Last Hit Before the Season Closed
Sat Friday and Saturday night for bear. It rained both nights and I had lightening whizzing by my head like on Saturday night. Bears were still active, but only in the dark. Sure wish this guy would've shown himself...oh well, on to deer.
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Here's an article that the local paper put out:
Minnesota bear harvest lagging
With another nine days left in Minnesota’s bear season, this year’s harvest is still lagging far behind that of recent years.
By: Sam Cook , Duluth News Tribune
With another nine days left in Minnesota’s bear season, this year’s harvest is still lagging far behind that of recent years. As of last Sunday, four weeks into the season, hunters had taken 1,746 bears, said Dave Garshelis, bear project leader for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Last year at the same time, the harvest totaled 2,982. From 2003 to last year, the four-week harvest totals ranged between 2,900 and 3,400, he said.
The 2002 harvest, however, was similar to this fall’s, and only 1,653 bears had been taken in the first four weeks.
Garshelis attributes the lower harvest to an abundance of wild foods, which means fewer bears are visiting hunters’ baits, and possibly lower densities in the state’s bear population.
Hunters claim that bears have become more nocturnal and haven’t been presenting themselves during hunting hours. Using remote trail cameras, hunters can verify that bears are moving nocturnally. But Garshelis says he hears the same thing every year, even in years when the harvest has been higher.
Here's an article that the local paper put out:
Minnesota bear harvest lagging
With another nine days left in Minnesota’s bear season, this year’s harvest is still lagging far behind that of recent years.
By: Sam Cook , Duluth News Tribune
With another nine days left in Minnesota’s bear season, this year’s harvest is still lagging far behind that of recent years. As of last Sunday, four weeks into the season, hunters had taken 1,746 bears, said Dave Garshelis, bear project leader for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Last year at the same time, the harvest totaled 2,982. From 2003 to last year, the four-week harvest totals ranged between 2,900 and 3,400, he said.
The 2002 harvest, however, was similar to this fall’s, and only 1,653 bears had been taken in the first four weeks.
Garshelis attributes the lower harvest to an abundance of wild foods, which means fewer bears are visiting hunters’ baits, and possibly lower densities in the state’s bear population.
Hunters claim that bears have become more nocturnal and haven’t been presenting themselves during hunting hours. Using remote trail cameras, hunters can verify that bears are moving nocturnally. But Garshelis says he hears the same thing every year, even in years when the harvest has been higher.
