Running into hunters with dogs?

[couesdeerhntr]

So i planing on bear hunting this august and sitting a treestand or ground blind and everyone i have talked to says good luck u will prob not see any bears cuz the dogs will be chasing them all over and u have a better chance glassing them up in the pears. I want to shoot one with my bow not from 300plus yards out. What have you guys experienced? Is there alot of hunters with dogs up in the woods at that time? Any units to recommend where i wont have as much of a problem with that? Are they in the northern units? Been putting a lot of time scouting and found some good areas and was going to buy a treestand but dot want to if hunt is going to be a bust. Never really hunted bears so i dont know how many people are really out. Is it common to run into dogs?

[capoeirajosh]

Not really any way of knowing if it will for sure be a bust or not. I can tell you that there is a better chance of running into houndsmen in the higher country. Not guaranteed to happen though. I would hunt where you want to hunt, BUT have a backup plan. In my opinion you should ALWAYS have a backup plan with any hunting you do. You don't have to go all the way down into the pears. Try some transition areas between pine and desert. Also, you could still go after them in the pears spot and stalk. Thing is, who knows if there are going to be a lot of bears in the pears this year. Some years yes, some know. I am a newb myself, and am sure some more knowledgeable people will chime in. My two cents though. Good luck!!

[naturegirl]

I've hunted in areas with bears for years and only a couple times have I come across hounds. I'm guessing it depends on where you hunt, but with what I've seen over the years I would stay away from canyons.

[kidso]

Stay away from canyons with good road access around them. Those are great areas to cut tracks and send dogs in after bears. However, as long as you are not hunting directly off a road, you should be fine. That being said, the further you hike into a roadless area, the better! Unit 23N is a great unit for running dogs, as are all units with well-maintained forest roads, like units 1 and 27 to name a few. However, units are relatively LARGE areas and there is plenty of room for houndsmen and non-houndsmen alike. In my 20+ years of calling for bear, only once have I ever had hounds impact one of my stands. In fact, I have called in more ranch hands and cattle runners than I have houndsmen! So, hunt the areas you have scouted, and statistically, you should be fine! There is plenty of forest for all of us to hunt.

 

And with our poor winter rains, I too would expect very little bear action in the pears. Some will come, as some always come, but they won't be arriving in droves. The manzanita thickets I have seen are looking great this year!

[couesdeerhntr]

Thanks guys makes me feel a little better about the time i have put in looking for bears and makes me feel better about purting up a stand or two and thanks for the extra info kidso

[LovinthehuntAz]

Stay possitive have many spot that are promising ! Put in the work and it will work out for you buddy!!

[Willyhunts2]

I shot a bear in august a few years ago sitting water in 22N. There are always people running dogs and running around in general up there. Dont let people running dogs change any plans you have. Good luck!

[rcdinaz]

The rim is tough, seems like opening weekend I usually at least hear dogs. As Kidso pointed out I am sure it is becuase road access is pretty good through most of the rim.

 

Last year there were not a ton of bears in the pears like the year before. Talking to successful hunters and a few ranchers there were a ton of bears in the acorns and mesquites. So I really appreciate the tip on the Manzanitas, probably a good area to have on your list this year.

 

Also, looking like it may be a critical year to be very close to water even a lot of holes I am used to seeing that are dried up this year up on the rim. I think we have three bears we got on camera over the last month and all are in the same area where there is a small amount of water always present.

[borntohunt]

I hunt with dogs. Most of the northern units are good for dogs. We try to stay up high for the dogs. So the don't over heat. Units like 4 b 6b 23 south 24 a 24 b 17a 17b 18 b 20a 20b. those all start the Aug. 22 there is some units that start on the 8th like 3b 4b 6b 22 south and 23 south. We caught 3 bears in 2 days last year. Let them all go after pictures. We went to another unit no luck. Went to another unit and caught 2 more. Its hit our miss. I can tell you this that we try and stay out of the archery hunters way. Lots of country just having fun like the rest of you guys. Good luck

[kidso]

Lets see some bears in the trees, borntohunt!