Calling at night in black bear country.

BUCKWHEAT

BUCKWHEAT

New member
Calling at night in black bear country.

I do a little calling in some high population black bear country on foot by walking a short distance from the truck. This is all in timber and cut over areas.
I prefer not to go out at night and call alone in these areas. But I still do, I stay for a very short time at each location in hopes that they are not close to my calling stand and take there time coming in. I stay approximately 5 to 8 minutes max, use an electronic caller, and keep that caller approximately 20 yards away.
I also do not use some of the pray distress calls or mouth calls that I would like to because I am sure some of my call sounds work fairly well on black bear.
I have called in bears in during day light and am able to read there body language and can see them coming. But at night not real sure how to spook them off since the light would be in there eyes and it might take them awhile to realize I am not going to be eaten very easily How do you other callers deal with black bears? Or do you just not go calling at night in high population black bear territory?
 
BUCKWHEAT, in my opinion it's not a good idea to call at night alone, besides bears being a danger many other things can happen, Good Luck
 
Danny B
Thanks for a reply, But there is a little more information that I was hoping would get disused a little farther as a topic. As I stated, I also am not real big fan about hunting alone at night sometimes either. The question I was looking for is more information how a hunter would do his (set up) and would (deal) with a bear at night. Since there is more and more hunters predator calling. The more time spent calling the odds will increase of a bear encounter at night by me and others even when hunting in pairs this encounter could be a problem.
 
BUCKWHEAT,

How have ya been? Well, I hope.

I have done some calling at night, alone, in country where bears or mt lions might respond to the call.
I know what you mean about being concerned, but I keep telling myself "I do have the GUN".

And I agree sometimes it is better to go alone, then not to go at all.

I figure that if a bear comes, I would first try talking to the bear, many times just hearing humans will scare it away.
Next I would shine a light on myself (like my headlamp or flashlight), so he could see me, and raise my voice some and try to appear big. But I'd try to keep just the halo of my hunting light on him, so he'd have a chance to see me and I'd never lose sight of him.
If none of that worked, I'd find a safe spot into the ground or a stump, and discharge my weapon.

As far as prevention, you guys do a lot of tree stand hunting back there, right?
I'd figure that covers your needs really well, not only to elevate your calling/spotting, but to make the job of a bear to actually suprise you, or get ahold of you, a lot harder.

Once the bear is climbing the tree you have three choices, pepper spray is quiet and effective, and may not hurt your chances of still calling from that stand.
A Louisville Slugger is not too much louder, but might not be as effective. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
The third is as I mentioned before, your gun is a great big firecracker at least, and lethal if fired at close range at best... when/if, after firing all but the last two shots from the magazine, the bear gets close enough to grab your boot... put the muzzle in it's face, and KILL it! Then I'd report the incident to the proper authorities, if the bear really was that aggressive I would be justified in protecting myself.

Good luck out there. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Krusty
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Krustyklimber

Thanks for the reply; I am doing fine thanks for asking. I take it you are well too.
The 17 hmr I plan to use for gray fox I really think that I would have to shoot him in the eye. LOL

I do not think there is a lot of predator calling from tree stands, most people here hunt deer from tree stands.

The tree stand thing is way to slow for my way of hunting. But it is an alternative for possibility some one else that is reading this post. The problem with some bears is they may not want to leave if you start calling again from that tree stand.

The information you state about talking and using the light on your self is about all I was planning on doing. I would elevate my response as necessary from there.

I still like the ideas of having a call 20 yards away from me wile I am standing on the ground.
 
Hi how is going. I think if it was me I would carry a large container of pepper spray. I watched a video of a guy in Texas calling in bears and that is what he used and it was vary effective at close range. He would call them in close and then spray them on the video.
 
I ain't never seen or heard of anyone who has seen one here in Texas... But nothing would surprise me... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Then again, there was the time when I worked for the city and I got a call on a guy who had a bear for a pet... hehe
 
I do not know if there are bears in the country of Texas. However, here in this state that a Texan is trying to win over this November there are bears.

You guys might like this.
I found this ending statement on a bear study about pepper spray.

QUOTE
He said to rely on the spray, as protection while ignoring other bear country essentials---such as storing food out of reach of bears or in bear-proof containers and making NOISE in thick brush--is just plain stupid. "This stuff isn't brains in a can," he said.

I never talked to this guy just read an article on pepper spray, but I think this man just called me stupid some how?

WAIT!! I think he is saying all of us predator hunters are a little off for setting in the brush and trying to MAKE NOISE sounds like food to a predator. LOL
You have to love this sport!!! But if you are scared of the dark and loins tigers and bears O no !!
Maybe golf?
 
I do a lot of calling at night for coyotes by myself, and I have found it very comforting to carry a 454 casull, with 300 gr mag xtp bullets and a can of pepper spray. That said, my old hunting partner learned that the WDFW do not like it when you shoot a bear out of season or at night, he can no longer hunt in Washington.

During bear season I bring along my 300 Win Mag (and my bear tag), and call longer at stands (20 to 40 minutes) at sunrise and for an hour or two afterwards, and I have seen more bears than when I used to hunt in SE Alaska.
 
I very seldom call at night, but have been known to on rare occasions. There are both lion and bear here, and I have considered the possibility of getting in trouble. One suggestion I might make is to call from the truck, if legal. More realistically, place an e-caller some distance from the truck, and make your stand in the bed of the truck. This may or not be legal in a lot of states.
 
Bob Mc, you got it buddy. I have called in a double on bears at night from my truck and I know of others that have done the same. I know bears don't see to good in the day and I'm sure they see even less at night probably meaning they depend on there nose more at night, if this is so they probably know we are there. I have had bears walking around my deer camp at night. Trust me, they don't make any noise unless they knock over something. I never heard of a predator caller being attacked by a black bear day or night, but I'm sure it could happen. Pepper spray would be a good idea I guess even from your truck. Bob Mc, it's a good thing we don't have grizzlys in California anymore, not only would they come to the call they'd eat the truck too /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Danny, the heck with the truck! It's my hide I'd be worried about. :eek: Don't know if you've been keeping up with it, but there have been a couple of recent grizzly attacks; one fatal. A well known bow hunter went missing up in Canada. About all the searchers found were some bones. They ASSUME they belonged to the missing hunter.
 
A smart man don't call coyotes in grizz country lol /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
1/3 of the night hunting I do in PA is in Bear country. I also have done a ton of calling in Ontario Canada where my brother lives. I have called in a bunch of bears without incident. Had a bear follow me to the truck popping his teeth,
(In PA)
A remote caller is an advantage, so is a little game I like to play which is a lure container with Beaver caster in it. I keep the container close the caller and the caller away from me. I can always shut the caller off. Sounds stupid doesn't it. This is what I do in Bear country. I once witnessed a bear attack a wounded deer near at my brothers camp in Ontario. The dear was all but dead already, but the bear did not know it. Absolutely brutal.
I found a whole new respect for Bears. I only have experience with black bears not sure how a grizzly will react.
 
My mistake it might have not been Texas,It has been a while sense I saw the video and now I am not sure where the video was shot. But the pepper spray did work well in the video.Maybe large hand gun just in case but I bet that if the bear knows what you are he will run 9 - out of 10 times.
P.S. I am guessing there must not be any black bears in texas?
I am not sure I have never been there :eek: .
 
Wayne,

I do not mean to be argumentative, but everything I have learned about night hunting says I want the sound with me, so that any approaching animal is looking my way. If it is not looking at me, I cannot see it's eyes in my light.

Also I cannot use any "scent" that could attract a bear, or if there is even a chance of a bear showing up (like baiting coyotes).
Many of the places I have hunted, a bear is just as likely to show up, as any other critter.

For me using beaver castor is a quick trip to jail, and the loss of my hunting priviledges for at least five years, possibly permenantly.

Darrell,

I believe I have seen some of the footage you speak of. If I remember right it was Wayne Carlton, of Carlton's Calls, in the video. And he was calling in New Mexico.
He called one bear so close it went around the tree he was leaning on, and got a snootful of pepper spray at about three feet away (and took off like he was on fire, which I am sure he was).

I have been pepper sprayed (I got tangled up in the WTO riots here, coming out of a Dr.s appointment, I was on crutches and couldn't get away from the cops/rioters).
It is completely debilitating, it takes your breath away, you cannot open your eyes at all (air just makes them burn that much worse), your skin burns with a tingle similar to gasoline, and you wretch so badly it's hard not to choke to death.

I thought Mr. Carlson's used of the spray, just for humor and videoing purposes, was a bit cruel.
He could easily have turned most of the bears away, at a safer distance, without inflicting such a harsh penalty on the bears.
But that wouldn't sell many videos would it?

I do remember thinking "now THAT guy just EDU-freakin-CATED that bear so well, he may never respond to distress of any kind again".

I think it's cruel and inhumane to use on human beings for sure, espesially sprayed into crowds indescriminately, I am not sure a bear deserves it until there is no other option (killing and tagging it would be MUCH more merciful IMHO).

Krusty
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I thought that he was hunting critters other than black bear at night. in that case here you can use sent to attract. if a bear comes in spray him with pepper spray. it is illegal to shoot any big game animal at night. Over 3/4 of the coyotes I have killed at night the caller was 20-50 yards away from me. I was able to see the eyes just fine.

I have never called a bear at night. There is a possibility that they could come in. Put your back to a tree and stay alert. If it is legal to do so use scent.

It is good to have the bear population in the back of you mind, but I wouldn't worry about it to much.
 
Krustyklimber
In bear country I to keep the caller 20 yards or so away and have no trouble seeing eyes.
On a two track through the woods, I keep the caller on the other side of the two track from me with the speaker pointing straight away from me. That way if a bear walks down the two track he is interested on what is on the other side of the two track. My truck is usually only 50 yards down the road from were I am calling with the doors unlocked. LOL
But I guess I should invest in a good can of pepper spray.
 
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