Bear reserves

[WORM82]

I went to the Cherokee national forest this morning since it's been a couple years since I have hunted in the big mountains and had been missing hunting there. I found a bunch of huge rubs and tons of scrapes but I was seeing lots of bear poop also. I ended up walking up on 5 different bears in an hour and a half. The first was a small bear by itself and I heard it before I seen it, it was popping hickory nuts with its teeth. 500 yards later I walk up on a big bear that takes off but stops once to look back at me. 500 more yards and almost to the saddle I'm wanting to hunt I look up and 80yds away is a slow with 2 Cubs and I ended up having to holler hey bear 4 times before she slowly walked the Cubs over the ridge. I knew there were alot of bears in there but didnt think they had gotten that thick. Any of you guys hunt in the bear reserves? No way I could bow hunt in there.

 

[Planking]

I used to bow hunt right beside one. I'm not a bear fan.

 

[CATCHDAWG]

I hunt the Ocoee bear reserve quite a bit, see lots of bears. I've never had a problem with any of them and don't feel uncomfortable around them.

 

[rmmonty32]

Wanted too but havent had time to find the best access Im on the monroe county side. I hunted CNF the first gun hunt this yr plan to go back on the second hunt. No where near the bear reserve though

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[WORM82]

I was In the unicoi bear reserve in Washington/unicoi county's. I have seen enough bears to last a lifetime and it wouldn't hurt my feelings to never see another. In these bear reserves they aren't as scared of humans. I walked up on a huge bear a couple years ago about a mile from where I seen the 5 today and tried everything to get it to run off, I barked like a dog, clapped my hands, hollered, waved my arms and it would just look at me for a second and go back to feeding on acorns. I wish they would rotate the reserves every few years to keep them scared of human presence.

 

[Simpleman.2]

I hunt the Ocoee bear reserve quite a bit, see lots of bears. I've never had a problem with any of them and don't feel uncomfortable around them.

Same. I had one walk 20 yards from me last year and saw a bunch more. I live very close to the reserve and have pics of bears behind my house on a weekly basis.


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[DRSJ35]

The time has come and gone for these bear reserves. Time open them up and let people kill a bunch. They are overran with bears. Not just in the reserves of course the have scattered all over the CNF. I have hunted there myself.its hard to tell exactly what sign is definitely deer or bear in those areas. I've seen what I thought was deer trails and rubs. Turn out to be nothing but bear activity. I see you live In jonesborough so I know your not far from there.I've talked to people that's hunted in there for years and not hardly ever see a deer. Good luck

 

[rmmonty32]

I live off of the dragon near the 72 split and we have bear come through starting in the fall through winter have to keep my trash cans locked up now... had a huge pile of bear scat in the woods right by the kids treehouse. Haven't seen them in the daytime but my neighbor has. I think the population is doing fine. Time to loosen up the regs a little bit

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