Dogs used for bear hunting vary by breed and type. Some range from AKC registered hounds, to a primitive breed known as the Karelian Bear Dog of Finland. This dog has an extensive history which began more than 2,000 years ago. Just as water dogs and terriers have different purposes within their group, so do the hounds.
Each of the different types of hounds have been bred for years for a specific set of skills. Some are bred for stamina, a characteristic that is very important, but even more valued in a bear dog is one that can pick up a scent and stay with it. Sight is also an important trait to have, and often the greatest bear dogs have a combination of these traits.
Hounds are the most popular group used to hunt bear because of their stamina, sight and ability to smell. The Irish Wolfhound and Norwegian Elk hounds are used for big game, such as elk and moose, while the Rhodesian Ridgeback is known for bear, deer, and elk and moose. More often in the United States Plott or Walker hounds are used on bear, or even a combination of a few different breeds.
Bear trapping and the use of bear dogs for hunting has become a controversial topic in some areas. Trappers and hunters view this form of intrusion as a personal attack on their historical and traditional way of life. They see the groups using the issue as a form of political control that is slowly chipping away at the citizen's rights. Hunters argue that trapping and hunting with bear dogs is an effective way of controlling the bear population, the alternative is overpopulation with bears in backyards threatening the safety of citizens.
A bill was passed in Maine outlawing the recreational use of bear traps, but allowing bears to be trapped, using the very same traps, for scientific research and animal control. There has also been legislature what would remove two more types of bear hunting, bait and hounds.
Popular places for bear hunting are Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, and North Carolina. Guides are available in all of the states to help you find your trophy bear. Some will require you use your own dogs, while others use their dogs to hunt with.
Licenses are required, and some states will require tags. The price for a five day hunt will usually start at $1,250 and go up from there. The state of Colorado alone brings in $180 million in business annually from hunting.
If you are into the challenging adventure of bear hunting, you must know your hunting dogs. These hunting dogs vary in breed and type. The basic hunting breeds are : hounds, water dogs, and terriers. Whatever their breed or type, hunting dogs have been bred over the years to assist their owners in bringing home food for the family.
Different breeds of dogs have different sets of skills. For example, bear hunting dogs. Stamina is an important factor but not the primary skill here. It is highly important , yes, but the ability to pick up a scent and stay with it is more important in this case. In addition the ability to see exceptionally well all play a heavy part in making good bear-hunting dogs.
Hounds are popular bear-hunting dogs because of their superior stamina and sight & scent abilities. The Rhodesian Ridgeback (also known as the African Lion Hound) hunts large game such as bear, deer, elk, and moose. Other breeds used as hunting dogs for bears are the Plott hounds and the Walker hounds.
If you want to use bear traps, know that these traps and the use of bear hunting dogs has become controversial in certain areas, with strong animal protectionists. Trappers and hunters, not suprisingly, view this form of political control by such groups as a personal attack on their historical and traditional way of life. They say this is unnecessary chipping away at their individual rights.
These trappers and hunters argue that their method is a safe and effective way of killing bears. This is more so because large numbers of bears can threaten society and human populations. Noentheless, The Maine bill, Legislative Document 1635, bans recreational bear trapping in Maine. However, it allows the animals to be trapped for scientific research, animal damage control or public safety even though the traps are the same as what hunters use. This ban would remove the use of three types of bear hunting baits, hunting hounds, or traps.
If you want to go bear hunting, there are some popular areas such as Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Minnesta, Montana, New Mexico, and North Carolina. These offers professional guides and outfitters for the black bear, brown bear, and the grizzly bear. Professional outfitters can be a money saving option for you, especially if you are hunting big game. Check them out if you decide to go bear hunting in these areas.
Note that bear hunting licenses are required and some states require tags. A 5-day hunt usually cost around $1,250 for you and your hunting dogs.
Bear hunting is indeed a very lucrative buiness. Just look at Colorado . Hunting business are worth an estimated $180 million annually and risng.
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