Kentucky will have it's first bear season in more than 100 years. Although the quota numbers are conservative it's a start. The season limit will be 10 total or 5 females, which ever is achieved first and will only be open in Harlan, Letcher, and Pike counties.

 

Anyone plan on trying for one?

Wait, you will be able to shoot 10 bear?

Wait, you will be able to shoot 10 bear?

Total for the entire state.

Not individually.

I found the details of the bear hunt to be pretty interesting:

 

First of all, the "season" is scheduled at a time when most black bears (particularly females) either have made or are making their way into their dens for hibernation. Obviously, it's illegal to harvest any bear from its den.

 

Secondly, there is no limit on how many hunters are out there going after bears. They require a bear permit, but it's available simply by purchase - no lottery like the elk quota system.

 

On top of that they are limiting the state harvest to 5-10 bears (theoretically). If more than 10 bears are taken in the first day, no one gets in trouble for anything, but the second day of the two-day "season" will be called off. By and large, that says to me 'lots of hunters going after very few bears'.

 

I get the feeling that all in all, there is not enough known about the bear population and how to hunt them in Kentucky at this time. Otherwise, I have a feeling KY Fish & Wildlife would have a more stringent system in place for limiting hunters and harvest numbers. It is the first year, so there is certainly a learning curve to be applied. I just thought those were some interesting details to the hunt.

I found the details of the bear hunt to be pretty interesting:

 

First of all, the "season" is scheduled at a time when most black bears (particularly females) either have made or are making their way into their dens for hibernation. Obviously, it's illegal to harvest any bear from its den.

 

Secondly, there is no limit on how many hunters are out there going after bears. They require a bear permit, but it's available simply by purchase - no lottery like the elk quota system.

 

On top of that they are limiting the state harvest to 5-10 bears (theoretically). If more than 10 bears are taken in the first day, no one gets in trouble for anything, but the second day of the two-day "season" will be called off. By and large, that says to me 'lots of hunters going after very few bears'.

 

I get the feeling that all in all, there is not enough known about the bear population and how to hunt them in Kentucky at this time. Otherwise, I have a feeling KY Fish & Wildlife would have a more stringent system in place for limiting hunters and harvest numbers. It is the first year, so there is certainly a learning curve to be applied. I just thought those were some interesting details to the hunt.

As far as the quota goes it looks to me like they are handling it much like they did the first few years of the bobcat season. I would guess hunting bears in that part of KY wouldn't be much different then hunting bears in WV, TN, or NC. It's all basically the same type of habitat is it not? I would say there shouldn't be much of a problem taking up to 10 bears in 2 days with rifles.

This is a great thing to see in Kentucky. Good luck to anyone lucky enough to go.

Here is somemore info on the Bear hunt in Kentucky this year.................

 

http://fw.ky.gov/newsrelease.asp?nid=664

 

http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1062731.html

As far as the quota goes it looks to me like they are handling it much like they did the first few years of the bobcat season. I would guess hunting bears in that part of KY wouldn't be much different then hunting bears in WV, TN, or NC. It's all basically the same type of habitat is it not? I would say there shouldn't be much of a problem taking up to 10 bears in 2 days with rifles.

 

Good point about the habitat...I guess it's not a difficult stretch to imagine somebody asking a West Virginia, Tennessee or North Carolina hunter how they went about hunting a bear :lol:

 

I'd agree though, I figure they're probably going to have no problem taking the 10 bears in two days.

Good point about the habitat...I guess it's not a difficult stretch to imagine somebody asking a West Virginia, Tennessee or North Carolina hunter how they went about hunting a bear :lol:

 

I'd agree though, I figure they're probably going to have no problem taking the 10 bears in two days.

A friend of mine went bear hunting in Pike Co. The snow was so deep he slid into a ditch on the way to his hunting spot.He said he saw 25 cars off the road. He didn't see another vehicle for 2 hours after after he slid off the road. The passerby helped him get out of the ditch. He called me from his motel room where he didn't have any heat because the electric had been out since before he arrived! The motels cable TV wires were on the ground outside his room. He said if things didn't get any worse he was looking forward to the next days hunt. I told him to call me if he had any luck. It snowed 4 more inches and probably ruined most peoples chance at even getting to their hunting areas. Poor guy drove 5 hours to get there and was shut out by the weather! So the results of this years hunt may be a bust.

A friend of mine went bear hunting in Pike Co. The snow was so deep he slid into a ditch on the way to his hunting spot.He said he saw 25 cars off the road. He didn't see another vehicle for 2 hours after after he slid off the road. The passerby helped him get out of the ditch. He called me from his motel room where he didn't have any heat because the electric had been out since before he arrived! The motels cable TV wires were on the ground outside his room. He said if things didn't get any worse he was looking forward to the next days hunt. I told him to call me if he had any luck. It snowed 4 more inches and probably ruined most peoples chance at even getting to their hunting areas. Poor guy drove 5 hours to get there and was shut out by the weather! So the results of this years hunt may be a bust.

 

...in that case, you may very well be right.

Looks like the weather won out - no bears were taken:

 

http://www.wlwt.com/news/22072665/detail.html

My buddy just found a place in Pike Co. that is reclaimed strip mine land owned by a relative. He says it is a two mile long table top flat area with new woods on it. The owner says it is a magnet for wildlife and the bears love it. This my force me to buy a new rifle. My 270 could get the job done but I would like a little more punch. Guides in Canada like the .308. I have never hunted them myself but one of my hunting buddies got one in Canada. I love southeastern KY. Looks like a killer road trip.

My buddy just found a place in Pike Co. that is reclaimed strip mine land owned by a relative. He says it is a two mile long table top flat area with new woods on it. The owner says it is a magnet for wildlife and the bears love it. This my force me to buy a new rifle. My 270 could get the job done but I would like a little more punch. Guides in Canada like the .308. I have never hunted them myself but one of my hunting buddies got one in Canada. I love southeastern KY. Looks like a killer road trip.

The .270 has better velocity and energy then the .308.

The .270 has better velocity and energy then the .308.

I checked my ballistics charts,and was suprized to see that there was not a lot of difference between the .308 and the .270. I was foaming at the mouth at the thought of buying another rifle,but now I'm not so sure. Been reading up on it. Lots of those in the know say go big on bear and elk because of their thick bone structure and the possiblity of having to track through mountain country. Looks like I need to go with at least a .338 mag to get a large increase in ft.lbs. How about a Browning A bolt with a muzzle break to reduce recoil, custom recoil pad, mouth piece and some pain pills. I am open to all opinions on this matter so tell me what you think boys. Thanks woodsider for causing me to take a closer look.

I checked my ballistics charts,and was suprized to see that there was not a lot of difference between the .308 and the .270. I was foaming at the mouth at the thought of buying another rifle,but now I'm not so sure. Been reading up on it. Lots of those in the know say go big on bear and elk because of their thick bone structure and the possiblity of having to track through mountain country. Looks like I need to go with at least a .338 mag to get a large increase in ft.lbs. How about a Browning A bolt with a muzzle break to reduce recoil, custom recoil pad, mouth piece and some pain pills. I am open to all opinions on this matter so tell me what you think boys. Thanks woodsider for causing me to take a closer look.

You could always just make the jump to the Barrett .50 Cal BMG. :clap:

 

Remember, these animals are taken all the time with stick and string carrying no more then 80-90 ft lbs of energy (a few with a little more and many far far less). It isn't as much the weapon as the placement of the shot.