[Linda G.]

Larry's research got shut down for lack of funds several years ago...and I'm not sure they have any means to corner a bear to remove a collar except in the winter time when they're hibernating. So, he may not be able to do anything about this bear, unless he sticks around this winter and you can find him then-I doubt very much the chip in his neck still works. Most of them quit after a couple of years.

They don't have the funds to spend the time it takes to track and find a big old bear without an active chip like this one probably has at this time of the year, or the people, and apparently, even if they do find it, they're loathe to use the drugs that will make the bear sleep so they can work on it. If they even have things like that anymore.

But I sure hope you can either take this bear out, or that he can be cornered to have the collar removed-too many bears suffer from collars that have grown into their neck, it's horrible to see and know how the animal must have suffered, and something the antis use frequently to try to shoot down research studies.

As Brian has gotten older, and a bit more accustomed to working with the public, he's done better, but like a lot of scientists, he doesn't really care to talk to the average Joe, and never thought it might be part of his job when he went to school with all of the idealistic dreams of a college kid. I'm sure he thought he'd be out in the woods with the wildlife, and writing scientific papers that would change the research world, not forced to talk to and work with people who see "cougars", "wolves" and "collared bears" every day of the week.

So when he gets someone that DOES have something like this, he's a bit skeptical and a whole lot sarcastic. I've seen him like that with a lot of people. But he's a good biologist, who tries hard. He's done a lot for those of us who like ruffed grouse and woodcock.

 

[brohnson]

I've got some more pics of him coming in and he's doing so everyday right now, and yes I'll take him only if he comes in before my big bear

 

[brohnson]

a new one of him still coming in and he's been everyday so far
how much do you all think he ways, I' guessing around 200?

and this little guy

Did see my big one this time, but its only been a couple of days

 

[Nimrod1]

He'll go 200+. Best part is he's coming in during daylight!

That collar sure will make for a cool story.

 

[HunterHawk]

yeah he is still a good bear... and he is obviously an MSU fan.... so he is good bear by me

 

[brohnson]

Here's some more from yesterday

Bagel Thief!!!

He's on a Mission

some more

My Big Boy

 

[target-panic]

You might try to call the Cadillac DNR office. We've had several bears collared and ear tagged in the area over the years. There was a research station just west of my house (M-55 west), up until about 10 years ago. I don't think it would be unheard of for one to travel to your area.

 

[Nimrod1]

I keep looking at the time stamps. Please tell me your gonna sit that stand all day?

 

[brohnson]

I keep looking at the time stamps. Please tell me your gonna sit that stand all day?

yes, I'm going to sit all day, and now I'm going to use my summit climber to sit in since its so comfy, tree stands I cant last more than about 5 hrs in, but those climbers are nice, I'll set out a bear bomb in the morning and then another one around 1:00 or so

I went out yesterday to bait and noticed my camera didnt take my picture thought maybe it was broke, but when I checked my pics it was because it took a pic of a bear 3 minutes before I got to the bait, he probably wasnt far either while I was baiting, so we'll see tomorrow if me came right back in after I left.

 

[wyle_e_coyote]

Wow....tuff choice there. The "Big Boy" looks much bigger then the collared bear, but shooting a collared bear would be cool.

 

[brohnson]

The bad thing is I just met a guy from Charleviox and he showed me pics of 3 bears that 2 of his friends and him shot in Canada where they own land, they run the bear with their dogs.

1st bear wieghted 410
2nd bear weighted 580
3rd bear weighted 630

They make my bears look small

 

[Nimrod1]

Were the pics of the bears on the scale? I'm not saying that they weren't big bears, or that the guy was telling tales. It's just easy to claim 400+ lbrs. Alot harder to produce them, let alone 3 of them off the same piece of ground, in the same season.

 

[brohnson]

he said they were weighted with the guts out and he added 17% for the guts, so I guess he's right, I dont know............. but I saw pictures of the ones head and it was the size of like a brown bear, it he is lieing then there still 500 I'd bet.

 

[HunterHawk]

last week i had 204 pics... there are a couple cool pics that ill post but im not going to just keep posting pics.. tkaes too long haha... talk about a thief... this one bear... looks like last years cub... he is eating all my dang food... i think the only reason he leaves is to go to the river thats only like 50 yards away and gets a drink :lol:

that is one bear that i would like to take but for all the wrong reasons:lol:

I CANT WAIT!!!!

by the way NICE PICS!!!! and yeah i feel ya on the sitting the whole day.... my baits are the same way... kinda strange... my bears are coming in the morning... A LOT....

 

[gamebird_guy]

When he needed to get a collar off a bear he would enlist the help of local houndsman around Cadillac, and they were more than happy to help out. They could run bears before training season started, and they didn't have to search for tracks because he would locate them with the tracking collars. He had several bears collared in the area, at one time he said he had almost 30 collared in the mitchell swamp alone.

 

[captjimtc]

Borrow a tranquilizer gun and shoot him with that and remove the collar and then continue to hunt for the bigger bear. Win Win situation for all involved.

 

[walleyeguy22]

Shoot the bigger bear and have the DNR come in after to deal with it. Its a shame if the collar is digging into the bear but its also a shame to put the time and money into hunting and not shoot what you want. I guess it depends on what you want its your tag.

 

[mitchk2007]

call mark borson at 1 989 275 5151 he is the bear man and more than likely collared that bear him self he is in the roscommon office