Hotspotoutdoors

Has anyone used bear calls while bear hunting in Minnesota?
How about sow urine?

Good question!!!

Good question!!!

They mate in late may early june dont they, Sow urine for an attractant wouldnt do much good I'd think in late summer/fall. But to put out a scent of a sow at a bait site to piis off a mature boar so he comes in early to ward of bait stealers is'nt a bad idea. I've thought about using wounded prey call around the bait site since there more than likekly in the area due to the bait, but thats what I have the bait for. Using one to just hunt without bait I think would be alot of fun, sit donw in a river botom on a travel route or food source a sit an call. I understand they have a short attention span, so if you not able to watch how the bear is reacting to the call he can quickly move on to other things. But if he's in the general area he'll come looking for ya, an youre the meal, what a rush. Boar

Breeding season lasts longer than most people realize. May through July, some breed all the way into August. You could encounter a big old boar still on the prowl when you are hauling bait. Very possible. September might be a stretch but it might still arouse their curiosity. As far as the call goes I was thinking of predator calls.

talked to some guys hunting the same area as we were last year during the first two weeks and they said a few of them were going to go and get a screaming rabbit call to see if the bear is going to come in, but me on the other hand I dont want to meet a bear that has killing an animal on his mind.

It is easy to forget how dangerous bear encounters can be. You don't hear about black bear attacks very often but there are mean ones out there.

Any of you who are bow hunting pack a pistol or gun? I guess I never thought about taking one. How about going in to bait. I always go in without anything other than maybe a knife.

I do now when baiting and when doing research. A few years ago a bear came in after my son while baiting and hanging a stand. Lots of noise and activity prior to the bears arrival. It followed him altering his direction of travel as my son did to the base of the tree, exhibiting predatory behavior the entire time it was behind him. At one of my sites it is common to hear bears moving around close by when baiting. I have dumped 8 to 10 buckets a day at that site.We also have a booming population of Timber Wolves and they have taken to eating bear bait too.

we carry side arms with us when we are doing anything bear related, last year was just my brother carrying his 9mm, but this year I picked up a .40 cal,
havent had to use the side arms yet, last year my brother was setting up his crib and a big buck charged at him from the thickets, he thought it was a bear, that was a good laugh

I've tried calling without any success. I've got a few old VHS tapes detailing the process. I think they were more geared towards the western states though.

Did he start to run or draw his gun? lol

Bogwalker, what did your son do? I'm assuming the bear left but I bet that was scary.

The tree steps were already in so he climbed the tree. He was not armed. The bear left on his own.

Gees, now I am wondering if I should have a side arm when baiting? I don't have one and I don't want to be bear scat.

I don't think many guys do carry a sidearm when baiting. I do because of my own experience.

You could just bring someone along when you are baiting. Just make sure you can outrun him.

AW, good advice.

I carry both hunting and baiting. Its a little nuisance but you never know what or who you are going to run into in the sticks. If using predator calls i think you would have wolves coming in also. Definitly would be using a firearm, hate to be out numbered.

In az you can use a call but no baiting of any type is allowed. you can carry a side arm while bow hunting now use to be that you only had the bow but the sportsmans groups got that changed because of the archery guys hunting on the border.

Just got back from a trip with the family. Amazing how much chatter gose on when ya dissapear for awhile. Bog? what type of preditor call were you refering to in response to my origional post? Walked out the door shortly after I typed it. Boar

I guess I had not thought of a specific call. Probably fawn-in-distress.

Oh ok, I was refering to the same thing in the origional post but called it a prey call. boar