Bear Trip

[Curvebow05]

So after finding success on some Southeastern Public Land for deer, I have gotten an itch to go chase bears. I've also gotten the itch to visit the mountains since sand can only get in so many cracks before it gets old. I'm torn between making it almost impossible (taking the recurve) and just taking the rifle as I haven't taken a bear before.
I'm not afraid of walking or packing out an animal, and am in decent shape as far as getting around the hunting woods. What would be the best overall experience to see bears and potentially harvest one while enjoying some beautiful mountain lands?

 

[lagrangedave]

North Georgia National forests

 

[Curvebow05]

North Georgia National forests

Do any of them have notoriously higher bear densities?

 

[tree cutter 08]

I'd say Gilmer, fannin, towns, union, white, and rabun have the most kills. I wouldn't waste anytime trying to hunt this year but would be a good time to scout for some spots for next bow season.

 

[strothershwacker]

I'd say Gilmer, fannin, towns, union, white, and rabun have the most kills. I wouldn't waste anytime trying to hunt this year but would be a good time to scout for some spots for next bow season.

I'm all ready look in forward to next bowseason!

 

[Curvebow05]

Why's it too late? The season doesn't end until Jan 13. Plus it's a good excuse to get up in the mountains and play around. I've tagged out on bucks and have two does in the freezer so I'm focusing on getting the wife a deer or two and other game animals for me with another doe or two in the process.

 

[Killer Kyle]

Why's it too late? The season doesn't end until Jan 13. Plus it's a good excuse to get up in the mountains and play around. I've tagged out on bucks and have two does in the freezer so I'm focusing on getting the wife a deer or two and other game animals for me with another doe or two in the process.

Bear movement slows drastically this time of year to the point that sightings usually become very very scarce until the spring warm-up. All the WMA bears have had the heat put on them this year. Tree Cutter was trying to convey that your chances are extremely thin at this point in the season. But it would at least be a good opportunity to get some scouting in for next year.

Take a few minutes and look at the threads in this forum from this year. I think you will easily see which WMA has a notoriously high bear population.

 

[Curvebow05]

Bear movement slows drastically this time of year to the point that sightings usually become very very scarce until the spring warm-up. All the WMA bears have had the heat put on them this year. Tree Cutter was trying to convey that your chances are extremely thin at this point in the season. But it would at least be a good opportunity to get some scouting in for next year.

Take a few minutes and look at the threads in this forum from this year. I think you will easily see which WMA has a notoriously high bear population.

Makes sense, I like a good explanation. I didn't realize the movement slowed down so much. The eastern NC bears I was around before pretty much never stopped doing bear stuff.

 

[ddd-shooter]

Makes sense, I like a good explanation. I didn't realize the movement slowed down so much. The eastern NC bears I was around before pretty much never stopped doing bear stuff.

Once the acorns are gone, there's not much left for a bear to do in the dead of winter up here. It's cold. Real cold. They mostly just lay up after November. They might cruise through a field on a warm day and browse, but that's extremely rare after November.
That said, if you're going to hunt anyway, focus on south facing(read, sunny) ridges in thick stuff not too far from traditional food sources.
Look for white oak stands and travel routes for next year. Plan to get up here in October- the earlier the better.

 

[Doug B.]

I saw one today while I was hanging a stand on some buck sign. It's the best deer sign I've seen this year.

 

[Curvebow05]

I saw one today while I was hanging a stand on some buck sign. It's the best deer sign I've seen this year.

Go ahead and shoot those coordinates over here, I'll do my best to make sure he doesn't mess up your hunt ?... don't worry I don't have any Buck tags left

 

[fiddlinduke]

They are still out there. i killed one lawst week in Union County

 

[ripplerider]

They're definitely still active. There's a killer video making the rounds today in Union county of a nice bear dragging an apparently road-killed deer up a steep slope. Was took a couple of days ago. That tells me theyre real hungry for him to grab that deer off the side of the road in broad daylight.

 

[gobbleinwoods]

They're definitely still active. There's a killer video making the rounds today in Union county of a nice bear dragging an apparently road-killed deer up a steep slope. Was took a couple of days ago. That tells me theyre real hungry for him to grab that deer off the side of the road in broad daylight.

Where might one see a copy of this video?

 

[kinross]

Im sick of bloody bears. I cant seem to keep the deer on my property in Gilmer. Give me pigs any time, at least you can trap them and shoot them . I guess my feeding program just went down the crapper

 

[Curvebow05]

Im sick of bloody bears. I cant seem to keep the deer on my property in Gilmer. Give me pigs any time, at least you can trap them and shoot them . I guess my feeding program just went down the crapper

Sounds like you have a problem, any of them bothering you not have cubs? I assume that's what's in the pic?

 

[Christian hughey]

So after finding success on some Southeastern Public Land for deer, I have gotten an itch to go chase bears. I've also gotten the itch to visit the mountains since sand can only get in so many cracks before it gets old. I'm torn between making it almost impossible (taking the recurve) and just taking the rifle as I haven't taken a bear before.
I'm not afraid of walking or packing out an animal, and am in decent shape as far as getting around the hunting woods. What would be the best overall experience to see bears and potentially harvest one while enjoying some beautiful mountain lands?

My experience and other guys on here will probably tell you early season take the recurve. When you do see them seems like the dang things come right up to you. Every bear this year has been within 20 yards, seen a couple good Indian longbow pics this year. Congrats to those guys I have a hard enough time with a sight. Also saw good footage of one speared on private land that's pretty cool. Just not for me !

 

[splatek]

It was my understanding that while the season goes until the 13th, all the WMA hunts are over and the CNF hunting period ended Decmeber 28, or there about. So, like others have mentioned them slowing down, also, unless you have access to private land you aren't able to get on one, unless (totally possible) i read the regulations incorrectly.

And... I think I might have read them incorrectly. I think that date of the 28th is for deer only... Double check.

 

[35 Whelen]

It was my understanding that while the season goes until the 13th, all the WMA hunts are over and the CNF hunting period ended Decmeber 28, or there about. So, like others have mentioned them slowing down, also, unless you have access to private land you aren't able to get on one, unless (totally possible) i read the regulations incorrectly.

And... I think I might have read them incorrectly. I think that date of the 28th is for deer only... Double check.

■ CHATTAHOOCHEE NATIONAL FOREST

BEAR

ARCHERY » Sept. 8-Oct. 12
PRIMITIVE » Oct. 13-19
FIREARMS » Oct. 20-Dec. 26

 

[splatek]

Thanks 35W