AGGRESSIVE BEAR ENCOUNTER!
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- Location: Decatur County, Indiana
AGGRESSIVE BEAR ENCOUNTER!
Yesterday I came up on a big boar crossing our dead-end road, in the section of it that runs through woods. He gave the truck a glance and very nonchalantly crossed the ditch and went into the woods. I noted where he went in, and as I drew near I watched for him. Sure enough, he was about five yards in ... I came to a stop, rolled the window down, blew the horn and shouted "HEY!" ... and he stood his ground.
Even that is unusual behavior; I've seen bears stay put when feeding, at night, but for a mature boar to hold tight five yards from a running truck with a blaring horn and a shouting man in it is highly irregular.
I backed up a little, came forward again, blew the horn again, and shouted again ... and that boar began to pound the ground (maybe you're familiar with that behavior) and pop his teeth! He then stood erect and began to thrash a tree!
As some of you may know, this is extremely abnormal behavior for a mature boar black bear. He wasn't scared; I know what a scared bear acts like. HE WAS MAD, AND HE WAS CHALLENGING ME!
Sadly, I didn't have a firearm with me, or you can bet that I would have moved him on down the pike. As it was, all I could do was go on.
I have no doubt this bear is a habituated dumpster-raider from the farm at the end of the road. His contempt for a man in a truck at what would normally be an intolerably close proximity proves that to me. His behavior also tells me that he is used to observing men up close and has lost his fear of us.
It is my hope that I'll encounter him again when I'll be able to transform him from an aggressive bear into a respectfully scared bear (I can't say more than that!). I do not tolerate bears that don't obviously fear humans ... they're too dangerous, and we live too close to them.
Our farm is adjacent to the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, which is a 110,000 + acre bear sanctuary ... no hunting of bears allowed. I honestly believe, from close observation, that the population of bears on PLNWR is losing fear of man because they aren't hunted. Of course, these bears pour out of the refuge onto bordering farms, like mine.
It's quite an experience to be fifteen feet from a riled-up 500 lb. bear, even if you are securely seated in the cab of your Dodge Ram! Not to worry; my underwear remained clean. I wasn't scared, but I was disturbed and aggravated. THAT'S JUST NOT NORMAL ... and THAT'S TROUBLING!
My wife is a runner ... and she's been annoyed that I won't let her run on our road ... but you see why! This ain't no park around here!
I have a two-part "zero-tolerance" policy toward our many bears, developed from our years of experience in living with them:
I will not tolerate a bear within the confines of our two-acre yard, ever.
I will not tolerate a bear that shows no fear of an encounter with humans.
For the most part, I let them be ... but bears like that boar have to go. He's not the first; there was a young one last year that wouldn't let April get by for a long time. She was in a Toyota Corolla ... I'd like one to try and block the road when I'm in a truck!
Even that is unusual behavior; I've seen bears stay put when feeding, at night, but for a mature boar to hold tight five yards from a running truck with a blaring horn and a shouting man in it is highly irregular.
I backed up a little, came forward again, blew the horn again, and shouted again ... and that boar began to pound the ground (maybe you're familiar with that behavior) and pop his teeth! He then stood erect and began to thrash a tree!
As some of you may know, this is extremely abnormal behavior for a mature boar black bear. He wasn't scared; I know what a scared bear acts like. HE WAS MAD, AND HE WAS CHALLENGING ME!
Sadly, I didn't have a firearm with me, or you can bet that I would have moved him on down the pike. As it was, all I could do was go on.
I have no doubt this bear is a habituated dumpster-raider from the farm at the end of the road. His contempt for a man in a truck at what would normally be an intolerably close proximity proves that to me. His behavior also tells me that he is used to observing men up close and has lost his fear of us.
It is my hope that I'll encounter him again when I'll be able to transform him from an aggressive bear into a respectfully scared bear (I can't say more than that!). I do not tolerate bears that don't obviously fear humans ... they're too dangerous, and we live too close to them.
Our farm is adjacent to the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, which is a 110,000 + acre bear sanctuary ... no hunting of bears allowed. I honestly believe, from close observation, that the population of bears on PLNWR is losing fear of man because they aren't hunted. Of course, these bears pour out of the refuge onto bordering farms, like mine.
It's quite an experience to be fifteen feet from a riled-up 500 lb. bear, even if you are securely seated in the cab of your Dodge Ram! Not to worry; my underwear remained clean. I wasn't scared, but I was disturbed and aggravated. THAT'S JUST NOT NORMAL ... and THAT'S TROUBLING!
My wife is a runner ... and she's been annoyed that I won't let her run on our road ... but you see why! This ain't no park around here!
I have a two-part "zero-tolerance" policy toward our many bears, developed from our years of experience in living with them:
I will not tolerate a bear within the confines of our two-acre yard, ever.
I will not tolerate a bear that shows no fear of an encounter with humans.
For the most part, I let them be ... but bears like that boar have to go. He's not the first; there was a young one last year that wouldn't let April get by for a long time. She was in a Toyota Corolla ... I'd like one to try and block the road when I'm in a truck!
Grizz
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Long before my hunting career began my wife and I were on the east coast of Canada celebrating our marriage.. We seen a bear on the side of the road, we slowed to a stop and I yelled at it. Didn't budge. Armed with only a pair of shorts and my running shoes I jumped out of the car and ran at it, it took off in to the woods with me behind it.
Obviously I never did catch up, in retrospect I think that may not have been the wisest thing to do.
I would love to live in a place inhabited with bears, in my days living down south in the Carolina's and Florida I truly enjoyed the variety of wildlife there. My wife and I still toss around the idea of opening my business there too to go deal with in my off seasons, typically the winter. I would much rather pull alligators from pools than coons from walls.
Glad to hear everything worked out for you Adam!
Obviously I never did catch up, in retrospect I think that may not have been the wisest thing to do.
I would love to live in a place inhabited with bears, in my days living down south in the Carolina's and Florida I truly enjoyed the variety of wildlife there. My wife and I still toss around the idea of opening my business there too to go deal with in my off seasons, typically the winter. I would much rather pull alligators from pools than coons from walls.
Glad to hear everything worked out for you Adam!
If you are not willing to learn, nobody can help you, if you are willing, nobody can stop you.
A bowhunter with a passion for shooting firearms.
WMU 91
Boo string
A bowhunter with a passion for shooting firearms.
WMU 91
Boo string
I am afraid of bears. They are bigger then me, run faster and have big teeth. And now they are here.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2009 ... g+for+love
We have pictures of a male bear at one of our feeders at the farm. They are swimming the Ohio river and coming over from WV.
I may start carrying a side arm when I put out my garbage can.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2009 ... g+for+love
We have pictures of a male bear at one of our feeders at the farm. They are swimming the Ohio river and coming over from WV.
I may start carrying a side arm when I put out my garbage can.
Sounds like he needs to be put down.
What a shame.
I'll bet that popping and stomping got your attention,It would me.
What a shame.
I'll bet that popping and stomping got your attention,It would me.
Scott
http://www.myspace.com/saxman1
Take a kid hunting
They don't remember their best day of watching TV
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http://www.myspace.com/saxman1
Take a kid hunting
They don't remember their best day of watching TV
Excalibur Equinox
TruGlo Red/Green Dot
NGSS Absorber by NewGuy
Custom strings by BOO
Groundpounder Top Mount
ACF Member - 2011
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- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 11:32 am
- Location: North Carolina
Hey Grizz, wouldn't he qualify as a "nuisance bear"? I would think that the refuge would have the ability to trap him and relocate him but if not, a load of "rubber buckshot" may be in order and if that doesn't work, I'd love to have a rug . Ellis and I were hunting the Pungo unit and few years back and wound up on the east side of the refuge. We were watching 4 bears in a corn field when a Federal Warden pulled up, checked our licenses and we began chatting about the bear's behavior on the refuge. He asked if I had a dove load for my shotgun and when I found one, he told me to fire it in the air. It wasn't long before there were several bears in the road checking us out. He explained that there were so many bears on the refuge that they have put together the sound of a firearm equals a whitetail carcass to feed on. I've also heard of many stories of hunters loosing their harvest to bears. We actually came across and young man that was visibly upset because a bear took a deer that he had just shot with his bow. It was his first bow kill, an 8 pointer and the bear actually wouldn't leave the area for several hours. They really need to open a bear season on the refuge, don't you agree Grizz?
God Bless !!!!!!!!!
Ray
Ray
I like bears, but not up close and personal. I have a healthy respect for their size and strength and would prefer to steer clear. Is it fair to say the existing hunts may not be enough to keep the population in check?
The guy that taught my hunter's ed course jokingly told the class:
"If you ever run into a situation where a bear charges you, back up against a big tree, and when the bear is close enough, reach down and grab some sh*t and throw it in the bear's face as you step aside. He'll hit the tree and daze himself, giving you time to escape."
"What if there's no sh*t?" one of us asked.
"Don't worry, it'll be there."
The guy that taught my hunter's ed course jokingly told the class:
"If you ever run into a situation where a bear charges you, back up against a big tree, and when the bear is close enough, reach down and grab some sh*t and throw it in the bear's face as you step aside. He'll hit the tree and daze himself, giving you time to escape."
"What if there's no sh*t?" one of us asked.
"Don't worry, it'll be there."
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I guess the bear above got agressive??As long as the bear doesn’t get aggressive, wildlife officials won’t intervene
Grizz . . .I got a big ole softball bat my daughter isn't using anymore . . .want me to send it your way?
Still no bears on the farm in Virginia . . .at least I haven't seen one yet.[/quote]
I'd rather wear out than rust out.
Perception trumps intention.
2006 Exomax w/Agingcrossbower Custom Stock
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Perception trumps intention.
2006 Exomax w/Agingcrossbower Custom Stock
20" Easton Powerbolts w/125gr Trophy Ridge Stricknines & 2"Blazers
Boo Custom Strings
2006 Vixen
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