Author Topic: Minnesota and Wisconsin bear hunters (Read 3116 times)

jk3006 · « **on:** August 27, 2009, 01:15:31 PM »

How are the baits doing? I just FINALLY got mine out today. I'm not expecting too much, though.

Skunk · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2009, 02:14:37 PM »

JK,

Lately here in Northern Wisconsin, you don't even have to bait the bear. They just walk right up to your front door unannounced. There seems to be an incredible number of bear this year. We haven't been specifically baiting for them, but trail cam pictures are showing lots of bear action at most of our deer stands.

mirage1988 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 28, 2009, 12:08:28 PM »

There are 140 pics on the trail cam so far at my bait, unfortunately I won't be able to swap chips until tuesday when I get up there on opener.

jk3006 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2009, 04:08:20 PM »

Quote from: mirage1988 on August 28, 2009, 12:08:28 PM

There are 140 pics on the trail cam so far at my bait, unfortunately I won't be able to swap chips until tuesday when I get up there on opener.

You must have the satellite sending pictures to your computer?

mirage1988 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2009, 04:57:53 PM »

Quote from: jk3006 on August 28, 2009, 04:08:20 PM

Quote from: mirage1988 on August 28, 2009, 12:08:28 PM
There are 140 pics on the trail cam so far at my bait, unfortunately I won't be able to swap chips until tuesday when I get up there on opener.

You must have the satellite sending pictures to your computer?

I wish! Actually I have someone baiting for me as I hunt 3 hours from where I live. I am headed up tomorrow to swap chips and bait instead of tuesday, so I'll post pics if there is anything worthwhile.

1sourdough · « **Reply #5 on:** August 29, 2009, 01:25:51 AM »

I just came back from a private land location in the U.P. of MI. The guy hunting this year has 2 bait stations & puts out 10 gal of bait a day & it all gets cleaned up, every day/eve. There are pictures of several bears but no monsters on film so far. I hunted there a few years ago & had a 3 hr bear hunt.

jk3006 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 29, 2009, 05:56:17 AM »

Quote from: mirage1988 on August 28, 2009, 04:57:53 PM

I wish! Actually I have someone baiting for me as I hunt 3 hours from where I live. I am headed up tomorrow to swap chips and bait instead of tuesday, so I'll post pics if there is anything worthwhile.

Yeah, I'm the same way. When the baiting is going well, I can never resist getting out there more often to see what's happening.

jk3006 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 29, 2009, 05:57:22 AM »

Quote from: 1sourdough on August 29, 2009, 01:25:51 AM

I just came back from a private land location in the U.P. of MI. The guy hunting this year has 2 bait stations & puts out 10 gal of bait a day & it all gets cleaned up, every day/eve. There are pictures of several bears but no monsters on film so far. I hunted there a few years ago & had a 3 hr bear hunt.

That's good! That should bring in a bear opening day, as long as the acorns don't get ya.

jk3006 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2009, 01:12:54 PM »

Checked my bait today. It was hit. The beef scraps were gone. They didn't eat all the dog food, though. I don't have any digital pictures, but the motion detector said that there was activity about 20-30 minutes before dark.

MNBear · « **Reply #9 on:** August 30, 2009, 04:24:47 PM »

I have two baits out that have been getting hit regulary, we shall see what Tues brings.

mirage1988 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 30, 2009, 05:23:44 PM »

Here are a few visitors to my buffet! (time and date stamps are wrong, trail cam rookie)

From what I can tell from the timing of the photos, there is at least 6, maybe even 9 different bears coming in!

Skunk · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2009, 03:51:40 AM »

Hey, hey Mirage, looking good. Looks like someone might be getting some hunting action this season. Best of Luck to you. I'm seeing visions of the Mirage family warming their feet in a bear skin rug later this winter.

jk3006 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2009, 05:23:06 AM »

Quote from: mirage1988 on August 30, 2009, 05:23:44 PM

From what I can tell from the timing of the photos, there is at least 6, maybe even 9 different bears coming in!

That is truly outstanding! I will be getting roll of film developed later today to see what's been hitting my bait the last few days.

skifastchad · « **Reply #13 on:** September 02, 2009, 06:53:16 AM »

Quote from: jk3006 on August 30, 2009, 01:12:54 PM

The beef scraps were gone.

Are you in Wisconsin? Careful.

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/hunt/bear/BearBaitRegs.pdf

mirage1988 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 02, 2009, 08:55:19 PM »

Just got home from an awesome bear hunt! 2 for 2 in two days! My uncle got a 195 pound cinnamon (almost chocolate) yesterday and i got a 250 pound blackie tonite, both with our muzzleloaders. A few firsts for me, first bear, and first muzzleloader kill. I have killed dozens and dozens of deer, but can only remember one that made me feel like this and that was my first one. I tried to post pics, but it seems they are too large to attach?!

Skunk · « **Reply #15 on:** September 03, 2009, 06:50:21 AM »

WTG Mirage!!! Big Congratulations.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 03, 2009, 08:22:36 AM »

Quote from: mirage1988 on September 02, 2009, 08:55:19 PM

Just got home from an awesome bear hunt! 2 for 2 in two days! My uncle got a 195 pound cinnamon (almost chocolate) yesterday and i got a 250 pound blackie tonite, both with our muzzleloaders. A few firsts for me, first bear, and first muzzleloader kill. I have killed dozens and dozens of deer, but can only remember one that made me feel like this and that was my first one. I tried to post pics, but it seems they are too large to attach?!

Sweet Mirage, where were you hunting? I shot a blonde striped chocolate 100 lb bear a few years. WHat a neat looking rug.

mirage1988 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 03, 2009, 12:16:02 PM »

Thank you Skunk and Billy-
We were hunting near mcgregor on state land Billy.
Had a skunk come to the bait last night, wasn't you, was it?

Skunk · « **Reply #18 on:** September 03, 2009, 12:29:19 PM »

Quote from: mirage1988 on September 03, 2009, 12:16:02 PM

Thank you Skunk...Had a skunk come to the bait last night, wasn't you, was it?

Well...I was out ravaging some dumpsters last night and someone took a few potshots at me. Now there's another crease across the top of my scalp where I'm missing more hair.

mirage1988 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 03, 2009, 03:19:35 PM »

I have to say that it was the most amazing (if that is the right word) hunt I have ever done. Even though I only actually hunted for two days, we had been baiting and watching the trail cam pics for two and a half weeks so the anticipation was pretty high.
After watching a bait pile for twelve hours over two days I was starting to feel a bit bummed out when I heard brush breaking and thought some idiot was out for a walk by my stand. I looked at my watch and it was 8:00, sunset was at 7:53 so I had until 8:23 of shooting time.
All of a sudden the trees behind my bait started shaking and she stepped out! She swaggered around the bait looking into the woods like she was daring any other bear to come to HER bait! I put up my encore and could just barely see the front sight, it was now or never-when she stopped I found the crease behind the shoulder and the gun went off almost by itself. At the shot she rolled over and kicked a bit and that was it. I breathed a big sigh of relief that I didn't have to track her into the tamarack swamp, most bears that make it into the swamp are never found.

I hope you guys don't find my story too corny, I just wanted to write it down for a memory.

Two Bears · « **Reply #20 on:** September 03, 2009, 09:31:29 PM »

Good job!

I tell you what, bear hunting is the funest thing you can do with your pants on.

I have taken a couple bear with archery equipment and it was unreal to let an arrow go on a bear, just damn exhilerating. I now want to take one with my flint lock 50 cal.
Hey, post some pictures of the bears..........

jk3006 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 04, 2009, 02:52:36 AM »

Congrats on the bear! I didn't even hunt. The bait hadn't been hit the last two days, and my heart just wasn't in it. Maybe next year I'll go at it more vigorously again.

Two Bears · « **Reply #22 on:** September 04, 2009, 06:23:34 AM »

You have a liscense and don't hunt? what in the world I wonder how many other people would have loved to get that bear tag in the lottery that would hunt?

jk3006 · « **Reply #23 on:** September 04, 2009, 03:34:28 PM »

Quote from: Two Bears on September 04, 2009, 06:23:34 AM

You have a liscense and don't hunt? what in the world I wonder how many other people would have loved to get that bear tag in the lottery that would hunt?

You assume I'm in the lottery. Bad assumption!!

Two Bears · « **Reply #24 on:** September 05, 2009, 07:25:37 PM »

My bad

mirage1988 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 20, 2009, 03:21:20 PM »

I only have a few pics of my bear, it was late and my uncle had to work in the morning.

mirage1988 · « **Reply #26 on:** September 20, 2009, 03:22:47 PM »

Uncle John and his Cinnamon

mirage1988 · « **Reply #27 on:** September 20, 2009, 03:24:07 PM »

What a cool looking bear- one more pic!

billy_56081 · « **Reply #28 on:** September 20, 2009, 03:39:05 PM »

Some of my friends took their kids up by International Falls. The kids shot a 140 lb chocolate sow, 190 lb chocolate boar, and a 210 lb black boar. All were dressed weights. They hunted with Steve Battalion.

mirage1988 · « **Reply #29 on:** September 20, 2009, 03:42:35 PM »

Who is Steve B.?

Mine was a bit bigger than that, Billy.