Trees Marked by Bears

[David G Duncan]

Now that we have been beating the brush for a good location to hunt bear this fall, we have found several active trees being marked by bears. Claw marks, bitten limbs and black hair on the bark made these trees stand out like a beacon in the dark.

I am sure that over the years that I have probably walked right past numerous trees, which were being used by bear as scent markers and never recognized them as such. Mainly, probably because I was not especially looking for bear sign.

It would seem that some place near one of these bear marked trees might be a good location to set up a bait station. Any problem with this idea?

Been check for blue berries, but can not find any in the locations where they were plentiful last year. However, during our walk we did find yet another bear marked tree.

Shortly after we returning to our truck and were driving on a two track nearby, when we were treated with our first sighting of a real live black bear crossing the road. Now, my wife really believe that the bear sign I have been showing her is for real.

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Trapper Dave

[Steve]

Dave was that in the UP or down here in the lower?

[David G Duncan]

Steve

This fall we will be hunting the Red Oak district, but sometime in the future we hope to make the long trip to the U. P.

For obvious reasons I would rather not disclose the location in Red Oak, but I am sure we will have a lot of competition come open day. The number of other hunts should become more evident as the date for the start of baiting approaches.

Good Luck and Keep Scouting!

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Trapper Dave

[Steve]

Wow, I frequent the area. Just once I would like to see one in the wild.

[The Nailer]

If Red Oaks is where I think it is I had the good fortune of seeing my first bear there. I was scouting an area to hunt the upcoming rifle season and heard this God awful noise. I keep following the noise until I located it's orgin. It was a cub up a tree hanging on for dear life. Needless to say after the intial shock wore off I beat a path out of there before mama showed up. It was opening week of bear season and I could hear the hounds about a mile away on a big hunt club. I now know what that sound is and I will investigate a little more cautiously next time I hear it. Best of luck to you and your wife Trapper on your upcoming hunt.

[David G Duncan]

Nailer,

I have seen a few bear tracks over the years trapping in the northern lower pennisular, but this was this first time I have ever seen Mr. Bear in person. But this is the first time I applied for a bear license, so my focus is a lot sharper, which is putting me in the right places more often.

Did you apply for a bear permit?

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Trapper Dave

[The Nailer]

Trapper Dave, No I didn't apply there's not enough time for one more thing in my life right now. Maybe some day when there's more leisure time. I saw that cub on the south edge of Garland on state land. Use to see a lot of tracks around that area, but that was the first bear.

[David G Duncan]

Nailer,

I know what you mean about having a full schedule. I guess I am probably trying to catch up on lost time, since we were living out of the country for four years.

It is definitely going to be an interesting fall for us with hunts for elk, black bear and of course bow hunting for whitetails all packed into the months of Sept. and Oct.

My one big challenge is a desire to capture my wife shooting her black bear on video, so we can relive the experience complete with all the clarity and excitement of the moment.

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Trapper Dave

[HUNT'NUF2]

Hope you have better luck with the video camera than my buddy did last year getting his first bear. He had a perfect setup, with another buddy in a tree opposite him. The big bruin came into the bait, and the camera man was grinning ear-to-ear watching the whole event through the view finder. Clayton shot the bear, and after all of the commotion died down they both sat down to watch it again. It turned out that in all of the excitement, the camera man forgot to press the record button. Man did he get an earfull!!

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Joel

[Steve]

Dave, where do you most often see the bear sign in that area. Is it in the bowels of a swamp, or do they range up to the higher lands as well?

[David G Duncan]

Steve,

Well it is fairly difficult to detect the bear sign in the bowels of the cedar swamp, due to the moss covered ground. But if they happen to step in a muddy spot you will get a good print.

Must of our luck in finding the bear sign has been walking the two tracks, which is the same way the hound dog hunters go about the process. Only it is a lot easier for them since their don't have to see the track and they can drive and not walk. I wish I could smell as good as a bear hound, them all I would have to do is stick my nose out the window and have my wife drive us down the two-tracks.

You will be amazed at how easy it to find the trees that the bears mark, once you find the first few. They seem to like to walk the two tracks, even up in the oaks and surprisingly mark trees right at the edge of the road.

Maybe I will try taking a picture of one of these trees and posting it here on this forum, so the rest of you can get a better idea of what these trees look like. They seem to normally be a pine or spruce tree.

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Trapper Dave

[The Nailer]

Trapper Dave, I for one would like to see or get a better explanation of tree markings. After I saw the one looking in my window at camp I'd like to try and pattern them for future reference. I have a couple of really thick spots I have to walk thru either going or coming from my deer stands and I usually don't use a flashlight so I'm always a little on edge when I pass thru. If I knew bears were hanging out in this area I'd plot a new route.

[David G Duncan]

Nailer,

I am sure that you will be able to find some trees in your neighborhood that the bears are using to mark their territory. In some cases it might be a smaller tree that they have straddled and broke down by walking over the tree to leave their scent on it. But most of the time it will probably be pine or spruce tree from 2" to 6" in diameter where they have broken the lower branch off and bit the top of the small tree or clawed the side of the larger trees.

Look along the trails and two tracks that are easy to travel, especially near the edge of any cedar swamp, for small trees that match the above discription. The damage to the tree could look fairly old, since they use the trees over a number of years. But normally you can see the ground and grass at the base of the tree really packed down from the bear standing in that spot to rub their body up and down on the trunk of the tree. If you look closely you will find some bear hair left on the trunk. If it fairly recent it will be black, but if the tree has not been used for several year it could be blond due the bleaching from the sun.

As far as being concerned about walking to and from your deer stand in the dark, you should not let your imagination get the best of you. A normal healthy bear is not going to cause you any harm, even if it is a sow with cubs.

Let me know when you find bear marked tree near your neighbor.

Have fun discovering the sign posts of the elusive black bear.

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Trapper Dave