[ARC_lefteye]

I asked this question on another forum & apparently touched some nerves / got some panties in a wad... does anyone on here run dogs for Black Bear & then shoot them or let someone else shoot them w/ a bow? This is assuming that this is a legal method in your state, it is in mine but seems no one does it because they're worried about their dogs getting hurt

I know for a fact that a lot Mt. Lions are shot w/ a bow after being treed by dogs & I'd personally be more worried about a cat than a Black Bear, not to say a Black Bear isn't something to be worried about, I just think a cat is more built to kill where a Black Bear is more so built to scavenge

If anyone on here has shot a bear w/ a bow after being treed w/ dogs, let me know, I have a few questions for you

 

[rum3002576]

Kuger, may be the man to talk to

 

[rjthehunter]

I agree with the cats being more dangerous, but I've seen bear hunting with dogs being done before! I prefer just baiting them and sitting in a tree. I don't know how well the dogs would work because the big bears can't climb trees anyway!

 

[American Eagle]

Like Rum said Kuger would know more about this I believe.

Here in maine I know of several guides who let hunters use bows.
Bears are omnivores which will either hunt food or eat grass/fruit/nuts ect.
Black Bears are very powerfull and I have heard of the bears tearing the dogs up and even killing them.

 

[kuger]

I ran bears for years for the Gov.and hated every one.By far and above running bears is harder on dogs than lions.Many big ol boar bears are too big to climb so they bay up and fight dogs......usually dogs dont win.That being said,if the dogs belonged to somebody else,I have had some of the most memorable hunts ever....nothing like a 400 lb anything falling out of a tree.Morons in Calif just last year banned bear hunting with dogs and already they are suffering the consequence of the unbeleivable stupid move.They had a 2500 bear quota that was seldom not not filled,and were going to bump that quota this year up because we were killing 1-200 problem bears as well....they banned dogs and the quota went unfilled last year.Running with dogs allows the hunter to inspect the bear close up enough to tell if it is a sow and lactating(no animal should be left to starve....young cubs)and let her go,or if its a boar that the size doesnt fit what they are looking for,let them go.Instead now people shoot at first site,or at 500 yards away,and you are left with orphaned cubs.


In short absolutly bears are ran with dogs.Doesnt even take a great dog....bears stink,and strike dogs can even smell them driving down the road!

 

[Riverman]

I know of a people that do it. I have only run ***** with my hounds, but I believe they tie their dogs off far from the tree when they take the shot

 

[SuckerSchwacker21]

I know a couple guys who run bears up in Northern Michigan (or at least they used too) haven't talked to them in a few years. They had only lost 1 dog in 15-20 years of running them but have had multiple dogs get tore up pretty good by a big boar. I hear it is a hell of a lot of fun to do but I personally have no experience with it.

 

[rum3002576]

i have never done it but sure would love to.

 

[kuger]

I know a couple guys who run bears up in Northern Michigan (or at least they used too) haven't talked to them in a few years. They had only lost 1 dog in 15-20 years of running them but have had multiple dogs get tore up pretty good by a big boar. I hear it is a hell of a lot of fun to do but I personally have no experience with it.

....I lost 5 dogs in one year.....horrible year but still............

 

[kuger]

I know of a people that do it. I have only run ***** with my hounds, but I believe they tie their dogs off far from the tree when they take the shot

Definetly tie dogs back with bobcats,lions or bears,no quicker way to get dogs tore up than a wounded critter falling in the middle of the dogs.I had a guy shoot a bayed up boar bear with a bow and one of my buddies dogs broke his leash and dove in,the broadhead was sticking out and cut that dog from azzhole to his neck....thats bad luck huh?

 

[kuger]

you guys that may like to read ,I highly recommend any books on Ben Lilly,one of the best Houndmen to ever live,Meet Mr. Grizzly by Montague Stevens http://www.amazon.com/Meet-Mr-Grizzly-Montague-Stevens/dp/0944383092 and The Only Good Bear is a Dead bear http://www.amazon.com/Only-Good-Collection-Wests-Stories/dp/0934318964

 

[Zipnthru]

Being where we are at makes a big difference, I personally know what your going thru with your question cause I asked the same thing years ago, got the same uproar. There is a clique of hunters here that come off like bear hunting mafia and it's all about them and their ways and with them there is no other way. I always wanted to tree an shoot a bear, like a lion or **** except use a bow. Had a friend who ran bear dogs an begged for the chance but he acted like till this day, haven't spoke to him in years over it.

 

[walteman]

They run them in the northern part of Wisconsin. The zone that i am in, they can train them up to 2 days before season but not hunt them. stupid ass law.
I shot my first bear this year over bait, next time i plan on using dogs. Wasn't nearly as exciting as i thought it would be.
On a side note, i bred my bloodhound two years ago to a houndsman. He had about 15 dogs, bloodhounds and walker mixes. Said they put out bait and then cold trail with the bloodhounds and tree with teh walkers. He also had some mixed of the two, which were a pretty cool looking dog.

 

[kuger]

unfortunate yall didnt come to Cali before last year.Our bears average over 300 and 5-600 lbers are not uncommon.Any bear hunters would take as many tag holders as they could because we could only run one dog per tag in the group while deer season was open.Shooting one with a bow is not hard

 

[SaLtY dAwG]

We ran dogs for bears for years till the state of Idaho thought it would be cool to have wolves back... lets just say our dogs started dropping like flys...

I don't see why it would be a problem shooting a bear with a bow... we always pulled our dogs back when a shot was being made... you might run into a problem of getting a clean shoot thru the branches...? we had a few bears fall and then jump right back up so we always had a back up shooter with a slug gun... we started doing this because one time when I was around 12 or 13 one came down and headed right for me... he dropped about 5 to 6 feet in front of me when I was holding 3 dogs... It scarred the chit out of me...

 

[SaLtY dAwG]

Hey Cody I bet we know a few of the same guys... I was a kid when we ran dogs but my Dad always had a few guys come up from Cali to run dogs because at the time we could run bears in the spring as a catch and release... it was kind of like training for your dogs I guess never gave much thought to it... we would snap pics and take videos... we spent our spring and early summers in the hills as kids strapped to the dog boxes...lol... but it seemed like camp always had a few rigs with Cali plates...

 

[kuger]

Likely do Jake.I used to know a whole lot of top notch Houndsmen in Idaho.Dell Cameron was a good friend of mine.(I knew a guy that ran bears with Rotweillers from Idaho)When I took the Gov Job in Cali.I had too many dogs so I sold some to a kid in Salmon.That winter he watched as a pack of wolves tore one in half and he stuffed the guts back in of the other and it died at the Vets.I have several close friends who had dogs killed by wolves.Thats one thing I am glad I dont run anymore up there.It was bad enough,without having to worry about wolves

 

[ARC_lefteye]

thanks for all the positive feedback & info y'all... its nice to hear from & talk to hunters that aren't jerks plus are willing to help instead of talking smack behind a keyboard (I know that happens on here but normally in fun LOL)

I wish WV would legalize baiting but they don't & I don't know when or if they ever will... we have decent size bears in the state but on average I'd say they're under 200 lbs, I've seen a few solid 300 to 400 pounders shot but its not as common as the cubs most shoot

I've only shot one in all the years of hunting & it was in New Brunswick Canada over bait... it was a awesome bear, or at least I think so, weighed in at 315 w/ an awesome fluffy coat... it was exciting but kind of surreal because I shot him on 9/11 while them cowardly bastards attacked our country... my mind was racing that evening on stand as well as my heart

I may have found a guy that's willing to take us w/ his dogs & allow us to use our bows but of course he'll have an open sight lever action 30-30 in case the bear gets frisky on the ground... two of my buddies haven't shot a bear before so if we're able to go w/ him, they'll flip a coin for the 1st... I'd like to hold out for a decent one, more than likely it wont be over 300 but never know what could happen

 

[ARC_lefteye]

Being where we are at makes a big difference, I personally know what your going thru with your question cause I asked the same thing years ago, got the same uproar. There is a clique of hunters here that come off like bear hunting mafia and it's all about them and their ways and with them there is no other way. I always wanted to tree an shoot a bear, like a lion or **** except use a bow. Had a friend who ran bear dogs an begged for the chance but he acted like till this day, haven't spoke to him in years over it.

yeah Zip, I've listened to the "bear hunting mafia" lip & I wont the next time... I bit my tongue out of respect & because I'm trying to find someone but the next one of them that pops off w/ some BS smart mouth comment is going to get back two fold... nothing fires me up more than someone asking a serious question or for an honest opinion & some jerk(s) bashing that person

if I find someone or if it works out that my buddy can take us some Sat. he isn't working, I'll let you know because I'm sure he'd be ok w/ you joining us if you want too... I'll make sure he's cool w/ it before telling ya but I'd like to see you have your opportunity to take a tree'd bear w/ a bow in our state

 

[ARC_lefteye]

thanks for all info Cody, appreciate it sir... PM coming