't talking about archery however.
I have shot black bears on the ground with B & A (not calling) and it can be hard to get them to stand just right for a shot. The blacks I have called (and shot with a gun) were mostly facing me and never game me a broadside or slightly going away perfect angle. A "head on" brownie is not what you want to flip a stick at. If you want to call one at least take a gun the first time. They are much more serious critters than black bears. Depending on weather and landing sites, you can be a day to many days from a transfusion.
I have shot black bears on the ground with B & A (not calling) and it can be hard to get them to stand just right for a shot. The blacks I have called (and shot with a gun) were mostly facing me and never game me a broadside or slightly going away perfect angle. A "head on" brownie is not what you want to flip a stick at. If you want to call one at least take a gun the first time. They are much more serious critters than black bears. Depending on weather and landing sites, you can be a day to many days from a transfusion.