hey guys i have no experience with game calls, i plan on trying one out this spring for black bear. Any suggestions on brand and type? what worked for you guys? any to avoid? i googled it and i got alot of american sights and they seem to prefer fawn distress calls, what would the bear hunters on this site say?
distress calls for bear
- Thread starter olympia
- Start date
You live in BC. There are lots of bears. You don't need one running at you to find one. I bought a video on the subject, and he only called when in sight of bears anyways. Seemed kinda bunk, but it did work. Call long hard and very frequently to keep their attention. Personally, I only think It may be valuable if you were bow hunting.
First time I ever predator called was last spring (March 31), called on and off for about 4-5minutes with my raspy coaxer, then had a nice big black bear coming right to me (about 30 yards). Tried scaring him away with no success, but a shot from the 22-250 sent him running. Wish Ontario still had the spring bear hunt!
hello,
i used one called predator call (rabbit or cotton tail ...) it s working great if there is no better source food available ... remember about bears and that's include Grizzly they re always looking for easy lunch ... so if you have a grizzly tag and the s feeding on fish you can call all you can blow .... some say too that Hoochie mama will work but honestly a predator call in the spring after they start to feed on grass will make some miracles.
dont go alone for sure and be ready for actions ....
i used one called predator call (rabbit or cotton tail ...) it s working great if there is no better source food available ... remember about bears and that's include Grizzly they re always looking for easy lunch ... so if you have a grizzly tag and the s feeding on fish you can call all you can blow .... some say too that Hoochie mama will work but honestly a predator call in the spring after they start to feed on grass will make some miracles.
dont go alone for sure and be ready for actions ....
Just had the thought, you being in BC, what happens when the wrong bear shows up for dinner?
Always a concern around here, where Grizzlies follow the elk herds around looking for newborn calves. Grizz
Too be honest I've only used the calling from a stand during the spring hunt on the island. Otherwise I will use it to whoa-up a black for a better look if required. If I was stand calling in grizz country I would be very aware of my surroundings... I've had them come in on elk or moose kills before, not fun! 2 years ago on a solo moose hunt near Toad, I managed to get out with 65 lbs of my moose! Frustrating, yes, but I came home.
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
I've heard this too.
A buddy of mine in Ft Nelson told me it was downright scary how fast and agressive bears came in on the call. He strongly reccomended not going it alone. I may get a buddy and give it a try this spring.
The most important thing to remember about using predator calls for bears is that they sometimes come in very fast, and not always from the direction you may expect.
Best to hunt with two people positioned to watch 360 degrees.
The other thing is, many times they will not respond at all to the call.
Ted
Best to hunt with two people positioned to watch 360 degrees.
The other thing is, many times they will not respond at all to the call.
Ted
Pretty much any call on the market will work, when a bear is in the mood to come in. If he doesn't want to come in, not much will make him.
I've used maybe 50 or 60 different calls over the last 25 or 26 years, and in a slow spring may only call in 20 or 30 blackies. In a good spring a guy can hit that in a weekend sometimes, when all the stars align.
If you are going to call alone, make sure you've got your back to something big, and a rifle across your lap. A really good idea, when you are alone, is to hang something white about 4 feet off the ground where you want the bear to appear. For whatever reason, they really seem to key on white stuff.
And has been said, grizzlies will come in as well. And as far as I've seen, grizzlies seem to come in a little easier than black bears in areas with good densities of both. Keep that in mind.
With any bear, occasionally they'll figure out what you are while they are on the way in (wind, sight, etc), and will still come in, huffing and popping. That will get your adrenaline up.....(grin)
And sometimes they'll come in so silently you'll swear there is no way they could have been touching the ground, and you'll look over your shoulder, and there'll be a bear in arms reach looking at you.
Try it, you'll either love it, or it'll scare the hell out of you and you won't want to do it again.
as i and for sure Ted suggested dont go alone while calling ... i ve seen one agressive big black bear with a lovely brown color coming to us that fast ...
i ve seen and recorded a grizzly that was feeding on fish near Kluane and he didnt even look at us ...
with my experiences i suggest spring test.
all the best.
it s not working with all ... and if you already seeing him dont need for sure. what i found too, is sometimes bears are coming without a noise and some others are making all the noise they can maybe to tell other bears that s the lunch is for him ....
if there is a high spot where you re please use it.
all the best.
