DuckSouth.com

5:40 a.m. Monday of this week was on my way to work. Came out of my driveway and took a left on the gravel county road. Came over the first hill, picked up on some eyes shining in the road. As the headlights came back down on the road I caught a glimpse of the butt end of a black animal going into the woods. Slowed down when I came upon the spot and turned the truck to scan the lights through a small timber proceesing area. Nothing there. Then I heard some noise comin from the brush on the side of the road, so I turned the truck in that direction. Not 18 feet from the truck hood was a small black bear hunkered down in the brush. Walked about half way to him to try and get a look at his face but he wouldn't turn to me. At this point another truck was coming down the road and the bear slowly crept away without showing its face. Very cool experience, just wish I would have had a better view of him.

First bear we've seen in these parts. How many of ya'll have had bear encounters? I know they got some in the Delta.

[ November 16, 2001: Message edited by: dos gris ]

i know it sounds like a tall one, but a buddy of mine hit one the other night near the intersection of eagle lake road and hwy 61. he was supposed to meet the game wardens there the next day to fill them in. i don't know if they found it or not, but i will try to find out and let ya'll know. I don't think it messed his truck up very bad, but i know he called everybody he knew that night to tell them. SB might have heard about this same incident.......

I've seen a few out in WA and OR while on backpacking trips [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] , but never around here!!! [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
JT

i read reports where the black bears were swimming the mighty Mississippi from Ark. looking for new food sources.. quite a few repots last year when the river was low... them ole bears is hungry.... i kida enjoy seeing them. may change my mind after a few years....haha......


judge jb

When I guided down at Fitler, there was a plaster cast of a bear track from that place. We even had one duckhole named Black Bear; that's where the track was found. There were several eye-witness reports of a bear and cub up at Swiftown this summer. But I've never seen one...maybe oneday.

Wingman

Believe it or not, I saw one about six years ago near Noxubee Refuge. (For those that don't know, Noxubee is is just a little south of Starkville)I did a little research and checking around and decided that it was one of a sub-species of the black bear. Called a Louisianna Black Bear, or Honey bear. It probably wasn't over 3 - 3 1/2 feet tall at the shoulder. Maybe less. Real small. It was in a field eating corn!

I also had a close encounter in Colorado, that same year. Had a big bear come in to a predator call early one morning. It came charging through an Aspen thicket roaring and growling and snorting. 6 and 8 inch trees were rocking to their roots as it plowed by them! I was alot closer to the truck than to the bear, so I decided to make a run for it. My dad was with me and when it was all over, he said, " You know if that bear had been any closer we couldn't have out run it?" I said, "I didn't have to out run that bear. I just had to out run you!"
We got most of that escapade on video. Still get a huge laugh everytime I think about it.

My dad also had an even closer encounter about 20 years ago in Colorado. He came within just a few feet of being lunch! I'll save that story for another time.

we have seen several over here and there seems to be quite a few of them. we have seen several w/cubs so it has to be atleast 6 or more. they got in the beehives on the side of the gravel road by our house and tore them to hell and back!!!!

Thrasher,

I'm familiar with the report you have mentioned. The gentleman was supposed to get us some more information, but we have not heard anything from him. I'm glad he called to report it though. That is what every one needs to do if they have a black bear experience.

I saw 4 different collard bears with cubs at my club in bolivar county last year, but haven't seen any this year

Back in the early summer me and three other fellows spotted one running a ditch bank in a field off low water bridge road in Valley Park. Hey Wingman he was headed for the cottonwood plantation of the back side of fitler.
About 2 weeks later there was one reported in the Vicksburg Post that ran across Hwy 61 N right by Super Junior (right up from Hadads).

They probablly just young dispersing males out of Tensas traveling to find them an old lady.

I have never seen one before but we did see some fresh tracks a couple of years ago on kings point island.. If they are crossing the river like they say they are then there is a good chance there are a few around. nobody in our club seen anything recently.

We have had several bear sightings on my club on the MS river Between Greenville and Benoit. I have seen several tracks and and damage to trees but no bears yet. They are having some restricted hunts on some of the islands on the Arkansas side this year. I think it will only be a matter of time before they build a healthy population over here.

I hunt around the fitler area and saw 2 last year near the levee. I've lived there all my life and it was weird seeing it standing on it's back legs on the side of the road, then we saw it again later in the year by tri-count hunting club. HEY SB, DID I SEE YOU YESTERDAY BY TWIN OAKS? I was pulling a trailer.

That was me. Did you have the trailer with the deer stands on it?

have you guys heard any good news about twin oaks lately. i have a hunt there this weekend and would like to know whats been going on. if you are going to be there let me know. i would like to meet you and talk a while.