Bears, bears ,bears

[quackaholic]

I'm sick of these pests. I thought she and the triplets had moved on after a big boar showed up and pushed my feeder over. By the way he peed in it. Took it home, cleaned it out, and then moved it to the opposite side of the farm. Here is the sequence of last night's events. She was kind enough to roll it back up to the original spot however.

 

[Travis G.]

I'm wondering how many more bears will be harvested during archery when the baiting is legal. Who's to say if your baiting for bear or deer

 

[quackaholic]

I hope tons. I technically have more bears on my 40 acre permission farm than deer. Last time my feeder was out these 4, a big boar, and a young bear was on it. I have had as many as 9. It really hurts deer hunting. For those who say it doesn't, they need to watch the video my friend has of a young bear rubbing his forehead on a trophy rock. That evening a nice buck came in, smelled it, and snorted. He blew out of there like you switched him. I've had a total of 2 bucks and 1 doe on camera. That was before the bears. Did my bait bring them in? Possibly. But then again they continue to be there long after my bait has been removed. We have bears strolling thru town nowadays.

 

[timberjack86]

If they had an open gun hunt the last week of August thru mid to late September people without hounds would stand a real good chance at harvesting a bear and it would help our areas infested with them. As a hound hunter myself we aren't killing enough bears imo.

 

[quackaholic]

If they had an open gun hunt the last week of August thru mid to late September people without hounds would stand a real good chance at harvesting a bear and it would help our areas infested with them. As a hound hunter myself we aren't killing enough bears imo.

I hunt right in a bear reserve on private land. The people who live in this area are sick of them. When they formed the reserve, there wasn't houses stacked in here. There also wasn't many bears. I just wish they would eliminate the reserves, like North Carolina did. Which, by the way, we partnered with to create the reserves. Or at least allow dog training in those areas to push bears out. Maybe they would get dispersed by the pressure. Last season I just had to cross the road to be able to kill a bear outside the reserve. She frequently visited my hunting area. She made the mistake of stopping on the wrong side of the road at a guy's farm who wanted her gone.

 

[Travis G.]

I hunt right in a bear reserve on private land. The people who live in this area are sick of them. When they formed the reserve, there wasn't houses stacked in here. There also wasn't many bears. I just wish they would eliminate the reserves, like North Carolina did. Which, by the way, we partnered with to create the reserves. Or at least allow dog training in those areas to push bears out. Maybe they would get dispersed by the pressure. Last season I just had to cross the road to be able to kill a bear outside the reserve. She frequently visited my hunting area. She made the mistake of stopping on the wrong side of the road at a guy's farm who wanted her gone.

I don't have dogs but would love a decent shot at a bear without traveling to Canada. So whenever they allow baiting I'm happy to come take at least one of your place if you want

 

[quackaholic]

I don't have dogs but would love a decent shot at a bear without traveling to Canada. So whenever they allow baiting I'm happy to come take at least one of your place if you want

If they allow baiting they'll quit showing up lol.
I have a friend in Ohio who is dying to kill one. I have no use for them. The one I killed, I wish I had never pulled the trigger. They are way more trouble than they are worth. I would like to see them brought into line population wise. I have see so many sows with triplets it isn't funny. I use to think that was an anomaly, but I think it's more of the norm now.

 

[killingtime 41]

They need to have a real long season. You could be allowed to shoot one bear all of gun season. And it wouldn't put a dent in them here in the far east mountains. We have bear reserves also not to far away. And they are way past any need to have them. Why at this point would TWRA think we need thousands upon thousands of acres for bears in 2025.

 

[quackaholic]

They need to have a real long season. You could be allowed to shoot one bear all of gun season. And it wouldn't put a dent in them here in the far east mountains. We have bear reserves also not to far away. And they are way past any need to have them. Why at this point would TWRA think we need thousands upon thousands of acres for bears in 2025.

I hear ya. I've been saying it for years. I met a lot of opposition from bear hunters, which surprised me. No need for reserves. Especially since North Carolina done away with theirs. We can literally walk to the other side of a road in Paint Creek and shoot them in North Carolina. Same thing for Horse Creek. I can cross the highway from where I hunt and shoot them. It just sucks. I dont necessarily think we need to increase limits, but access would be nice. Especially when the houses that people built or bought 20 years ago probably have no idea they are in a bear reserve if they dont hunt.

 

[lol]

Bear hunting is open in all 5 zones during the juvenile hunt. Would be a good opportunity to allow some kids to do some population control. I know there's a ton of kids out there that would love the opportunity to bag a bear.

 

[quackaholic]

Bear hunting is open in all 5 zones during the juvenile hunt. Would be a good opportunity to allow some kids to do some population control. I know there's a ton of kids out there that would love the opportunity to bag a bear.

Not able to kill them. It is a bear reserve. If it was legal I would have taken care of several. I could limit every season and probably get someone else on one.

 

[timberjack86]

I hunt right in a bear reserve on private land. The people who live in this area are sick of them. When they formed the reserve, there wasn't houses stacked in here. There also wasn't many bears. I just wish they would eliminate the reserves, like North Carolina did. Which, by the way, we partnered with to create the reserves. Or at least allow dog training in those areas to push bears out. Maybe they would get dispersed by the pressure. Last season I just had to cross the road to be able to kill a bear outside the reserve. She frequently visited my hunting area. She made the mistake of stopping on the wrong side of the road at a guy's farm who wanted her gone.

I agree bear reserves should have been done away with 5 years ago. The state dumps many of their problem bears in Polk county. Several have crossed the line and were killed in GA. You can call the number listed on the tracking collar for history on the bear. Open the reserves and give us opportunities to manage the resource.

 

[Iglow]

When do the sows start reproducing? 1 yo? 2 yo?

 

[timberjack86]

When do the sows start reproducing? 1 yo? 2 yo?

I think they have to be 3 years +

 

[quackaholic]

You'd be shocked at how small a 3 year old bear is. I saw a 13+ sow that only weighed 250

 

[shopson]

 

[Antler Daddy]

I would bet that big feeder full of corn is why those bears are in that spot!

 

[shopson]

One doesn't need to be close to a bear reserve or the mountains. I'm less than 3 miles from the city limits and we see them regularly.

 

[quackaholic]

I would bet that big feeder full of corn is why those bears are in that spot!

There's feeders full of corn on just about every other farm. But where they can be shot, there isn't near the issues.

 

[Specializedjon]

I read "beers, beers, beers"

My bad

 

[PickettSFHunter]

They are a pest for sure. Even in places where they get shot year round they are still a pest.

 

[BSK]

Please keep those fawn-eating tubs of lard on the East end of the state!

 

[Iglow]

I remember back in the early 70's they were about gone from Tennessee

 

[tellico4x4]

Please keep those fawn-eating tubs of lard on the East end of the state!

Our place in Wayne Co last week , date & time is correct

 

[BSK]

Someone on here posted a pic of a bear in their food plot in Perry County a year or so ago.

 

[timberjack86]

Yesterday

 

[shopson]

He sure likes suet cakes. Just about an hour ago

 

[LiveOffLand]

 

[Planking]

I used to hunt in the bear reserves. Very few deer around but no shortage of bears to pester you and tear your stuff up. Never understood the reasoning behind not just having a bag limit or some kind of real season. I don't miss hunting that place.

 

[quackaholic]

I used to hunt in the bear reserves. Very few deer around but no shortage of bears to pester you and tear your stuff up. Never understood the reasoning behind not just having a bag limit or some kind of real season. I don't miss hunting that place.

I hunted Andrew Johnson Bear Reserve when I was just starting out. Never saw a bear there. Saw where they had been, but back then they were still few and far between. They sure have made a comeback. The bear reserve is hunt now is private lands outside the wma. Those for sure should be open now.