Grizzly Question

soupcreek

Active Member
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259
I have a friend hunting in grizzly country. He is very familiar with the area and has had great success there in the past. Tonight in the basin where the deer and elk usually come out, there is a big grizzly walking around. We've known they were there for years because we see their tracks, but this is the first actual siting. It kind of has him worried. He is hunting alone.
Currently he is about 400 yards away from the bear and wondering what to do.

So, what should I tell him to do? Make noise and try to spook the bear while he's still at a good distance? Pack up and come home? Hunt the other side of the ridge? Sit there and wait to see if a big buck shows up? Do you really want to shoot something with a griz in the basin also. I wouldn't want to be trying to keep track of a hit deer and also a hungry griz. Does anyone have any legitimate advice they would share?
Thanks,

Soup
 
He will probably be fine. I have hunted in Grizzly country quite a bit. But only a little bit by myself. I would tell him to get a buddy to come up and hang with him.
 
Keep hunting. in Cody last year we saw 10+ in a week. Good chance there are more bears that he is not seeing. Hopefully in the next couple of years we will be hunting/educating them.
 
Stay and hunt or move into another basin. I don't recommend trying to scare it off. Might get an effect opposite of what he was looking for.
 
He was solo with a backpack and a small tent. He decided to come off the mountain and head back up tomorrow with a companion. I agree that I don't feel too intimidated in the light with a gun, but heading into the dark covered in deer or elk blood makes me nervous. A few years ago this same friend shot a nice bull in the same basin at dusk. As he was cleaning it out he kept hearing something walking around in the thicket not far away. He cleaned it out ASAP took off for camp. He expected to walk up on a bear in the morning when he and a friend went back to haul it out. The elk was untouched in the morning. We did lose some back straps up there one time to a cougar, but have never lost anything to a bear. My friend did learn which meat to haul out first the next time.

Thanks for the responses,

Soup
 
I'd tell him keep his situational awareness of his surrounds on point, keep a clean camp, and keep all food and good smelling stuff out of their tent and separated at night. Be especially careful around really thick areas where visibility is severely limited. The only time I'd be "loud" would be if I had to go through really thick stuff and could not approach up wind (give my scent to the bear instead of talking).

Though, with grizz not being hunted, they may not give a rat's behind that they smell me. However, give them a wide berth when maneuvering around the bear.

Never leave your gun/pepper spray behind.
 
>I'd tell him keep his situational
>awareness of his surrounds on
>point, keep a clean camp,
>and keep all food and
>good smelling stuff out of
>their tent and separated at
>night. Be especially careful
>around really thick areas where
>visibility is severely limited.
>The only time I'd be
>"loud" would be if I
>had to go through really
>thick stuff and could not
>approach up wind (give my
>scent to the bear instead
>of talking).
>
>Though, with grizz not being hunted,
> they may not give
>a rat's behind that they
>smell me. However, give
>them a wide berth when
>maneuvering around the bear.
>
>Never leave your gun/pepper spray behind.
>

This. Just like hunters in Alaska face all the time.


97172deliverancebanjo.jpg
 
Wyoming grizzlies have zero fear of man. Different breed than Alaskan bears. They hear a shot and that's a dinner bell to them. Most people that hunt NW Wyo have stories that will make the hair on your neck stand up. Be on your A game at all times. Honestly it makes me a better hunter when I'm hunting in there territory ??
 

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