Bear Location

[cireofmi]

Does anyone here know what the bear population around Lake City is like? My mom owns property up there and we have heard that there are bears close but have yet to see even the tracks of one?

[Big Game]

I am no expert in population but my guess would be that they are pretty sparse in that area. Every year they continue to move farther south though.

[Big Game]

I just checked on the DNR's website and they show a low density for that area. They show a population of 0.1 bears per square mile. That doesn't necessarily mean that the property you are asking about has or hasn't any bear on it. What type of land is it? Are there berries and stuff like that to hold them there or make them at least frequently visit? I have seen bears walk through grassy areas and you can't tell where they walked. I have also watched them walk across two tracks and not leave tracks.

[stevebrandle]

Good places to look for sign are low, cedar swamps. Look for tracks in the mud. When the berries come on, look for sign near patches. I also look for broken branches on wild choke cherry trees.

[cireofmi]

We have several swamps or wetlands in the area. Since we are in a low area West of the headwaters of the Muskegon River. We have huckleberries for sure. I have no desire to hunt bears but would like to see one at a distance while in my car :)

[Big Game]

Originally posted by cireofmi
but would like to see one at a distance while in my car :)

Your chances of that happening in the wild here in Michigan are far and few between. I have only seen a few cross the road in front of me and those were being chased by hounds. In the woods you have to be pretty quiet to stumble upon a bear. I have seen a few come in to baits. A good place to see bears (though not wild) is Oswald's Bear Ranch up near Strong's. They have enclosed pens about 2-5 acres in size that have bear in them. It is pretty enjoyable to watch them play.

[Jumpshootin']

North & east of Lake City is the big Deadstream Swamp. There's bear in there for sure. That swamp is one of the watersheds that make up the head waters of the Muskegon River. The swamp is north of M-55, between Lake City & Houghton Lake. Not much of a chance of seeing one from the car though. There are some two-tracks that run through it, but they are in pretty rough shape. You'd make alot of noise banging down one of those. A bear would hear you from a mile away.

[Big Game]

The Deadstream swamp was the place of the State's first bear hunt with hounds back on October 22-26, 1946. This was sponsored by the MDNR and MUCC. More than 1000 hunters applied for the permits and the event was only limited to 3oo hunters. This was organized by Richard P. Smith who became known as the father of The Michigan Bear Hunters Association.

[David G Duncan]

I am sure that there are bears near Lake City, but like was indicate above it takes some luck and plenty of scouting to get into a position to see a black bear up close in the woods.

Over the years I have spent a lot of time in the woods, but never really focused on looking for bear, even thou I had run across some tracks on occasion.

A couple of years ago I got serious about seeing if I could locate some bears near our property north of Lake City. Finding fresh bear sight was really surprisingly easy (once you start looking for both the faint and not so faint sight that black bears leave in their home territory).

As indicated above bears like a thick cool cedar swamp to nap in during the hot days of summer. So start your search near the thickest cedar swamp you can find. Walking the dirt roads is a good way to spot tracks, but be aware that a bear's track on a hard dusty road are fairly faint and can require a trained eye to spot.

Follow any logging trails that deadends into a cedar swamp and look for small pine trees with their tops broken off near these trails, especially where they leave the swamp. If you find one closely examine it to see if there are any black hairs stuck to the bark. This is sure indication that a bear has rubbed his back to leave his scent marking. In the process he also reaches around and bites the top out of the small tree.

I have found many of these marking trees over the years and was even lucky enough to jump a young bear in the middle of the day, while he was sleeping near one of these marking trees. This is what I call some really hot sight.

Good luck and I hope you have many enjoyable hours walking in the foot prints of the majesty black bear.

[Ranger Ray]

Had the luck of seeing one opening trout season on pine river last year by 37 and 55. Was walking on hill right above us for a couple of minutes before sighting us. My friend saw one north of wahalla off us10 bowhunting last fall. They are there.