Author Topic: 2003 Minnesota Black Bear Hunt (Read 4299 times)

talon · « **on:** March 22, 2003, 12:57:20 PM »

Go to www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/bear/hunt2003.html#drawings if you are interested in this subject. Lots of on line info and application forms for out-of-staters can be found here.

freddogs · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2003, 02:15:46 PM »

Thanks for the reminder.

John A · « **Reply #2 on:** April 03, 2003, 03:57:53 AM »

Talon, Are you from Minnesota and do you know of any good outfitters in that state that do a good job! I'm from illinois and have thought about going to Canada but Min would be alot closer.

Thanks,
John Anderson

talon · « **Reply #3 on:** April 06, 2003, 06:36:40 AM »

John, an email has been sent. Another big difference is that MN uses a lottery system, but most of Canada sells tags to whomever pays the price. If you are one of the "85% selected", you'll be notified by late July. This means that if you aren't selected, it only leaves a month to make other plans, and most Canadain outfits are fully contracted by then. The MN lottery(applications are free) does not distinguish between residents and non-residents: it's criteria centers on the number of times you've applied and have/have not been selected.

rdc in MN · « **Reply #4 on:** April 07, 2003, 11:11:37 AM »

Minnesota also has a no qouta area that is not by drawing-over the counter,one lic. two tags.
the drawing is for one lic. one tag.
I don't know of any outfitters up there since I live in the sw corner of the state.
Use the link and then click on bear at the top of the page, it will take you back to the first bear hunting page.
On that page look for the "Minnesota bear hunting guides" heading, there are six pages of guides you can check out.

freddogs · « **Reply #5 on:** April 08, 2003, 05:58:42 AM »

I know they have some outfitters in the no quota zone because my buddy hunted with one last year . I don't know the name but I think it was near Hinckley.

talon · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2003, 03:51:31 PM »

Only about a week left to apply for the Minnesota Bear lottery. For more info refer to the first entry in this thread.

Bearman · « **Reply #7 on:** April 27, 2003, 10:13:32 AM »

:grin: If your looking for a nice area to hunt blackies in northern Minnesota's no-quota zone, call the "North Star Motor Inn" It"s located thirtyfive miles north of Thief River Falls, in the small town of Karlstad. Ask for Johnathan!. I own some land up there and love that part of country. good luck

talon · « **Reply #8 on:** June 04, 2003, 07:34:08 AM »

This year's MN Bear Hunt Lottery "winners" have been posted on the DNR web site. I understand that just about everyone who applied in some areas were successful due to an unusual low number of applicants this year. If you still are considering a MN bear hunt, take a look at the MN DNR Bear Hunt web page and consider getting a 'tag' on or soon after 4 August for the 1 Sept- mid Oct season.

Moose-Hunter · « **Reply #9 on:** June 04, 2003, 12:34:15 PM »

Who all drew a MN tag? Did you, talon? What's the annual success rate usually at on getting one of those bears?

talon · « **Reply #10 on:** June 04, 2003, 01:13:12 PM »

Yes, I got a tag, and all I know got one, too. That's for area 25. It was way undersubscribed. Success rate: after sitting on a stump for 6 days 90 out of 100 serious hunters around here see a bear... of those, about 85 shoot. Of those, about 75 hit what they shoot at. Of those, about 67 find theirs in enough time to save the meat, and maybe 2 more find theirs the next day. That's my closest unscientific guesstimate after observing what has happened these past 10 seasons in my local area. Some guides use the first number (90%) as the "success rate". Most hunters use "67" as their overall "success rate". Depends on what your criteria is, I suppose. The way you hunt bear here is with Bait. And, you don't bother hunting unless you have a bear eating your bait (even though it could be that it doesn't come around until after dark). Also, if you hit one, and it runs off you usually quickly get 3 or 4 buddies to surch for it as the swamps and breaks here are very thick. Generally speaking, if it travels further than 200 yards you are not going to find it. Ever.

rdc in MN · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2003, 08:41:19 AM »

I drew a tag (area 26), the winner notification notice states that " 35% of Minnesota bear hunters harvest a bear".
This will be my first year and I might not be going since my hunting partner and his wife are expecting their first child in september.
I have heard that alot of people have given up on bear hunting in MN. after last years low harvest.

talon · « **Reply #12 on:** June 09, 2003, 07:50:15 AM »

Notice that I said "serious hunters". The 35% overall is because quite a few apply and either then don't buy a licence or do buy one and then don't go for one reason or another, or only hunt for a day or so. Also, a serious hunter doesn't worry about wives or babies or martian invasions or the stock market going to heck... They go hunting.

talon · « **Reply #13 on:** June 23, 2003, 06:05:53 AM »

Because there were so few Bear Hunt applicants in most of the bear hunt areas in Minnesota this year, and also probably because of the DNR's new data automated licence selection and issuing capability, a small revision in the licence granting procedure is being considered. The change is this: after those non-successful applicants who wanted to hunt in a certain area have a chance to instantly apply and purchace a tag in another area on 4 August those tags still remaining will be available for sale on or shortly after 11 August. (the season opens 1 Sept). If this proposed change gets blessed by the powers that be, the change will be officially announced. If and when I hear of it, I'll post again on this thread.

talon · « **Reply #14 on:** June 30, 2003, 03:44:54 AM »

A person in the MN DNR has advised me that the law was passed to sell all remaining bear licences (right now, about 5,000) on a first come-first served basis, starting at Noon, CDT, on 11 August. One licence per hunter. For details, call the MN DNR Info Person at 1-888-646-6367.

talon · « **Reply #15 on:** August 11, 2003, 02:46:45 PM »

Today is August 11th and the remaining bear tags are indeed being sold. I was out scouting yesterday(MN, area 25) and never saw so many wild plum and choke cherries! Very few bugs, probably because of the dryness. It's so hot (in the 80s) that Mr bear probably rests in swamp water during the day, at least until 4PM or so. Baiting starts starts in 4 days, the season starts on 1 Sept.

kelly-p · « **Reply #16 on:** August 19, 2003, 01:59:22 AM »

We are to the NW of talon in 12, 13, & 41. The choke cherries were also thick here also but are about done. The wild card around here will be the high bush cranberries as they appear to be producing as much as the choke cherries did. It has been extreemly hot and dry here. Something is wrong when we are at 90 degrees and dusty in northern MN swamps. 12 more days to go. Good hunting all.

talon · « **Reply #17 on:** August 21, 2003, 03:15:29 AM »

Hopefully the heatwave has broken. We had 2" of rain yesterday which really helped the woods out a lot, and for the next few days, at least, the weather will moderate. I hear that 50% of the local baits were 'hit' during the first 3 days which is a very good sign considering the real stressful heat we had going into the season. While 50% may not seem a lot to most hunters, remember, this is just the beginning. In 4 or 6 more days the guides will abandon inactive baits and concentrate their attention only on the good ones. Then the percentage will be 85-90%....

talon · « **Reply #18 on:** August 26, 2003, 04:29:56 PM »

Area 25 Update: Baiting is very successful. For some unknown reason lots of baits are being ' hit' even thou there's much natural feed still out in the woods (though the amount is rapidly tapering off). The really hot days have become fewer, too. As a matter of fact, later this week we are to see night temps in the high 30s! The season will open in 6 more days (on a Monday yet!).

Satchmo · « **Reply #19 on:** August 27, 2003, 08:53:14 AM »

Hey there Talon, don't know about you, but with the baits going good and just 5 days to go, I'm about ready to crawl out of own skin!! Things look great and the weather report looks even better for the start of the season. You gotta love the anticipation.......Satchmo

talon · « **Reply #20 on:** August 29, 2003, 11:57:15 AM »

Providing there's no T-storms on Opening day (this coming Monday) I believe everyone at the camp will have an excellent opertunity to at least see a bear over their bait. This looks like it will be one of the better seasons. The weather has definately changed for the better.

talon · « **Reply #21 on:** September 03, 2003, 08:42:40 AM »

This is the 3rd day of the season, and most of the Area 25 opening day hunters, using guides, have their rugs in salt, roasts in the cooler, and are busy telling war stories now. Lots of big bears are getting taged. And, there's 6 weeks left!

talon · « **Reply #22 on:** September 08, 2003, 11:40:03 AM »

This is the 8th day of the hunt. The first week has been the best in many many years here in the northern part of Minnesota. 14 of 17 hunters in one nearby camp, and even a better ratio in the only other nearby camp made this a banner opener. There was one 400 pounder (huge for up here) and several 300 pounders brought in. Currently we are into a 3 day 'heat wave' (70+ degrees) that has tempered activity somewhat, but a cool front is forcast in 2 more days. Still, very little moisture during the past 10 days. And, the DNR still has licences to sell!

Moose-Hunter · « **Reply #23 on:** September 09, 2003, 08:18:41 PM »

talon,

Have you shot a bear yet?

talon · « **Reply #24 on:** September 10, 2003, 05:18:50 AM »

Yep. Not a huge one, but one of the bigger ones I've harvested during the last 10 years. I think I've mentioned that while Minnesota isn't noted for especially big Blackies, there's certainly LOTS of them. This one was a Sow going around 200#, 57" nose to tail. About 4 miles from my house. Got it to the skinning shop within 2 hours so it will cook up well. From what I understand, the hunt is still going quite well even in the heat. Today and tomorrow the temp will be down in the 40s and 50s, with a few sprinkles, and that will be of some help.

Moose-Hunter · « **Reply #25 on:** September 10, 2003, 08:48:04 PM »

Congrats on your bear. Got any pictures to share? What was your weapon of choice to kill her with?

talon · « **Reply #26 on:** September 11, 2003, 04:47:41 AM »

I took several e-pictures, but I don't have the capability of posting them on this board. I can email them, however. The rifle is a 'Smith built rain proof number based on a '98 receiver, Timney trigger, plastic stock w/bedding, and a 26" Douglas air-gauged barrel in 35 Whelen. A Redfield 6x Low Profile assists. It's a 1/4 moa piece. I like the ' water-proof' part the best.

Moose-Hunter · « **Reply #27 on:** September 11, 2003, 03:42:53 PM »

talon,

I'll post those pictures for you if want. Just send an email my way.

Email addy: moosehunter@eudoramail.com

I dunno if I'm more interested in the bear pictures now or the rifle. Really nice rifle by the sounds of it!

talon · « **Reply #28 on:** September 17, 2003, 10:40:44 AM »

As of the 16th day of the hunt, the guide I use reports 35 bears for 50 hunters. Some of those bearless hunters are still hunting, but some missed, or passed on their opertunity. That guide estimates his " success rate" ( bringing a shootable bear and a hunter together) at about 96%: so far it's been a real good year with much bigger bears than usual, and LOTS of bears overall. The thinking is that all the good berry and fruit crop kept some of the bears, especially the 350+ sized ones, from moving to the grain fields to the South as is normal.
These past 4 days have been slow, bear activity-wise: It's been hot and windy. Also, reports from a few areas of the State indicate that some areas are only having ' average' success, but no area is having less than average (isn't that the Lake Wo-be-gone Motto " everyone is above average"... well, it's true for bears this year)
I took 'moose-hunter' up on his offer, and sent several pictures to him 6 days ago.

Moose-Hunter · « **Reply #29 on:** September 17, 2003, 07:53:51 PM »

And here is a couple of the pictures talon sent to me. Thanks for sharing them with us! Now just need a picture of the rifle that took this nice bear!