GILLETTE, Wyoming – With archery season beginning in the coming days, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is encouraging hunters to consider bear hunting while hiking this fall.
According to Game and Fish, hunters and bears are often in the same places at the same time during the fall months. From the timing and manner in which they move into the wild to the way they mimic wildlife and handle their carcasses, hunters are at increased risk of encountering bears in the field.
“Hunting big game in bear country requires effort and preparation. We want all hunters and recreationists to enjoy the outdoors and exercise caution when interacting with bears to minimize the risk of bear-human conflict,” said Brian DeBolt, large carnivore conflict coordinator. “We encourage everyone to be alert and prepared for an encounter with a bear.”
According to Game and Fish, several tips can help minimize the risk of conflict with bears:
- Always hunt and lure game with a partner and stay within sight of each other.
- Stay alert and watch for bear tracks, scat, carcasses and piles of entrails.
- Retrieve the game as quickly as possible and watch for approaching bears while gutting and butchering. The longer the game is in the field, camp, or in the back of a vehicle, the more likely it is to be spotted by a bear.
- Have the proper equipment to quarter the carcass and hang it from a tree at least 10 to 15 feet above the ground and 4 feet from the tree trunk. Separate the carcass from the entrails and place the carcass in a location that can be viewed from a safe distance if the deer must remain on the ground overnight.
- Make noise when retrieving the deer. Use binoculars to scan the area for bears and determine if the deer has been disturbed by bears before approaching the carcass.
- Note that bears often make a resting place near carcasses killed by hunters.
- If a bear has eaten your carcass, leave the area and report the incident to the Game and Fisheries Department. Do not try to scare the bear away.
- Bears actively defend their food, their young, and their personal habitat. In the fall, bears actively search for food before settling in for the winter.
- Carry bear repellent with you and know how to use it.
- Many aggressive bears have been deterred by the use of bear spray. In bear country, people should always carry EPA-approved bear spray and have it easily accessible.
- Know where seasonal food sources, such as berries, are for bears and avoid or be cautious when entering these areas.
- If you see ravens or other scavengers in the area, it is a good sign that a food source is nearby and there may be a bear in the area. Avoid these areas if possible.
- Keep camp clean – before going to bed and each time you leave camp, put all garbage, food, drinks, pet food and other bait in a solid-sided vehicle or RV. Food should be hung from a tree 10 to 15 feet above the ground and you should sleep at least 300 feet away from food storage and cooking/eating areas.
“We hope that all people hunting in bear country will take appropriate precautions before hunting,” Debolt said in a statement.
For more information about safe recreation in bear country, visit the Game and Fish Bear Wise website.
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