Diary of a Wisconsin Bear Guide 7-30-2012
By Mike Foss
Had to laugh while baiting. We have a bait station we call Big Red Hill Bait. You have to travel by ATV to get to it. We round the corner and there she is; 150 yards of steep red clay. We push the button for 4-wheel drive, lean forward, white knuckles all the way up the trail. Any passenger with you has to get off and walk the hill, fearing a rollover.
It rained the day before our trek today, washing good tracks away and making the trail especially greasy. After making it to the top and baiting the Big Red Hill station, now it was time for my descent back down. Putting the machine in neutral so there was no back fire, and easing down I noticed there were already bear tracks over my ATV tracks from the climb up.
As I slid down the hill, I had to laugh out loud as I visualized the bear only moments ahead of me. I obviously had bumped a bear at the bait and as he ran down, it became more of a slide and roll down the Big Red Hill than a stroll through the forest. You could see where he was sliding in panic, lost his footing and finally slid to a stop at the bottom. What a carnival ride it must have been for him. Ohhhh the adventures of a bear guide. This is why I love doing this; you never know what the next day in the great outdoors will bring.
We abandoned a bait station on Tuesday we called the Grade Bait. I had too. I have baited this stand site for over a Month now. I didn't like what I was seeing. It was a great set up. The hunter would be well hidden but it became apparent that a smart bear also knows where the stand was. I started to notice a well-worn trail coming in from behind the stand and down- wind from the hunter. This bear, or bears, would definitely wind anyone who would be on stand on what is now their main trail.
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| Already and in a few years, this young boar has all the characteristics to grow into one of the bears that hunters dream about. Note big head, long wide snout and long body. | A territorial ‘marking tree used by bears. Eventually every bear in the area will visit and leave their calling card on this tree. Its equivalent to you and me going to a wedding and signing the guest book. I was here.... |
With the old stand out of play, I did some scouting and located a nice spot about a half mile away. The new stand has very thick cover. The hunter probably won’t see the bear until it is practically on top of him. I believe the same bears will eventually venture to this new bait station. I believe I made a good move and choice. Time will soon tell won’t it?
Until next week, have fun in the great outdoors.