Bear Ripoffs In High Peaks

[DAVID R. GROESBECK]

Hi. I'm New To The Forum-altho Not To Backpacking,hiking,canoeing & Hunting In The Adirondacks-45 Years +. The Closest I've Been To The High Peaks In Many Years Is The Cold River Area Of The Np Trail-usually Early In Spring Or Late In Fall. I'm Just Curious...why Aren't More Hunters Attracted To The Eastern High Peaks During Early Bear & Regular Northern Tier Big Game Seasons? Admittedly,it's A Rugged Area W/challenging Logistics For Removing Harvested Game,but Certainly Not Impossible For Small Parties Of Experienced Hunters. Game Animals Often Adopt Potentially Dangerous & Antisocial(if You Will...) Habits When They Lose Their Fear Of People. It Would Seem Likely That If Even A Few Predatory Bears Were Removed By Legitimate Hunting Methods This Problem Would Be Alleviated Considerably. I Don't Know About Anyone Else,but I'm Not Independently Wealthy. I'd Have To Work A Good Bit Of Overtime To Replace A Destroyed Internal Frame Backpack,or Whatever Other Expensive Gear A Bear Might Destroy Looking For Food. Anyone Have Any Thoughts? Another Unrelated Question-anyone Hear Anything About The Final Disposition Of The Case Of That Guy Who Was Arrested(& Handcuffed!) By The Dec For Initiating An Allegedly False Search & Rescue Operation From His Personal Locator Beacon? I Saw It In The Local Papers As Well As The Adirondack Explorer About A Year Ago. Thanks.

[Rik]

I have a funny story about bear hunting in the high peaks. The only time I've had my food taken by a bear was about 8 years ago near the Opalescent. The food was well hung... but obviously not well enough. There were claw marks up the tree and then what must have been a well placed leap to the food bag. In the morning coffee was all that was left. As we cleaned up the mess and had some coffee we noticed the bears tracks right around the tent containing my friend and my 130lbs Rottweiler and more tracks around my bivy. Literally in a circle around my bivy. None of us ever heard the bear. So it was fall and we had planned to climb Cliff but without any food knew that would be pushing it. Along comes a bear hunter. Followed the tracks right up to our campsite. He had a big laugh at our story and proceded to feed us with extra clam chowder and bread that he had in his pack basket. He said he sleeps up against it with his rifle in his lap. So after chowder and bread we were feeling pretty good and climbed Cliff. The hunter said he was mostly just scouting since getting a bear out of there would be quite a haul by himself. We thanked him and wished him luck finding a bear with a belly full of cheese, peanut butter, bread, dog food,... I can remember being very hungry on the hike out until about half way from the Flowed Lands and Upper Works when I ran into a hiker that was complaining about all the extra food he had carried up Marcy and back. I offered to relieve him of some of his food and he gratefully accepted. You can imagine my friends look when he comes staggering up the trail to find me sitting in the middle of the trail eating!
I do however wonder how helpful to the bear problem hunting would be. For bears I think much of it is a risk/reward decision and if on most days they get to eat campers food the reward would probably outweigh the risk. I think getting rid of the reward is the only viable solution.

[redhawk]

I'm Just Curious...why Aren't More Hunters Attracted To The Eastern High Peaks During Early Bear & Regular Northern Tier Big Game Seasons?

Lots of hunters + Lots of City Peakbaggers = Disaster

Hmmm, although it could serve to whittle down the two-legged population a little.

[lumberzac]

I think it has to do with the distances and terrain one would have to drag a bear as well as the high number of people that are always in the area that keep many hunters from effectively hunting the high peaks. There are some hardy soles that do hunt the area; I seem to remember reading last year that someone shot a 500lb male in that area.


Hawk, any idea when the state will start giving out licenses for tourist season?

[redhawk]

I think it has to do with the distances and terrain one would have to drag a bear as well as the high number of people that are always in the area that keep many hunters from effectively hunting the high peaks. There are some hardy soles that do hunt the area; I seem to remember reading last year that someone shot a 500lb male in that area.


Hawk, any idea when the state will start giving out licenses for tourist season?

I'm working on the application right now.........