TN Bear 2022

[timberjack86]

Anybody else hunting bear in TN this season? I took my first scouting trip this past weekend here in the mountains. Most sign I found was right at 3000 ft elevation. Lots of torn up logs and yellow jacket nests. Must have bumped a bear because one nest was in the process of being dug up and the bees where still mad and swarming. Found lots of white oak and alittle old climbing sign from last year.

 

[Wrangler95]

I would like to bear hunt but my county is closed to bear hunting in middle Tn!!

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I won't really specifically look for one but if one comes by like it did last year, it will get shot. There's been so many getting shot here this summer though, I don't know, population is getting reduced thankfully.

 

[Mb423]

This is the first year I am going to attempt. Are you running dogs or no dogs and hunt like you will for deer (find sign and sit in a tree and wait for one to walk by)?

 

[timberjack86]

On South Cherokee we have a two week bow hunt in September before the dog hunt. I'll be focused on white oaks then. The bears will be climbing up in the trees eating acorns. I will scout find some trees the bears are climbing and hunt from the ground. I always still hunt to my stand because you never know.

 

[timberjack86]

I will hunt during the dog hunt but by then the acorns will be falling and the bears will probably be in the lower elevations after they eat most of the acorns up high. Probably somewhere around 2000-2500 ft in elevation. Best time is late afternoon after most of the dog hunters have gathered there dogs for the day.

 

[41Magnum]

Friend of mine has been getting pics of a good bear on his camera, I'm gonna try and put a tag on him. My friend and his wife are scared to death of bears and wants him gone. I told him he's probably not the only one hanging around there, he didn't want to hear that!

 

[knightrider]

We got one measly tag archery only finally, i hope everyone and there brother accidentally gut shots half a dozen before they actually shot one they can find!!!

 

[timberjack86]

We got one measly tag archery only finally, i hope everyone and there brother accidentally gut shots half a dozen before they actually shot one they can find!!!

I like the bears myself and would hate for that to happen. But I definitely understand people's frustrations with them. Just had one chew on my gas can in the yard and lost all the gas out of it

 

[knightrider]

I like the bears myself and would hate for that to happen. But I definitely understand people's frustrations with them. Just had one chew on my gas can in the yard and lost all the gas out of it

It wouldnt be such a problem if they would kill the dirty dumpster digging sobs instead of hauling them in here in barrels behind there truck and dumping them out on people who dont want them!!!

 

[timberjack86]

It wouldnt be such a problem if they would kill the dirty dumpster digging sobs instead of hauling them in here in barrels behind there truck and dumping them out on people who dont want them!!!

A bunch of them wind up in the bear reserve here in Polk county then get killed in Georgia. They collar them and when they get killed people can call twra with the info on the collar and find out where the bear came from.

 

[Hymie3]

We have several on my lease on the mountain in spring city. No season yet. Needs to be. I had one bust out of the woods right beside me about ten yards during Turkey season couple years ago while sitting on the edge of an opening. neither one of us got too excited but I wasn't expecting it for sure…

 

[Boll Weevil]

At great risk of being seen as 100% clueless in all things bears (ie: I actually DO consider myself 100% clueless in all things bears), do folks typically process the meat and render the fat or are these just considered nuisance bears? Do the wanton waste laws apply or are there some sort of depredation type permits available?

 

[41Magnum]

I actually prefer bear meat over venison. The key is to get rid of ALL of the fat and de-bone the meat. Proper care in the field always helps too. Most folks cook it too fast and too much heat. Low and slow is the order of the day and I marinade mine 24 hrs in Italian dressing before cooking. Some folks do render the fat and use it along with some other ingredients to make waterproofing for boots and etc. Personally I don't fool with the fat.

 

[hoghunter65]

I seen 3 bears last week but they we're on the wrong side of hwy 64.

 

[timberjack86]

I actually prefer bear meat over venison. The key is to get rid of ALL of the fat and de-bone the meat. Proper care in the field always helps too. Most folks cook it too fast and too much heat. Low and slow is the order of the day and I marinade mine 24 hrs in Italian dressing before cooking. Some folks do render the fat and use it along with some other ingredients to make waterproofing for boots and etc. Personally I don't fool with the fat.

I agree, my favorite bear meal is hamburgers. Juicy , tender and delicious!!we render the fat down and my wife uses it in all kinds of stuff. It make awesome biscuits and gravy!! If I have a freezer full of bear meat the venison will be the last to be eaten

 

[PickettSFHunter]

It really is good meat. I prefer bear over deer in a lot of meals.

 

[Bloodwolf1984]

I am going for the first time this year In scott county....one of my friends has private land w a big one on it...it has came very very close to killing his dogs

 

[timberjack86]

I am going for the first time this year In scott county....one of my friends has private land w a big one on it...it has came very very close to killing his dogs

Good luck! The bears move a lot! I have them in my yard up until a few weeks before hunting season then they head back to the mountains.

 

[Bloodwolf1984]

First year going...I've seen them many times but never hunted them...gonna be a blast

 

[knightrider]

So far ive found noone who wants them im filling my redemption tag anyway!

 

[Bloodwolf1984]

So far ive found noone who wants them im filling my redemption tag anyway!

I've never eaten one and I do my own hides ...gonna be an experience I'd say

 

[timberjack86]

Update, yesterday I was told I'm working 10 hour days for the next 14 days:( , I love being a code welder. (Sarcasm) That pretty much kills my bear archery season and plans I've made since last year. I could say no but the money I'll make will pretty much put me back in the debt free zone. I do have an RTO for the opening weekend of the bear gun hunt so I will update after that. Hopefully with kill pics!!

 

[41Magnum]

Sorry your plans were spoiled Sir, I can relate as I've missed several hunts over the years due to things going sideways at work. Retirement has its advantages,

 

[timberjack86]

Sorry your plans were spoiled Sir, I can relate as I've missed several hunts over the years due to things going sideways at work. Retirement has its advantages,

Well looks like I may actually get to go this weekend now. The people at work can't figure out what they want! But I ain't complaining if I get this coming weekend!!

 

[Huntaholic]

Some people are friggin IDIOTS! THERE! I SAID IT! Tell me, just what does a bear do to you east TN people that make you hate them so much that you would gutshoot them, wish folks shot 6 before finding one, etc??????

 

[Huntaholic]

And before any of yall eastern time zone idgits jump in, YEAH, Ive killed bears, 9 or 10 of them to date, and Ive seen literally hundreds of them. I hunt Ontario every year and have since 2008. Yeah, there is a bear or 2 that pass through here at my house as well. In fact it enjoyed my watermelons this year while I didnt get a single slice but ya know what? I DONT CARE. I had one on my back porch last year, it helped itself to 100 lbs of wheat I had left out. I STILL DONT CARE.

 

[rmmonty32]

And before any of yall eastern time zone idgits jump in, YEAH, Ive killed bears, 9 or 10 of them to date, and Ive seen literally hundreds of them. I hunt Ontario every year and have since 2008. Yeah, there is a bear or 2 that pass through here at my house as well. In fact it enjoyed my watermelons this year while I didnt get a single slice but ya know what? I DONT CARE. I had one on my back porch last year, it helped itself to 100 lbs of wheat I had left out. I STILL DONT CARE.

First, you shouldn't lump us all in the same category. Im in blount county near the national park and national forest. Dealing with bears is a way of life you just have to get used to. We have them often around my place. Taking extra precautions not to leave things out to attract them is key. Like trash cans and bird feeders. I wouldn't mind getting one this season but not sure if i want to tackle the job it would be to get it home. I most always hunt alone. That's my 2 cents.

 

[Bloodwolf1984]

I'm on 3 good ones right now and multiple hogs

 

[knightrider]

Some people are friggin IDIOTS! THERE! I SAID IT! Tell me, just what does a bear do to you east TN people that make you hate them so much that you would gutshoot them, wish folks shot 6 before finding one, etc??????

Well lets see there is treestands,blinds,cameras, for starters so far about 3 grand worth, than there is fawns and calves that get eaten, than there is over two dozen apple trees destroyed because they wont stay out of them and break the tops out! The fact that they totally screwed up what was one of the best deer hunting farms in the county which is basically void of deer since the overgrown coons moved in!!! And what really pisses this idiot off is instead of killing the dumpster diggers when they trap them they haul them here and turn em loose on people who dont want nor enjoy anything about them!!! I work for my stuff and dont like it a damn bit that the bears that green jeans has pitched out on me has destroyed it all so thats why this idiot hates bears!