Trailcam pics

[SwampCat]

Bears are expanding in my home state of Arkansas. It is a management success story that our G&F is quick to tout, but it is an animal almost no one wants on their property. A lot of people like bears - as long as they are on someone else’s land. Kind of like gators - lot of folks that dont live with them think they are cool to see - but would you really want one in you pond where your dogs swim and grand kids fish?

I would not want hunting land in bear or wolf country.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Bears are expanding in my home state of Arkansas. It is a management success story that our G&F is quick to tout, but it is an animal almost no one wants on their property. A lot of people like bears - as long as they are on someone else’s land. Kind of like gators - lot of folks that dont live with them think they are cool to see - but would you really want one in you pond where your dogs swim and grand kids fish?

I would not want hunting land in bear or wolf country.

Bears are no fun to have around, I can tell you. They do a lot of damage, even when it's not for food. Curiosity, play, reaching/stretching - and for food. A neighboring camp on our mountain had a bear tear the lid off a big outdoor chest freezer, hinges and all, to get to an empty hot dog wrapper left in it from the previous hunting season. Nothing else in that freezer! We had numerous things damaged at our own camp over the years, including an underground heavy-walled poly water line. Backhoe service needed to replace that fiasco. Best time see a bear for us ...... in our crosshairs.

Feelslikefar - Good video of that bear. Thanks for posting.

 

[Feelslikefar.]

Never seen a live bear when I wasn't driving, not sure I care to. I've gone back and forth over the years. Used to have zero interest in shooting a bear. Then one tore a giant hole in the side of the cabin, did huge amounts of damage, not just to the structure but things inside. Then I changed to "I'll kill every bear I lay my eyes on!" Gone back and forth a few times. Not sure where I am now, it'd probably be a game time decision. Frankly that's how all my deer hunting has ever been... "Do I really want to shoot this thing?" For many years the answer was usually no and I didn't.
I can usually tell when bears have been about, things in the yard turned over. My nephew, while not young, is still a fairly new hunter and still in the "killer" phase, I have no doubt he'd shoot a bear in a second. So I have no doubt eventually I'll be trying to get one out of the woods whether I shoot one or not.

 

[West_Fork]

Never seen a live bear when I wasn't driving, not sure I care to. I've gone back and forth over the years. Used to have zero interest in shooting a bear. Then one tore a giant hole in the side of the cabin, did huge amounts of damage, not just to the structure but things inside. Then I changed to "I'll kill every bear I lay my eyes on!" Gone back and forth a few times. Not sure where I am now, it'd probably be a game time decision. Frankly that's how all my deer hunting has ever been... "Do I really want to shoot this thing?" For many years the answer was usually no and I didn't.
I can usually tell when bears have been about, things in the yard turned over. My nephew, while not young, is still a fairly new hunter and still in the "killer" phase, I have no doubt he'd shoot a bear in a second. So I have no doubt eventually I'll be trying to get one out of the woods whether I shoot one or not.

That's me too. Whenever I get an animal in the sights I listen for that small voice to say yes or no before I pull the trigger. Proximity to a road is always a factor, but my gut and tying to listen to God is what makes the decision. I am struggling right now in turning the cat hunters loose to reduce the cougars. I like the big cats, but when you get threes and twos on camera, it seems a bit much.

I did have a bear years ago bust the window on a trailer trying to get to the cinnamon bears I left on table. That's ironic. Maybe I should bust in his den and look for some sour patch kids?

Anyone have an opinion on what might be going on with this deer?

 

[Feelslikefar.]

Cat damage?

 

[West_Fork]

Cat damage?

Or maybe it just ruffled its feathers? Or maybe browsing in some wet veg? I think its nothing other than my cwd paranoia. I am not wearing an N95 mask in the forest yet....



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[Turkey Creek]

Some goofy stuff lately! I have this camera set on interval during prime time. Not sure if I got lucky and the bird just landed as the picture took or the shadow may have triggered the camera. Second picture bird shadow is perched on the camera.