Elk, wait BEAR!

so I was up archery elk hunting with my father and a few others.

Apparently a few noises I thought were my dad getting ready to go out again, was a bear goofing around in camp. Guess I shouldn't be so comfy in my camper and sleeping bag.

Muddy paw prints on truck as he was chewing on the antenna I guess. This is after he played with a few items around my camper. (inches from where I was sleeping) haha

Attachment 60981

My dad got up after hearing the noises and found boo boo goofing around outside his camper. So he grabbed the bow and took care of the problem. (he had a license)

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Was about 125-150 pounds.

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Well Done.

Wish the elk were as easy to find.

I've never seen a bear in the wild. Last time I was up elk hunting the only thing we saw at camp was a ton of elk tracks. Apparently, while we were out hunting the elk they had been hanging out at our camp.

What area?

Um, area 23 if I remember right. Flat tops white river nf. above Newcastle.

Elk are mostly a no show. Except for the 6 cows we nearly hit with the truck heading in to camp.


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Cool

I never ate bear. Is it tasty?

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Originally Posted by GilpinGuy

I never ate bear. Is it tasty?

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No... Greasy, stringy awfulness.

He was pretty fatty, I didn't get a taste of this one.

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Stopped by the CoS DPW office yesterday and bought my elk license. While I was there I thought I might as well ask the stupid question as to whether there were any bear licenses left for my area. They had 14 left so I got one. Maybe this year will be my year. It seems I only see bear when I don't have a license.

On a plus note, I was notified Thursday that my VA rating went up & I can now get a free lifetime small game & fishing license which is why I stopped by DPW. I've got the form filled out, just need to copy my VA paperwork & mail it in.

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Originally Posted by GilpinGuy

I never ate bear. Is it tasty?

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Originally Posted by jmg8550

No... Greasy, stringy awfulness.

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I'm going to have to dispute this judgement.

The answer depends on where the bear has been getting his food. If the bear gets much/any of his diet from garbage then the meat will be horrible (in my opinion). If the bear gets his diet from rooting around in the wild the meat generally (in my experience) takes pretty good; especially grilled.

Hey Boo Boo - you're a pic-a-nic bass-ket

well, I'll try to get a piece of him if the gang doesn't eat him all up while still in elk camp. haha

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Originally Posted by gnihcraes

so I was up archery elk hunting with my father and a few others.

Apparently a few noises I thought were my dad getting ready to go out again, was a bear goofing around in camp. Guess I shouldn't be so comfy in my camper and sleeping bag.

Muddy paw prints on truck as he was chewing on the antenna I guess. This is after he played with a few items around my camper. (inches from where I was sleeping) haha

My dad got up after hearing the noises and found boo boo goofing around outside his camper. So he grabbed the bow and took care of the problem. (he had a license)

Was about 125-150 pounds.

Attachment 60983

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Good work on the bear, and congrats to your dad. It's one less problem bear for the CPW officers to deal with. The bear over population has been a huge drain on the CPW.

Many bear hunters report the meat is delicious. As theGinsue said, it depends a lot on what the bear has been eating, how carefully the meat is cared for in the field, and how it's prepared. Don't know myself because I've never killed or eaten bear. But, I've bought a bear tag nearly every year hunting since age 15 when a CO bear tag cost $5.00.

Every year while deer and elk hunting I actively hunt bear, find their scat and follow their tracks. I try calling some every season but have only once seen one bear during elk season. I take an elk almost every year and on average a bear feeds on my elk before I get it all packed out one year in three.

Every year I tell myself that this year is the year I'll kill a bear. So, this year, I'm going to get a bear. It'll be payback for all those years bears have chewed on my elk.

Edit to add that I've probably seen a hundred bears in 8 western states and provinces, black bears, Toklat silver bears, Kodiak and Katmai brown bears, and inland grizzlies, just never in season with a tag in hand. This year is going to be the year....

I know where there is a bear gut pile, and a guy sitting in a tree stand next to it... :) one advantage of killing something. They figured it would be an elk gut pile, but the bear came first. ha