The gun shot dinner bell

powder burner

powder burner

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I have been drawn this year in an area which has grizzlies and cougars. Have any of you experienced the gunshot dinner bell? (bears/cougar hears gunshot and figure a free meal is on the way)

Whats the safest way to hunt in such an area?
 
Never heard it directed towards Cats Myself ? Most cats prefer to Kill thier own Dinner...........at least that's my understanding.

As far as Bears go yes seems to be lots of "Dinner Bell" supporters however I'd suspect this behavior to be "a rarity" at best.
Any bear that "attends" the scene of a Kill was likely in the immediate area already and is/was more then likely attracted by the smells of the same then the report from the rifle.....

Not saying it can't or does not happen but again it's certainly a rarity when one considers how many bear, moose, elk, sheep, deer etc. are shot in BC every season and certainly a Bear did not come racing to every Kill;)

I'd suggest you enjoy your Hunt for ???? and not worry too much about Bears....use your head when in Bear country but it's certainly not something to be paranoid about.
But that's just my Oppinion :onCrack:
 
If it moves , shoot it . If it doesn't move , move it and then shoot it .;)
 
BCWILL said:
Never heard it directed towards Cats Myself ? Most cats prefer to Kill thier own Dinner...........at least that's my understanding.

As far as Bears go yes seems to be lots of "Dinner Bell" supporters however I'd suspect this behavior to be "a rarity" at best.
Any bear that "attends" the scene of a Kill was likely in the immediate area already and is/was more then likely attracted by the smells of the same then the report from the rifle.....

Not saying it can't or does not happen but again it's certainly a rarity when one considers how many bear, moose, elk, sheep, deer etc. are shot in BC every season and certainly a Bear did not come racing to every Kill;)


I'd suggest you enjoy your Hunt for ???? and not worry too much about Bears....use your head when in Bear country but it's certainly not something to be paranoid about.
But that's just my Oppinion :onCrack:
Click to expand...

I agree. I know that with some bear baiters they bang the drum every time they refresh the bait. But personally I think the smell brings the bears in, not the drum banging.....

Cats prefer to kill on their own. I dont think a guy can "train" them with gunshots.

I think the coincidence of shooting and having a bear show up makes some think that.

But I have had mule deer come out of the bush after I shoot and take a look around.....some even stood around and watched as I field dressed one.

The best way to stay safe is to be "switched on" at all times. I believe you will be alright.
 
I don't know if it was the scent or the bang, but I've had this happen once south of Hudson Bay, SK. The bears in the area seem more agressive than most. They have a nasty habit of eating the seat off your quad too.
 
I have commented on this before. I believe it is only experienced bears (that have learned the association) that will do this thinking food. I know the scent is a huge factor with all bears.

Baiting and banging the drum is just like Pavlov's dog.

I think that initially, a shot sparks curiosity, then the curiosity can end up in a nice little meal from a hide and gut pile.

If it happens enough, I'm sure an association occurs with the experienced bears. The curiosity bit is jsut as bad. You fire a shot, and a bear gets curious about 3oo yrds away, you don't know he's there. Then with 20 minutes there's a real nice smell in the air.

I think it's a bear magnet.

It is much better for one person to dress, the other to watch the perimeter.

Another thing that I am very aware of, is the blood and guts that I get on myself. Once you get your animal, dress it, leave, clean up real good.

I have seen guys that took an animal in the morning, gutted it, got full of guts and blood. wiped hands in their clothes, etc.

They then went on an afternon hunt wearing the same gear not washed, sprayed or cleaned. You are a walking bait pile!

I have only encountered a few Cougars and they all seemed pretty happy to stay to themselves and run. (not always the case I know)

If you are by yourself, be aware, have the gun ready, and maybe pass on shots that will have you dressing an animal as it gets dark.
 
When I was in Africa last month this subject came up. We were hunting a huge 120,000 acre game reserve to which they are introducing lions shortly, they are getting 16 lions (2 prides) fmor another reserve and they will run wild here. My PH was of the opinion that this might be a problem, a friend of his is the Manger of a large reserve owned by the oppenheimer family of a similar size and the lions have on several occasions responded to gunshots. The lions themselves are rarely hunted becasue of the cost.
 
Anybody know if starting a campfire near a kill would help deter a big furry, or if it would just keep him warm while he feasted on your bones?
 
Fires often draw curisoity. Some will talk of the smell being an attractant, but if you already smell and have game then,....

I don't know the real answer but have heard that a fire is better than not having one. I have had campfires everytime I packed overnight and have not had problems. There are so many variants on what the bears have been exposed to. A wild bear with little human contact, I'm sure would stay away from a fire. As for sociable bears, well you could be damned if ya do, damned if ya don't, o it's just as wellya do have a fire I guess.

We set up a perimiter line once with a bell. Christ!!!! it was goin off every ten minutes. I had a 444 pointed at evrything from a grouse to frog!!

Should have set the line higher.
 
Just like some deer are conditioned to go nocturnal after the first gunshots of the GOS so too can a bear be conditioned to the sound of a rifle/gun shot and associate it with an easy meal. Most areas where these shots take place have a season on grizzly and black bears so they still have a fear of humans but once and a while things go south. Being aware of what might happen and exercising caution is one thing but don't get paranoid. The media sensationalizes these human animal confrontations. The carnage in the woods pales in comparison to our public highways and I bet you drive every day.
 
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