11 replies to this topic

[Cranky Farmer]

Gents, I am looking for some bear hunting in SoCal that doesn't have terribly difficult terrain. I depend on leg braces so that I can walk from a bad case of GBS and steep hills and climbing are impossible for me. I'm going to be here for a few more years until my wife also retires from the Navy and I'd love to get a bear while I am here. Are there any bears down here that are relatively easy to get to on foot? Thanks.

[Desert Fox]

Heath, What is GBS? Finding easy Bear hunt in public land is almost impossible. Me and my buddies hunt's A-Zone for mule deer and we always carry bear tags just in case we see one. Where we hunt, the canyon are steep and deep. We see bears often but they usually hang around in real deep canyons and steep hills. We usually leave them alone because we don't want to kill ourselves retrieving them. My buddy shot a big one one day and, I'm glad I wasn''t there cause, it took them 2 days to retrieved all the meat. The hide alone weighs over 100 lbs. He shot the darn thing, 2 miles from camp and, 8 miles to his truck. You can road hunt or you can just set tight and be quiet and sometime you can get lucky, one might walk by you. It happened to me. It would have been an easy bear, right close to the road and close to camp. I was just setting there, glassing for mullies when this darn thing popped out on the other side of the road where I was seating and he never saw me; the afternoon sun was behind me. He was probably no more than 100 yards and I missed him with my 300 Win Mag, totally. To this day, I keep asking myself how could I missed such a big target. If you are interested and want to check the area out, I'll take you or we can meet over there. I usually go on the opening day but not this year though. I'm taking my daughter to see my folks in the Philippines and won't be back until August 12th. Let me know.

[ShooterJohn]

Heath, What is GBS?

There is a link in his post the underlined GBS but it stand for Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

[Camoghost]

Smallblock, Man, I just read all about your condition and I feel aweful for you my friend. Wish there was something I could do. I'll keep my eyes and ears open for a bear spot.

[D-Man]

That is not an easy situation you are in Heath. Like CG will keep my ears open for some easy spots. Everything I know of is some serious hiking up in mountains right now.Darren

[Cranky Farmer]

Thanks for keeping your eyes and ears open for me, gents. If I don't get a chance to shoot one while I am here I guess I will just have to plan a trip north some where to get one.The GBS really sucked at the time and although my mobility is limited I am no longer in that blasted wheel chair! And when you add in the fact that I can climb back up into my tree stands back in MO and I am able to hunt again I am pretty happy.

[DEERSLAM]

Heath, try to find an area with good numbers of bear and then try calling them to you. You may have to call local Biologists or Fish and Game. Some guys won't give up info that has taken them years to come by.

[mac]

SBF,If you have no success in SoCal and you do decide to come up north I can put you on a good stand where we see bears funneling through a nice draw every year. I used to put my nephews on that stand when we deer hunted and got some nice bucks out of that draw as well, but we always see decent bear (300lbs class) every year. Couple smaller ones 200lbs as well, and is where I shot my 500lbs'er last year, but mine was over a granite ridge and 300yds+ ranged out. I'm hoping next weekend I get the hide back from the rugger.Like I said, if and when you decide to come up north I can get you in a good place, plus my brother-inlaw's dad has hounds (I've never used them, but they always tree a dozen bears every year) - I tend to like fair chase.

[DEERSLAM]

Like I said, if and when you decide to come up north I can get you in a good place, plus my brother-inlaw's dad has hounds (I've never used them, but they always tree a dozen bears every year) - I tend to like fair chase.

Since when is using hounds not fair chase.

[mac]

Since when is using hounds not fair chase.

depends on ones own definition btw, I used to hunt with a dog for deer when I was younger. That dog was trained to tell the diff from does and bucks -- got him hooked on the glands -- he'd chase the does, but only for 10-20yds, but you knew when he was on a buck.also, I have no problems with others using dogs, but my preference isn't to tree an animal with 5-6 hounds - again, to each his/her own.

[DEERSLAM]

I think it comes down to one's own ethics mac...not a matter of fair chase, my .02

[mac]

Agree, as I said earlier...