80/81 Bear

[goldhunter]

I'll be muzzy hunting elk this year down there, is it worth having a bear tag? Looks like the harvest is light but are there any big bears?

 

[Trad Bow 1979]

in September 2014 I stumbled upon a bear in unit 81 over by Trujillo Meadows. That was the only bear I saw that week of elk hunting.

 

[goldhunter]

Thanks, but after further thought, probably going to skip the idea and focus on the elk. Going to be hunting solo so don't want to have to deal with the meat.

 

[JRABQ]

Looks like you made up your mind, focusing on elk is probably the best bet. I have seen a few bears in the area, including 2 of the biggest black bears I've ever seen. But the encounters have been very sparse, I've never thought it was worth the gamble for the cost for a non-resident.

 

[Kenny8906]

I have hunted Elk in these units for the past 11 years. I can count on 1 hand of bear encounters. Although last year I had a brute at 7 yards feeding on a dead calf. I wish I had a tag then but didn't. I believe you made the right decision of focus on the elk.

Did you draw a bull or cow tag?

I will be there this year but will be there the last week of archery season.

 

[goldhunter]

bull tag, weird unit, high demand for the muzzy tags but pretty low success rate. I just wanted to burn my points instead of building for years and years to get nowhere.

 

[smitty]

not to get side tracked, but I drew the 3rd season deer. What can a guy expect to find? I'll be hunting solo, hiking wherever I need to go.