Deno, read that article. In some ways, those people are helping to fund the effort to hunt griz just by ponying up the $$$ to buy the tags. In that way its good. And if more bears live, that will make it easier for those who do get to hunt them to have success. An issue I have with these do-gooders is this: Since 85% of grizzly deaths are attributable to some form of human interaction, why are these people focusing on the hunting faction only? Why are they not out protesting 'bear jams' with signs, or putting money into keeping the bears from dying from these other means? You don't see them out being 'activists' on those front lines! The answer is, because they DO HAVE an agenda, an alterior motive, and that is NOT to protect bears, but to STOP HUNTING, period. Deep down, they are most concerned with yanking the bear rug out from under hunters and their gun rights and hunting. So don't be fooled into thinking they give a rats a$$ about the bears, most of them don't. Maybe Jane does, and maybe a few do, but the vast majority of those protesting the hunt are in it for taking away your hunting and weapons associated with it. And one more point I'd like to make: Look at this statement: 'Cynthia Moss, is famous for her conservation work in eastern Africa battling elephant poachers and speaking out against trophy' hunting.' That is the most contradictory statement I've ever heard with respect to African trophy hunting. It is the very fact that trophy hunting itself is the biggest tool u to fight against poaching of big game in Africa. Just ask ANY PH there. The $$ that goes into big game hunting is used to fight poaching. The fact tat there is a monetary value on African big game is the most effective means to fight poaching of African game. These 'environmentalists' and Nat Geo are clueless. I myself am an environmentalist, in the true sense of the word, that believes hunting is the best tool used to protect wildlife. The Hollywood enviros have no clue... This griz hunt will probably result in fewer griz deaths overall than if it were to not happen at all, just by the fact that 85% of griz deaths are due to other human interactions as it is. What would Bart think?
I shot my grizz with a338 a few, quite years, ago. Those folks have a scheme going in that lottery. They are unique They look like a dumpster standing in willows until they decide to leave, then a NASCAR. A lot of credit for a longbow hunter taking one on.
Dose anybody remember the tiger biologist who hunted moose/solo along an alaskan river with his schaffer. they found him a year later and clearly a grizz attack. I was fishing up the russian river in alaska. sign said firearms required beyond this point/not or bows. Along that river a skinny wet griz stood up 20 yards from me. I thought , you little dude just run away before I hit you with a rock. Well, it blew air into its hair folicaks and looked twice as big. It worked and I was scared. I just stood there and the bear wlaked away looking for fish. NO bowhunting for griz for me.
Elkpacker, You could be talking about Bart himself, who was a bear and tiger biologist, hunted with Paul Schafer, his good friend, and was found a couple months after striking out on his own moose hunting with his own bow he made, near Yellowknife. It was unsure if it was a griz attack or what it was that actually took his life, but most likely a griz preyed on him, perhaps wolves too. He was also a friend of mine from Montana State U.
Yeah, I think he'd absolutely approve of the hunt, esp. being a native of Wyo. He'd be all over it actually if I know him. And I am pretty certain he'd have been successful at taking one with his own bow.
Since he worked on the Yellowstone grizzly recovery team, I'd think he'd cringe at this bunnyhugger mentality to stop the hunts. Even with his efforts to help recover the bears (which worked obviously), he would be appalled at this kind of nonsense. A true conservationist would understand, and the 'new' environmentalist types (Hollywood, etc.) for sure do not...
I hear if you just talk nicely to them and throw a couple of marshmallows they will come to you, then you just wait for the perfect shot. If you want to see how it's done,try and track down Tred Bartas video if his bear. Got within 8/10 yards and made a perfect shot. Would love to try and hunt one in the future.
The Alaska Bears are bigger, and although all of them can be trouble it seems like the Montana bears (haven't seen a Wyoming Griz') are much more quick and ill tempered than the AK bears maybe due to more human exposure. On our last trip down the TikChik we saw 8 bears, 5 of which were huge. We had no issues with 7 of them and I don't fault the one. We were going to fish for dinner and I think we either woke her up or she couldn't hear us because of the water. Either way she was not happy with us. She looked like a fur covered Funny Car coming down the trail.
A grizzly hunt would be an awesome experience. As Mr. Bear said, "would cleanse the soul". But be careful! I would definitely have a "pucker moment" with a grizz within bow range and starting my draw on one. I think I'd have a shotgun/rifle backup man behind me.
I lived in western Montana from 1976 to 2002, my nearest neighbor for most of those years was a mile away. I packed a s&w 44 most of the time and had a 12 ga loaded with slugs close by. I never had a close call with a griz but did have a black bear come in my shop once and tear apart my trash can while I was taking a siesta on the couch, that got my attention right quick LOL I worked up around Condon Mt and did see them from time to time from a safe distance.
You can search around on youtube and find where Todd gives a really good detailed account of both attacks and his whole experience. I takes a lot of 'nads to keep your fecal material compacted in a situation like that and think in not the moment but the millisecond, as far as I'm concerned he is the new Chuck Norris.
David, I think the reason the AK bears are less apt to get provoked is that they have more food available, like the fish they seem to have a constant supply of. Montana griz seem to be more ill tempered maybe because they have to rely on plant material and ants, esp during summer. Who wouldn't be pissy with a stead diet of salad and bugs? And the rest of the time, they have to work pretty hard to find animal protein, or eat dead rotting stuff. Again, a great source of frustration and irritability, no? I'd want to harass the people too. :)
I've hunted in griz country in Wyoming...just knowing they're around re adjusts one's life perspectives...lol.
As for the antis going after limited hunt tags, that's nothing new. They've employed that tactic for decades.
I recieved a ton of info into their tactics when I was trained to be a Bowhunter Ed instructor in Wisconsin over 30 years ago. A few California university law professors donate their time towards "the cause" and their coffers are deep.
We're in a literal battle for survival against that ilk. They LOVE confrontation and infighting between various hunting factions.
TrapperKayak: "David, I think the reason the AK bears are less apt to get provoked is that they have more food available, like the fish they seem to have a constant supply of. Montana griz seem to be more ill tempered maybe because they have to rely on plant material and ants, esp during summer. Who wouldn't be pissy with a stead diet of salad and bugs? And the rest of the time, they have to work pretty hard to find animal protein, or eat dead rotting stuff. Again, a great source of frustration and irritability, no? I'd want to harass the people too. :)"
I agree 100%, having watched Brown Bears fish On Kodiak Island, they are totally aware of your presence but very absorbed with their task at hand which is fishing. You couldcross one up, but their focus and attitude is significantly different than a bug and carrion eating lower 48 interior Grizzly.
How do the antis buy them if they are on application/lottery? Anyway, the whole idea of them buying up tags and not using them is counter-productive to their agenda. Hopefully they won't figure that out.
rallison that is a good post.... why bowhunters fight among themselves is beyond me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
George here is a history lesson of what occurred in Wisconsin. In 1989 Wisconsin went to a permit system for black bears. To apply for a tag YOU HAD TO HOLD A VALID HUNTING LICENSE,,,,, With that done, I drew tags every 3 years 89 92 95 and 98, where I shot my best bear.....
In 1998 they went to the allowance of the transfer of your tag, which I had not problem with, as long as it was going to your kid etc...... They also required 3.00 application fees and anyone could apply,,,, you had to hold no valid license
As the years went by, the system went nuts, clogged up and now taking at least 8 years if not more, to draw a tag. You had mom with one in the bun, applying, it was ludicrous, but the state made more money
Now a one year old can apply in this state, its a shame, how the system was screwed, and yes, the antis in Madison, apply for a lot of the tags, although, they really have no affect on stopping hunting, except to continue to clog the system
the only positive of our system, is that, you can transfer a kill tag now to a purple heart receipient. Next year with 11 points, I will be giving my kill tag, if I draw, to a combat partner, that was not as lucky as I was many years ago.... He would love to get a bear, and I have had a few.
I will get more out of that hunt, than he will. Our system is stupid.
In my humble opinion, you should have to buy a hunting license, to apply for a tag, at least that money is going to contribute to the conservation cause
I highly considered putting in for the draw, but backed out. With my luck (which is horrible) I would have drawn the tag and had to quit work to go on the hunt! I've already got a 2 week hunt planned in September with very little time remaining after that to be used, so if I had drawn, there is no way I'd have missed out on that experience!!
Make applicants hold a hunter education card in order to apply. Anti-hunters applying would have to work harder to apply and who knows, they might get “converted “ taking a hunter education course that talks about genuine wildlife conservation.
