They are starting to show up...

[shadeslanding]

This one was captured on my son's game camera on our property up north. Can't wait. Temp. was off. It was more like 60 degrees that day. The feed out there is for deer and other critters. But the bear sure likes it too.
GS

[ssax]

That's awesome. On a pretty damn sad note, I just saw my first bear in real life last weekend on my way up to my cabin in Minong, WI. I'M 28 FREAKIN YEARS OLD. First time. It was runnin across the road just past Spooner, WI. I was like "damn, they are a lot smaller then I thought" Way cool to see though. That seems damn close though.

ETA: I'm an idiot just caught "game camera"

[shadeslanding]

That's awesome. On a pretty damn sad note, I just saw my first bear in real life last weekend on my way up to my cabin in Minong, WI. I'M 28 FREAKIN YEARS OLD. First time. It was runnin across the road just past Spooner, WI. I was like "damn, they are a lot smaller then I thought" Way cool to see though. That seems damn close though.

ETA: I'm an idiot just caught "game camera"

I saw my first bear at our cabin in Pine City. I thought I had seen someone walking in the front yard with black pants on. Nope - it was a bear. Later in the day my wife walked outside to shake a rug out. From the back of the cabin, a bear popped out of the vegatation and then another and another. Two cubs (yearlings) and a sow.

They walked towards the side of the cabin my wife was on. I finally got her attention and got her inside as the three bears walked through the area she had just occupied. It was a good thing we were not arguing that day

[Pat]

The animals were there first and have no concept of "yours" or "mine." That said, always carry a gun when visiting the wild. Hopefully you can just frighten them off.

Cougars on the other hand, scare the poo out of me. You'll probably never see or hear one before it jumps on your back and snaps your neck.

Be vigil this summer, and enjoy the out doors.

[Rem700]

Now he just needs time to grow up.

[EJSG19]

Or just go to Wisconsin and ride on this guy's combine. Gauranteed to find bear!

http://www.bear-hunting.com/news.cfm?Action=News&NewsFlashID=255

http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/bearcombine.asp

[DeanC]

WCCO says you can find plenty of bears in Burnsville.

[jgalt]

The only bear I've ever seen were in Yellowstone, and they were grizzly... There were some along the road and a bunch of cars were stopped to take pictures. I was in awe of the majestic beasts - and very happy we were in a car!

We're going to do our darnedest to buy some land 'up north' of here within a few years, so hopefully I'll get to see some of these black bears myself then

[cobb]

Now he just needs time to grow up.

Yep, look at his width and the size of his ears.

But if bear is your flavor, that one should be good eating.

[hammAR]

.

[JustinPo]

I was like "damn, they are a lot smaller then I thought"

Just wait till you see a live one without the car and speed between you; you won't feel big or tough for a month gauranteed

[shadeslanding]

For DeanC - I fell for it. I thought WCCO moved the darned article then I realized.... Oh well - age you know.

I've also always liked the John West commercials.

GS

[ssax]

I was like "damn, they are a lot smaller then I thought"

Just wait till you see a live one without the car and speed between you; you won't feel big or tough for a month gauranteed

Oh hell no, they are one of the few things I don't ever wanna see up close in the woods without a rifle. Crazy fast and strong. I heard black bear are more scared of us than we are of them, but you never now if you are between their cubs.

[ssax]

hammAR, that is one of the funniest vids ever, I haven't seen it in a while.

[shadeslanding]

My son Jason took a 260 pound sow without cubs on opening day from his bait pile. He took it with a handgun (Ruger 480 in a Raging Bull). The first shot deflected from a rib and broke her spine. It took two more from the 480 to dispatch the bear.

Jason said that even with a broken back, the bear grabbed onto the trunk of a tree and pulled herself up with one arm. Amazing. The first shot came at about 1/2 hour before sunset and he was only about 10 - 15 yards away from it when he shot it. The next two were shots were at closer range.

Now it's my turn, but nothing has hit his bait since he took the one on the 1st. He still has another tag to fill and then I have two to fill. The tenderloins were quite tasty BTW.

GS