Black Bears

[stlfisher]

Being eaten alive, slowly, since they prefer muscle first, or bleeding out is dying in style?

Look kids, this forest was fertilized by grandpa's remains in the bear scat. Oh, look at the pretty kitty, is that a mountain lion?

It was a joke. You must have missed it.

[denjac]

Denjac, you think that bear was the same one they saw last year in south Joplin? I'm thinking it probably was.

Could have been Ollie, they said they thought he was a two year old.

[ozark trout fisher]

Being eaten alive, slowly, since they prefer muscle first, or bleeding out is dying in style?

Look kids, this forest was fertilized by grandpa's remains in the bear scat. Oh, look at the pretty kitty, is that a mountain lion?

Come on. You have never been out west, have you? In my time out there (spending a pretty fair amount of time in prime bear country), I never had any really frightening encounters. Deer kill people here in Missouri. They get in the way of our cars, but I don't hear folks saying we should get rid of all of the deer. Bears look a little scarier, but at any density they are likely to reach in Missouri, the will never cause more injuries than good old whitetail deer. If you're scared of bears, carry pepper spray. It's more effective than any gun as bear protection.

[jdmidwest]

Come on. You have never been out west, have you? In my time out there (spending a pretty fair amount of time in prime bear country), I never had any really frightening encounters. Deer kill people here in Missouri. They get in the way of our cars, but I don't hear folks saying we should get rid of all of the deer. Bears look a little scarier, but at any density they are likely to reach in Missouri, the will never cause more injuries than good old whitetail deer. If you're scared of bears, carry pepper spray. It's more effective than any gun as bear protection.

I got rid of 3 deer myself this year, cooking some of its muscle on the grill tonight as we speak. I think I am going to get some of its ground up muscle in the form of summer sausage and toast him with a good cold beer while he cooks.

The reason we hunt them is for population control and for food. They destroy our crops and need some killing off every now and then.

I don't really worry about bears around here, and I always carry a gun in the woods and streams. Its not for the bears, it is for the 2 legged animals that make meth in the woods and stream.

[SKMO]

Can I check in here with some bear stuff (glad the rattlesnakes went away, JDMidwest kind of suckered me into that one)

It's good to see a "lack of hysteria" about black bears. I think they are just slowly moving into MO habitat from Arkansas and points south. I am pretty sure there is no covert bear stocking going on by MDC, but to their credit they are monitoring the natural ingress of the critters. It would be cool if the population got to a point we could have a regulated season down the road, but I am sure this is many years off.

I have encountered more than a few black bears over the years in MN, WI, MT, Pacific NW, AK and Canada, and one in MO. Some up close and very personal. I would describe them as big raccoons.... but that being said a 100 pound raccoon (if one existed) could tear you a new one. A 200 pounder can tear you a serious new one, and replace it with one of his choosing. So yes they are potentially dangerous, but the odds of a big Yogi picking a fight with you in Missouri are, well, pretty much non-existent.

Like a coon they would rather flee than fight, at least in my experience.

The greatest potential of serious endangerment comes as the gas pump on your way to the "bear woods" when Meth Head Willie starts having a bad day. That's when you need to be "Heads Up & Packing".

I have eaten quite a bit of black bear and it is very good. I mean really good. I have dined on several northern (Ontario) bear and maybe the bears down this way are not as tasty. I have not had the opportunity to try any Southern Bear. But I really enjoy a young Ozark coon, properly dressed, and presented with a vintage American brew, so maybe my culinary standards are less than stellar.

Anyway, in my opinion, if anyone hesitates going into an Ozark woods due to fear of a bear, they either need to stay at home or better yet get a mentor to show them the way down the trail. I have more concerns about the trigger-happy, bear-o-phobic citified gun-toter, and the tweaker dude at the gas pump.

Heck at least I can reason with the bear.

All this just my opinion.

[Kayser]

Agree with everything you just said, SKMO. Far more afraid of irresponsible gun handlers and meth-heads. Animals are predictable. People, not so much.

Would also like to add that raccoons are the closest relative of bears in the US, FYI.

Rob

[creek wader]

Agree with everything you just said, SKMO. Far more afraid of irresponsible gun handlers and meth-heads. Animals are predictable. People, not so much.

Would also like to add that raccoons are the closest relative of bears in the US, FYI.

Rob

.

Rob sums it up well, We have more to fear from the people toting guns, that shouldn't be! We all know the type. The ones that say "Here, hold my beer and watch this." ... lol.