Black Bear Hunting In Washington State

?Bear hunting Washington State style is a unique experience involving a combination of driving, stalking, tree-stand or ground-blind hunting, usually in pre-scouted hunting areas.

If you're planning on going bear hunting, Washington State offers many Black bear guided hunting packages. Even though they're called Blacks, you will find they come in a variety of colors such as pure black, cinnamon, brown, to all black with a tuft of white on their chest. If you choose to harvest a Black bear hunting, Washington State has the most bears of the southern 48 states and usually the highest harvest in the state.

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Should your bear hunting trip be successful, most outfitters will dress and cape your game to make sure the quality and freshness last for your trip home. Caping is an art, and if done properly will preserve the taste and freshness of the harvested game.

By the way, you may be interested to know that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife now requires all hunters to submit a post hunting season report by e-mail, or phone. You can still send your report in by snail mail as well. This allows the Department to assess the numbers of animals harvested and track the bear population accordingly. This in turn helps them set the hunting seasons. If hunters don't report their bear hunting, Washington State will be issuing fines for non-compliance.

Speaking of submitting your post hunting season report, you can buy your hunting license on line, and also apply for a special hunting permit. Get your application for a Spring Black bear special hunting permit prior to the deadlines listed on the site.

Special hunt permits are drawn to spread out special hunting opportunities over and above the general hunting season. You can only buy one special permit application per species per year. The drawings are done using a weighted points computer drawing system. That's the fairest way to be chosen. Deadlines for Black bear hunting in Washington State are usually about the middle of March. In order to participate in bear hunting, the State requires everyone have a hunting license, regardless of age.

Special hunts can be called for a variety of reasons, including hunts called to help mitigate Black bear damage to trees. One such example is when timber managers called for help to control Black bear damage in a local Tree Farm. Black bears strip the bark from the young trees and eat the sweet layer under it. On average, a Black bear can destroy up to 70 trees. Multiply 70 trees times more than one Black bear, and you have an enormous financial loss to forestry industry plantations. In cases such as this, a special permit for bear hunting will be issued to an average of at least 100 hunters.

If You Want To Go Bear Black Hunting In Wyoming

?If you are planning on going bear black hunting in Wyoming, you will have a unique experience that will involve a lot of driving, stalking, tree-stand and ground-blind hunting – generally in areas that have already been scouted.

Black bears are not just black. They are also cinnamon, brown, and black with white tufts on their chest. This type of bear can be recognized by their size and their gait. Black bears, unlike most quadrupeds, move one side of legs together – much like a pacer horse. Black bears are found in 40 of the US states as well as all of Canada, except Prince Edward Island.

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Should your trip for bear black hunting in Wyoming is successful, most outfitters will prepare your meat for travel. The process called caping will preserve the taste and freshness of your meat, especially if it is done properly. Check with the Wyoming Game and Fishing Department to see if you are required reporting your harvest. If you do, use the method that is convenient for you.

Another piece of information most outfitters should tell you is that your hunting license is not transferable. This means, if you purchase a hunting license in Rhode Island, you cannot go bear black hunting in Wyoming. You will need to purchase a hunting license to hunt in Wyoming. You can purchase the license online or by mail. Get your application in prior to the hunting season. This will ensure you do not face fines of illegal hunting or poaching.

For bear black hunting in Wyoming, permits are done by drawings using a weighted points system. Generally, Wyoming residents will get the hunting permits first, however they do allow out of state residents to hunt black bear. Check to see if youth require a hunting license.

Special hunts can be called for many reasons. Hunts used to minimize damage to trees by black bears is one major reason. Black bears will strip away the bark from young trees and eat the sweet layers underneath. On average, a black bear can ruin up to 70 trees in a season. Timber managers will call for help to control black bear damage in the tree farms. Over population is another. Bear black hunting in Wyoming can be allowed to manage the population. Managing the population prevents bears from entering the city limits and harming people.

Bear black hunting in Wyoming can be an exhilarating experience. Keep safety in mind when planning your trip. Wear protective clothing, carry enough ammunition, and ensure you have the proper equipment to go black bear hunting.

Alaska Black Bear Hunting, A Heritage

?Alaska Black Bear hunting, especially in the southern southeast is noted for its high quality, abundant Black bear harvests. So much so that Boone & Crockett, Pope & Young, and Safari Club record books list many bears harvested from this area.

Here's an interesting bit of history about the Boone and Crockett Club. A non-profit organization, it was founded in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt. He wanted to set up a coalition of dedicated conservationists and sportsmen to provide leadership needed to address wildlife and wild habitat issues. Their Fair Chase statement was the first outlining a code of conduct and ethics for sportsmen, which became the foundation of the game laws in effect today. Alaska Black Bear hunting is conducted under these strict rules.

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Pope & Young, is another interesting record keeper for hunters as well. They're dedicated to the preservation of the bow hunting heritage and North America's Wildlife. Scores for harvested animals are entered not to honor the hunter, but to honor the animal. You can find Pope & Young Club measurers in just about any State or Province by searching on the Net. Alaska Black bear hunting outfitters welcome bow hunters or rifle hunters on any of their expeditions.

Safari Club measurers, although available in both the US and Canada are a little harder to find in Canada. The Safari Club International is recognized as the leader in protecting the freedom of the hunt and promoting wildlife preservation on a worldwide basis. You have to be a member of SCI to submit to their record book of trophy animals. Alaska Black bear hunting clients who have taken a trophy animal sizeable enough to be in the trophy record books is usually more than just pleased with their hunt.

An interesting web site that might help you plan your Alaska Black bear hunting trip offers you a complete break down of the various regions you have available to go Alaska Black bear hunting. For instance, Southeast Alaska’s geography and climate provide conditions for good habitat for Black bears. Indeed they are extremely plentiful on Prince of Wales and the islands in the central portion of the region.

For Alaska Black bear hunting in South Central Alaska the climate ranges from wet along the coast to dry inland. Kodiak and the Alaska Peninsula are famous for their brown bear populations. Further inland, many Alaskans refer to these bears as Grizzlies. There are a few size and color distinctions, but no particular dividing line. One thing's for sure, no matter what area or region you choose to hunt, your trip will be a memorable one. Just do the homework before you book your trip.

Bear Communication When Hunting In Alaska

?Bear hunting in Alaska can be exhilarating and the best adventure of your life. Before you leave home, make sure you do a lot of pre-hunt research on the type of bear hunting in Alaska that you want to do. There are several species to choose from, and it all depends on what one appeals to you.

In general, other things you will need to know before leaving to go bear hunting in Alaska are bear body language signs. This is mostly relevant if you happen to surprise one while you are out hunting, and are not ready to harvest or this is not the size or quality of bear you want for your hunt trophy. If the bear you surprise looks you in the eyes directly and has its ears back, it is clearly warning you that you are too close and it feels threatened. It may make barking, woofing or moaning sounds to reinforce this.

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If the bear pops its jaws (snaps its teeth), it's extremely agitated and most likely will charge. Often bear charges are a test to resolve a situation and are bluff charges. Meaning the bear stops short of you, veers off and runs right past you. This might happen many times before the bear leaves or comes at you from a different angle.

If the bear charges you and knocks you down, it is trying to eliminate a threat and will use as much force as it thinks is required to remove the threat. Don't try to out run a bear, it only makes the situation worse and they can reach speeds of 30-35 mph in a split second. So while bear hunting in Alaska can be a thrill, you need to be prepared for any eventuality.

Another thing you will likely be told by your outfitter while you are bear hunting in Alaska, is that cubs and females with offspring may not be killed.

Whatever you do harvest in terms of bear meat (if the plan is to eat it) must be thoroughly cooked to prevent contracting trichinosis, a parasitic disease that may be fatal to man. One of the main causes of this disease is eating raw or undercooked wild game meats. Freezing this meat, unlike freezing pork (even for long periods of time) may not effectively kill all worms. This is because the species of trichinella that infects wild game is more resistant to freezing than the species that infects pigs.

You will want to spend time glassing prospective bears prior to harvest while you are bear hunting in Alaska. Check out the pelt as well for rubbed spots that would mean a poor quality hide. Taking your time to observe the bear will also prevent you from inadvertently taking a female that has cubs hidden. With a bit of care and attention to detail, while bear hunting in Alaska, you can learn to spot a fair harvest and a quality trophy animal.

Controversial Bear Hunting Dogs

?Bear hunting dogs usually fall into the category of scent hounds, meaning they primarily hunt by scent and not sight. Often they are used to trail and sometimes kill game. Bear hunting dogs are often hunted in packs leading the hunters behind them and eventually leading them to a treed quarry. Bear hunting dogs are mostly regarded as having the most sensitive noses among all canine species. Most bear hunting dogs also have deep booming voices while running a scent trail.

Of interest to those who like different breeds of dogs and appreciate what they do and what they are bred for, is the Karelischer Barenhund or Carelian Bear Dog. A hunting spitz mainly used for hunting bear and moose.

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Bear hunting dogs like the Carelian Bear dog hold the game at bay by bark, and the hunter can even learn to distinguish what prey the dog is holding by its tone of bark. This dog is highly persistent and very courageous, and works with the hunter using its highly developed sense of smell and direction. This is definitely not a pet, but a working dog, bred to hunt.

The history of bear hunting dogs is rather interesting. In the state of Minnesota for instance, dogs routinely tracked and treed bears. Those were the bears are varmint days. Flash forward to 1971 when Minnesota listed Black bears as big game and banned hunters from using dogs to chase them. The end result of banning bear hunting dogs was the Black bear population skyrocketed.

The Department of Natural Resources is in a quandary at how to control the out of control Black bear population and have started asking that bear hunting dogs be allowed to be used once again. A move that makes a great deal of sense when you consider hounds currently trail raccoons, coyotes, bobcats and foxes. What's the difference if bear hunting dogs are brought back?

Twenty-seven states in the US allow bear hunting. More than half of those let hunters use bear hunting dogs. Nine states allow hunters to use bait. Wisconsin allows bait and dogs.

Bear hunting dogs are allowed in only two provinces in Canada, Ontario and British Columbia. Often fitted with hi-tech radio collars, hunters monitoring the signal determine the exact location of the cornered bear and arrive for the harvest.

The dog tracking collar has two parts, the radio collar transmitter and the receiver. The collar is worn by the dog and the radio transmitter is connected to a collar strap. It has one or two antennas. The Radio Collar/Transmitter sends a signal on a set frequency and can be detected by the hunter/handler's receiver. For trailing bear, the collar you would most likely consider using would be the Tree Switch collar that tells you if your bear hunting dogs have treed their prey.

The Right Timing For Grizzly Bear Hunting

?Grizzly bear hunting can be the biggest charge of your life if your make sure you know what you are doing, and pay attention to everything around you. For instance, know your bears. That's usually the biggest mistake made while Grizzly bear hunting is taking a bear that turns out to be smaller than the hunter thought or wanted. It's hard to field-judge the size of bears until you have experience.

If the bear appears to be lanky and has a long nose and ears, and longer legs, it's a smaller specimen, likely less than 125 pounds. The big bears you want to see while Grizzly bear hunting will look blocky with small ears and their legs appear short. Most hunters shoot smaller bears because they shoot the first one they see. Bigger bears usually come in later in the season. After all, that's how they got that big in the first place.

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You also want to be timing your Grizzly bear hunting at the right time of the year. Timing means everything for spring bears. You need to be out there hunting right after the bear get active following hibernation, and before they start shedding their winter coats. Usually the peak time is the last week in May and first two weeks of June. Grizzly bear hunting in the spring offers more ways and more diverse types of habitat than any other big game animal.

Know what your bear will eat and where it is likely to be found. If you are Grizzly bear hunting, be aware these bears are typically, but not exclusively active during the dawn, dusk, and nighttime hours.

In spring and early summer, they'll often be found in lower elevations along rivers and streams, catching fish when the spawning runs are in progress. Grizzlies will also hunt for winter-killed animals in these areas as well. In later summer these bears usually head up to higher elevations scrounging for ripe wild berries.

For Fall Grizzly bear hunting, you'll likely find these bears in white bark pine stands eating pine nuts. Or they'll be digging around a tree trying to find a squirrels cache of nuts. Bears also dig for roots in mid-elevation meadows, more so in years when there are fewer pine nuts.

Knowing bear body language will stand you in good stead on your Grizzly bear hunting trip. For instance, and this information will come in handy if you come upon a bear by surprise, a bear standing on its hind feet is usually trying to get a better look and smell by sniffing the air. This is not an aggressive posture. It means the bear is unsure of what's in front of him - but still could drop on all fours and charge.

If the Grizzly is swinging its head from side to side, or turns sideways from you, it expressing a reluctance to charge and is looking for a way out of the situation. Your bear hunting adventure can only be heightened by as much information as possible to make it a trip to remember.