Expert: Mongo - 10/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: Mongo,
I am an avid hunter and live N Lexington, KY. Kentucky will B having its 1rst limited bear season this December (1-2 days). However, the regulations prevent hunters from using the best methods of hunting them...dogs and baiting. I figure there's only 2 viable options (other than sitting and waiting)...a bear drive or calling them N. The terrain in eastern KY and fact there will B only 2 of us quickly excluded the bear drive option for me.  I put N 20-30 days a year coyote calling with good success. Would u say a fawn or elk calf N distress would B one of the better calls? Are there any calls or recordings of any type of bear sounds that work? How long does it take a bear 2 respond on average? Do they require constant calling, like most bobcats? Any other tips or ideas u would suggest would B appreciated?
Thanks,
Bill

ANSWER: Hello Bill,

Well Bill...to begin, I have been told that both fawn and elk calf distress are excellent calls for bear, by people who have specifically set out for, and called, bear........ However, let me add that I, personally, have never called in a bear... A few times I have had mountain lions show up when I was calling for lesser predators, but never a bear...but then I have never been in "bear country" when calling, nor have I ever tried to call bear.

To be honest, I can not give you any first-hand information on your questions, and I won't offer information on a subject that I don't have personal knowledge on...... But, let me direct you to some people who can....... This is a predator calling forum. It belongs to a fella called "Uncle Buck". He is a fine gentleman and a very knowledgeable caller in his own right. Also, some of the top predator callers in the nation are members of this forum... There will be people here who can help you...but you will have to join the forum to post questions... But, I assure you, there are people there who can give you any information you may need concerning calling bears...... I just went there and I see that they are presently undergoing maintenance, but they should be back up and running again in a few days.
   
http://www.thepredatorhunter.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl

Sorry that I can offer nothing more than this Bill,

Mongo


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the advice on who to contact for the bear calling question. I did have one other question if you don't mind? I use some sort of cover scent while deer hunting, especially while bow hunting. I feel its. Much mor important than any sort of deer urine attractor. I hav been after a particular buck that a 20 yard shot was fouled up when my release broke.  Most of the time I use fox or coon urine, but, but almost feel he is on to me and when he smells the same cover scent is associating the fox urine with me trying to stick him w/an arrow. First of all, do you think its possible this may be what's happening? Second, do you think coyote urine would be good to use since I hav a half gallon of it from trapping? There are lots of coyotes (hardly any foxes) in the area and I'm sure heks smelled it before, but I would coyote urine potentially scare any deer away or work well as a cover scent?
Thanks again,
Bill

Answer
Hello again Bill,

As for cover scent... When predator calling, and if I used cover scent, I generally used skunk essence... When deer hunting, whether with rifle, handgun, or bow, I seldom ever used a cover scent.

Actually Bill, "AllExperts" has a number of volunteers, each with a particular area of expertise...  My area of expertise here at "AllExperts" is in trapping and predator calling the general or usually trapped and called furbearers... This leaves out the larger predators such as wolves, mountain lions, and bears. They are more of a "specialized" group of animals when trapping or calling is concerned...... Because there are people here at "AllExperts" who's area of expertise is in deer hunting with rifles, and others who specialize in deer hunting with a bow, or even with handguns, they are here specifically to answer those particular questions you have, and they would be better to ask than I would on this matter... While I could provide answers to some of your deer hunting questions, this is not my area, it's theirs, and they would be the ones to ask.

Mongo