Bear hunt II

[Iowa1]

Just a note to thank those of you who gave me some tips for my first bow bear hunt. I went to my friends place last weekend and he had seven good baits that had been hit, out but only three were being hit regulary. He thought it was the hot weather and a series of thunderstorms. I ran the baits with him for a couple days. He had a couple other guys coming that he owed a favor for an elk trip trade, and his wife had a tag. So we had four hunters and only three hot baits.

I always thought hunting bear over bait was as easy as showing up. Nothing could be farther from the truth. These bears come in very cautiously or not at all if they suspect something is amiss. Very skittish. The bug battle is a challenge, too. Lots of skeeters. This does qualify as a challenging hunt in my opinion.

A friend of his guides up there (near Warroad) and we went and talked to him (Chris Ford). Chris had 23 hot baits going and only three hunters in camp this first week. I "negotiated" a deal with Chris to hunt with him. To make a long story short, I saw seven bears in four nights, four of which were chocolate color phase. I shot a 200-pound chocolate on Saturday night, the fourth night. Skull measures 17 inches green, an inch short of P&Y.

I was impressed how fast a bear goes down with a double lung hit. My arrow stuck in the ground six inches on the other side of the bear and it went only 15 feet (three bounds), stopped and stood on wobbly legs for probably 5 seconds, then tipped over. I am continually amazed at how efficient a powerful bow and a sharp broadhead is in making a humane kill.

Half of the fun is baiting and checking baits. Seeing the tracks and seeing how the baits have been hit is exhilerating.

I have killed aroud 30 whitetails with a bow, and there's nothing like shooting a good buck, but for sheer adrenaline value this bear hunting is pretty good stuff!

If you are ever interested in hunting there I can give you Chris Ford's phone number.

[scout]

What are the "Terms" that need to be negotiated?
I was told depredation reports are up this year. I'm looking at going up again next year. I take it this guy is a licensed guide.
Sounds like you had a great hunt. Post a pic!

[Iowa1]

In this zone (12) you need to draw a license. If you do not draw your first year, you get a preference point and draw for sure the second year. Most people apply every year and get a license every other. I was lucky enough to get one my first year.

I had to "negotiate" with him because he is a licensed guide and only had three hunters in camp that first weekend, but had 23 baits being hit. I worked out a barter with him that I can't disclose. The guy is very good and has only been guiding a couple years, so he was open to ideas from me. Everyone saw bears while I was there. The fact that four of the seven I saw were chocolates is the most amazing. That included a sow with cubs.

Don't know about depredation permit numbers. I do know that the game wardens seem to have their favorites about who gets them. At least that's the talk.

[nrrick]

iowa1 sounds like you had a great hunt! its always a thrill to see an elusive bear in the wild.those off color bears are really neat to see.did you do any fishing up there? that makes a busy trip fishing in the am and bowhunting in the pm.i would like to contact the outfitter you hunted with. got a phone#?nrrick

[Iowa1]

Here's a phone number: 218-783-7356

Yes I did some muskie, walleye and pike fishing, but the pike were the only thing going. The baiting is as much fun as the hunting, so next time I get a license, I'm going to spend more time helping bait.

[Patrick]

Glad to hear you had a good time and got a bear. We traded a friend from Minnesota who has bow hunted for bears the past 15 years help with an Iowa Whitetail hunt for a Minnesota bear hunt. We hunted the first six days of the season with no luck. The trail timers indicated the baits were being hit about 10:00pm each night.

Had a lot of fun baiting and hopefully will return in late sept to give it another three day weekend.

Patrick
http://www.iowabowhunters.org/images/ibalogo_small.gif

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 09-01-2000).]

[NWBuck]

Boy, Iowa1, when I read your post I thought I was reading my own life story from 1997. A cousin and I drew tags in zone 51 and had a great hunt. I have a friend up in that area (north of Duluth) who we trade pheasant hunts with for bear hunts. We also had the experience that it took 2 years to draw the tag, but the last 2 years we've drawn them in the first year. My friend tells me they've increased the # of tags up there. Unfortunately, schedules haven't allowed us to actually go back and hunt since the 97 hunt. We took 3 nice black bears that year...my cousin and I both scored with our bows on the first night out. We did not see any color phase bears though, but hope to when we hunt there again next fall (assuming we draw again). You are SO right about the challenge and thrill of bear hunting over a bait and the fun of running baits. I was a bit skeptical going up the first time, but now can't wait to get back there. We used chocolate to get them to the bait, and then a variety of meats, dog food, etc. to keep them coming. Anyway, glad you had a good hunt!