Bear Damage

[rogersb]

Our camp is on 3B, Lycoming County. Plenty of bears this year. We're on extended rifle season too during buck. Was bear archery ever longer than a week?

It started as a week and expanded in most units to 2 or 3 weeks, some are the entire season. This year its 1 week outside a handful of units.

 

[Ruffdude]

Here is all that’s remaining on this one. One lateral branch , the rest were broken/ damaged. I figured I would get aggressive and prune the broken material off and see what shows up next year and start training a new leader.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Here is all that’s remaining on this one. One lateral branch , the rest were broken/ damaged. I figured I would get aggressive and prune the broken material off and see what shows up next year and start training a new leader.

View attachment 84913

We've had similar damage on a couple trees at camp. I pruned off the damaged stuff - as you plan on doing - and the trees boomed with new growth the following year. They're still doing fine. Keep the faith, friend!!! I think you'll be OK.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

PA early bear season was last week. I hunted Friday and Saturday with no sign. They showed backed up early Monday am.

It seems to always be the case. Disappear when the season's in - show up again when it's over.

 

[RGrizzzz]

It seems to always be the case. Disappear when the season's in - show up again when it's over.

We usually see them early October and that's kind of it. Sometimes they make a brief appearance, sporadically. Two or three years ago some walked under my dad's deer stand around 4:00am when they were in season. They left tracks in the snow. 5+ years ago a saw one born that spring. Too small for me.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

We usually see them early October and that's kind of it. Sometimes they make a brief appearance, sporadically. Two or three years ago some walked under my dad's deer stand around 4:00am when they were in season. They left tracks in the snow. 5+ years ago a saw one born that spring. Too small for me.

October has always had the highest number of bear sightings for me, too. Gorging on everything they can get to fatten up. October seems to have lots of choices for bears then.

 

[Telemark]

Here is all that’s remaining on this one. One lateral branch , the rest were broken/ damaged. I figured I would get aggressive and prune the broken material off and see what shows up next year and start training a new leader.

View attachment 84913

In early summer, when the bark is slipping and the tree is pliable, you can push that branch upright and make it the new leader. I've done that after deer damage.

 

[bigboreblr]

You have enough land to get nuisance / crop damage permits?

MAybe letting another hunter or two come by for early bear could help out too. Might be a new can of worms though.

 

[Dantana]

Do any of you with bears notice a change in deer patterns when the bears show up?