JACKSON, Wyo. — With archery hunting for elk and mule deer approaching, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) has reminded people to take extra precautions when camping and hunting in bear country. Most areas open for archery season on Sunday, Sept. 1; check the WGFD website for specifics.
The hunt areas in and around Jackson Hole that open on Sept. 1 include: Deer Hunt Areas 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 155, 156 and Elk Hunt Areas 78, 80, 81, 82, 85 and 86.
“Hunters and bears are often in the same places at the same time during the fall, and hunters face an increased potential for bear encounters,” WGFD wrote via press release.
According to the WGFD, hunters often pursue game quietly, making it difficult for bears to detect their presence. Hunters will also mask human scent by moving into the wind, which further reduces the chances of bears noticing them.
The WGFD wrote that dawn and dusk are peak times for bear activity, so walking in the backcountry at this time increases the risk of a bear conflict. Using game calls, which mimic the sounds of prey, could inadvertently attract bears. Handling big game carcasses can also draw bears, “as the smell of blood and meat is a strong attractant for these animals.”
“We want all hunters and recreationists to enjoy the outdoors and be bear-wise to minimize the chances of bear-human conflicts,” WGFD Large Carnivore Conflict Coordinator Brian DeBolt said in a statement. “We encourage all to have a heightened awareness and be prepared for an encounter with a bear.”
Hunters can follow these tips to help minimize the chance of a bear conflict:
- Always hunt and call game with a partner and stay within sight of each other.
- Remain alert and watchful for bear tracks, scat, carcasses and gut piles.
- Retrieve game animals as quickly as possible and watch for approaching bears when field dressing and quartering. The longer game is in the field, at camp or in the back of a vehicle, the more likely it is to be discovered by a bear.
- Have the proper equipment to quarter and hang the carcass in a tree at least 10 to 15 feet from the ground and 4 feet from the tree trunk. Separate the carcass from the entrails and place the carcass in an area that can be safely viewed from a distance, if game must be left on the ground overnight.
- Make noise when retrieving game. Use binoculars to search the area for bears and to determine if the game has been disturbed by bears prior to walking up to the carcass.
- Be aware that bears often set up a daybed near hunter-killed carcasses.
- If a bear has claimed a carcass, leave the scene and report the incident to the WGFD. Do not attempt to scare the bear away.
- Bears actively defend their food, their young and their personal space. During the fall, bears actively search for food before denning for winter.
Keeping a clean camp is essential in bear country. Secure all garbage, food items, flavored beverages, pet and livestock food and other attractants in a vehicle or hard-sided camper before going to sleep at night or leaving camp. In the backcountry, store food and coolers suspended from a tree at least 10 to 15 feet high and 4 feet away from the tree trunk. Sleeping areas should be at least 100 yards away from food storage and eating/cooking areas.
To reduce the chance of having a conflict with a bear, follow these precautions:
- Carry a bear deterrent and know how to use it.
- Many aggressive bears have been deterred through the use of bear spray. People should always carry an EPA-approved bear spray where it is easily accessible while in bear country.
- Know where seasonal food sources — like berries — for bears are present and avoid those areas or be cautious when entering them.
- If ravens or other scavengers are in the area, that is an indication that a food source is nearby and a bear could be in the area. Avoid those areas if possible.
Hunters can call a WGFD regional office to learn more about bears in their hunt areas and to report any human-bear conflict. Calls can also be directed to the Game and Fish Stop Poaching Hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP (943-3857).
