http://www.ncwildlife.org/Wildlife_Spec ... _DRAFT.htm
Thought I would post this here since some bear hunters also hunt in NC
Thought I would post this here since some bear hunters also hunt in NC
NC wants comments on bear management plan
- Thread starter Doskil
- Start date
There is the difference between Nc and Tn. Nc is promoting hound hunting trying to give hunters more opputunities to hunt and trying to obtain more land to hunt on. While Tn is trying to kill hound hunting period, first the hog hunts and who knows what is coming next?
Chris Tripp
Well-Known Member
Only suggestion I have is more of a wish, that they allow baiting.
Bear hunting with dogs is BIG business in Eastern NC. I have never been on one, but the second duck season conincides with the first bear season for coastal areas and I have been down there countless times during that time of the year. The amount of out of state plates in the area are staggering. The majority of the out of state plates I see are TN hunters. Many go with no intentions of ever killing a bear, they just want the opportunity to run their dogs on HUGE bears, but they still have to have a license and their economic impact is valued highly.
Hyde, washington, tyrell counties are highly sought after areas (lake Mattumuskeet area). During this time, behind many of the motels, there will be hundreds of bear hounds tied out, each with a barrel. NC State university veterinary school used to set up a mobile unit for bear hounds only, free of charge, to get the vet students experience. I don't know if they still do that or not. The people of these areas realize how valuable bear hunters are to the small ag communities, and it appears the NCWRC realizes it also.
I for one hope they never open up baiting for bears, imo a lot of the reasons the bears are as big as they are, is becuase there is not a bait pile every 300 yds. It still goes on illegally but not in the numbers it would be if legal. Its as thick as anywhere in the US in coastal NC and the bears know to stay thick and go to the crops. People down there laugh at all these guys goin up north to bear hunt. They say "when you measure a bear in feet, you just ashamed to say how little he weighed". Bears are measured in pounds there.
I deer hunted with dogs years ago, and enjoyed it but got out of it. To run deer hounds, I'd say you need at least 1000 continuous acres, to keep from ticking of adjoining land owners.
It is a disappearing tradition and I dare say in 10 years it will be well on its way out.
Hyde, washington, tyrell counties are highly sought after areas (lake Mattumuskeet area). During this time, behind many of the motels, there will be hundreds of bear hounds tied out, each with a barrel. NC State university veterinary school used to set up a mobile unit for bear hounds only, free of charge, to get the vet students experience. I don't know if they still do that or not. The people of these areas realize how valuable bear hunters are to the small ag communities, and it appears the NCWRC realizes it also.
I for one hope they never open up baiting for bears, imo a lot of the reasons the bears are as big as they are, is becuase there is not a bait pile every 300 yds. It still goes on illegally but not in the numbers it would be if legal. Its as thick as anywhere in the US in coastal NC and the bears know to stay thick and go to the crops. People down there laugh at all these guys goin up north to bear hunt. They say "when you measure a bear in feet, you just ashamed to say how little he weighed". Bears are measured in pounds there.
I deer hunted with dogs years ago, and enjoyed it but got out of it. To run deer hounds, I'd say you need at least 1000 continuous acres, to keep from ticking of adjoining land owners.
It is a disappearing tradition and I dare say in 10 years it will be well on its way out.
Chris Tripp
Well-Known Member
rukiddin? said:
In my opinion baiting is about the same as having good dogs, a dead bear is a dead bear. I say open up the sport to everyone and not just a group of houndsman. The area I just got back from in Idaho averaged 200-500 pound spring bear and they allow bait but no bear dogs. Now the issue I do see causing a ruccuss over bait in my eyes would be putting dogs on the baits, again my opinion and like I said, to me a dead bear is a dead bear no matter how it was killed.
Chris tripp, I understand what you are saying, but economically speaking, bear doggers are king. There are some deer clubs down there every year that will basically cover their whold lease costs just by leasing their land to bear hunters for the 2 week season. Up until about two years ago, I knew some guys down there that would go up to Hershey pennsylvania every year and buy 500lb blocks of chocolate to last thru the spring and summer. Somehow they also got 55 gal drums of m&m's. Thats a crapload of candy. haha. NC changed the laws and now nothing can be "processed" when feeding out of season.
