Bears.

[cg21]

So woke up at 4am sitting having my coffee enjoying Mountain View’s in Gatlinburg start breakfast at 6 for the family…

Out of the corner of my eye I see something pass by the window….. I go to the front door…. Where a cheap exterior door with a large window is the only thing between me and mama bear. She sees me and proceeds to jump up onto the door….. every cub there after does the same all learning to check the doors.

So it was a pretty cool experience for an Indiana boy…. But I am just thinking how many times does that work? And the bear gets in? Because she wouldn’t try it if it hasn’t worked in the past and she is training 4 cubs to do the same. I couldn’t IMAGINE waking up to 4 LARGE cubs and giant mama rummaging through the house.

Really had me reconsidering my lcr .38 on me only. (When I was out hiking I had 43x so plenty for a black bear but this was just in the cabin)


On a side note heard from a local the day before a guy wanted to be “tough” shot a mom and cubs that were over 40yds away with obstacles in between the judge made an example of him 5 YEARS without parole. They said he wasn’t in imminent danger because instead of going in the cabin he went into his trunk and loaded his gun to shoot the bear and a cub.

 

[Leadeye]

That's a lot of bears in one place.

 

[cg21]

And no I did NOT feed the bears although I suspect many do.

 

[freekforge]

I know a tourist shot one on the breeze way of a hotel a few years back and went to jail for it.

That had to be a pretty cool experience having them up that close. I was probably 5 yards from one a couple weeks ago and I felt way too close and we were in a locked car.

I used to carry my 43 with hard cast buffalo bore in a chest rig while hiking in black bear country only because a usfs ranger said he's seen HSTs fail on big game. Now I carry a 10mm for brown and black bear. Or a 357 for just black. That ranger recommended a duty size 9mm loaded with hard cast and a light that extends beyond the muzzle to use as a stand off if you're being mauled. That was for black and brown up in Alaska.

 

[cg21]

I know a tourist shot one on the breeze way of a hotel a few years back and went to jail for it.

That had to be a pretty cool experience having them up that close. I was probably 5 yards from one a couple weeks ago and I felt way too close and we were in a locked car.

I used to carry my 43 with hard cast buffalo bore in a chest rig while hiking in black bear country only because a usfs ranger said he's seen HSTs fail on big game. Now I carry a 10mm for brown and black bear. Or a 357 for just black. That ranger recommended a duty size 9mm loaded with hard cast and a light that extends beyond the muzzle to use as a stand off if you're being mauled. That was for black and brown up in Alaska.

Ok in the breezeway of a hotel could be and I think should be perceived as a threat. But obvious the situation would have a lot of variables. Maybe I will get a 10 for next time but I don’t feel undergunned with the 15rnds of 9mm in black bear country.

 

[KellyinAvon]

And no I did NOT feed the bears although I suspect many do.

They were obviously coming for breakfast.

 

[Dholcomb]

Just be glad the bears weren’t on cocaine.

 

[cg21]

The Airbnb is replacing the door apparently they said they haven’t had that issue in this particular area and I guess I was in actual danger lol they said once they start hopping up like that only a matter of time before they break the glass

 

[freekforge]

Ok in the breezeway of a hotel could be and I think should be perceived as a threat. But obvious the situation would have a lot of variables. Maybe I will get a 10 for next time but I don’t feel undergunned with the 15rnds of 9mm in black bear country.

If I remember right he wasn't even all the way out the door so they argued he could take one step back and not be in danger anymore.

Some of the bears I seen I think my mean 3 year old son could have taken them down bare handed so I never felt undergunned with my 43. The bigger guns are for the wife's comfort. She's always worried about the bear bait... I mean kids.

Those cabins down slope from anakeesta?

 

[BigRed]

So woke up at 4am sitting having my coffee enjoying Mountain View’s in Gatlinburg start breakfast at 6 for the family…

Out of the corner of my eye I see something pass by the window….. I go to the front door…. Where a cheap exterior door with a large window is the only thing between me and mama bear. She sees me and proceeds to jump up onto the door….. every cub there after does the same all learning to check the doors.

So it was a pretty cool experience for an Indiana boy…. But I am just thinking how many times does that work? And the bear gets in? Because she wouldn’t try it if it hasn’t worked in the past and she is training 4 cubs to do the same. I couldn’t IMAGINE waking up to 4 LARGE cubs and giant mama rummaging through the house.

Really had me reconsidering my lcr .38 on me only. (When I was out hiking I had 43x so plenty for a black bear but this was just in the cabin)


On a side note heard from a local the day before a guy wanted to be “tough” shot a mom and cubs that were over 40yds away with obstacles in between the judge made an example of him 5 YEARS without parole. They said he wasn’t in imminent danger because instead of going in the cabin he went into his trunk and loaded his gun to shoot the bear and a cub.

I've been putting in for points in Michigan for 10 years.

Maybe I should just book an airbnb in Gatlinburg!


"I feared for my life! Swear to God I did! Do you know a good taxidermist?"

 

[cg21]

I've been putting in for points in Michigan for 10 years.

Maybe I should just book an airbnb in Gatlinburg!


"I feared for my life! Swear to God I did! Do you know a good taxidermist?"


10yrs and still not enough points? Or just haven’t gotten around to it yet? I’ve been putting in for 4.

View attachment 274199

 

[cg21]

If I remember right he wasn't even all the way out the door so they argued he could take one step back and not be in danger anymore.

Some of the bears I seen I think my mean 3 year old son could have taken them down bare handed so I never felt undergunned with my 43. The bigger guns are for the wife's comfort. She's always worried about the bear bait... I mean kids.

Those cabins down slope from anakeesta?

This time we were in wears valley. Off the beaten path a bit and I liked it we got to see stuff we never have in wears valley and townsend

 

[cg21]

If I remember right he wasn't even all the way out the door so they argued he could take one step back and not be in danger anymore.

Some of the bears I seen I think my mean 3 year old son could have taken them down bare handed so I never felt undergunned with my 43. The bigger guns are for the wife's comfort. She's always worried about the bear bait... I mean kids.

Those cabins down slope from anakeesta?

So they have signs all over that say if bears get too accustomed to people that they get put down by dnr…. But a ”civilian” does it and gets 5yrs…. Not sure how I feel about that.

 

[BigRed]

Different areas require different levels of points for the draw

 

[cg21]

Different areas require different levels of points for the draw

Gotcha what is your plan? You have to go guided there don’t you? Bait or dogs?

admittedly I haven’t done much research other than applying for points I started applying when my daughter told me that was the #1 animal she wanted to hunt.

 

[BigRed]

Gotcha what is your plan? You have to go guided there don’t you? Bait or dogs?

admittedly I haven’t done much research other than applying for points I started applying when my daughter told me that was the #1 animal she wanted to hunt.

Still working on it.

Getting drawn as a nonresident is a long shot...approx 5%!

Also looking into KY and TN. Chances are higher, but MI is on the bucket list.

 

[BigRed]

Gotcha what is your plan? You have to go guided there don’t you? Bait or dogs?

admittedly I haven’t done much research other than applying for points I started applying when my daughter told me that was the #1 animal she wanted to hunt.

There are several outfitters in VT and Maine that are out there as well, but I'm hoping for a wild hunt

 

[cg21]

Still working on it.

Getting drawn as a nonresident is a long shot...approx 5%!

Also looking into KY and TN. Chances are higher, but MI is on the bucket list.

Well I guess I will just keep getting points then. Any other “close” states that have a points system I should start donating to?

Applied for youth elk draw in KY this year my first time applying out of state

 

[BigRed]

Well I guess I will just keep getting points then. Any other “close” states that have a points system I should start donating to?

Applied for youth elk draw in KY this year my first time applying out of state

KY looks interesting for bear.

Finding land to hunt can be the tough part

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Some folks say there ain't no bears in Arkansas
Some folks never seen a bear at all
Some folks say that bears go around eating babies raw
Some folks got a bear across the hall

Some folks say that bears go around smelling bad
Others say that a bear is honey sweet
Some folks say this bear's the best I ever had
Some folks got a bear beneath their feet

-- Lyle Lovett, "Bears"