Dawg - 
Button Buck
Virginia Beach, Virginia
 | | 07/25/2007 12:31 PM |
| | Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep the bears on our property from destroying our feeders and cameras?? Other than thinning the herd which we hope to do this season but they only open bear season here for 4 days during muzzleloader season. We started with feeders on pedastals which didn't work cause the bears knocked them over and ripped off the sprayer bottom to make the corn all fall out. We then went to hanging feeders and placed them extremely high (8' in most cases) on small trees so they could not climb and get to them. Well these bears are so determined they are climbing even the smallest of tree (as evidenced by extremely deep claw marks on tree) and ripping the bottoms off of the feeders. Now that we have quit putting corn in the feeders for a month or so they have gotten ticked off and are ripping our trail cameras off the tree and biting them up pretty badly. They cracked the lense on one of them. We know it is bears cause we are getting pictures as they destoy the camera. These feeders were meant to supplement the clover we have for the deer but the bears have just fell in love with them. The only suggestion we have heard from the old guys around here is to place tape around the tree with thumb tacks stuck in the tape all over the place. They say once a few of the tacks bite them they quit climbing the tree. Any help would be greatly appreciated..I mean I have been hunting for 36 years and this is a first and the feed , feeders, and cameras are getting expensive to replace. | | | |
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Phoenix -
Button Buck
Westmoreland Co. Pennsylvania
| | 07/25/2007 12:44 PM |
| | suspend the feeders from rope, throw rope over i high strong branch and tie off on a tree, then sus[end feeder 8-10 feet off ground | |
To Hunt or Not to Hunt, that is the question? While your pondering that, i'll be in the woods. My Values are the Army Values; Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage.
Pfc. Chris Smith | |
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Dawg -
Button Buck
Virginia Beach, Virginia
| | 07/25/2007 1:19 PM |
| | Phoenix thanks for the post but we are putting them on very heavy duty rope and are hanging them at least 8 feet off the ground. We started with large trees but they could get up them easily..so we went to smaller trees (about 6 inches around) which they seem to have a little trouble getting up but they still manage. Again thanks for the post..hopefully we can find a remedy. | | | |
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Dobber -
Moderator
4-Pointer
| | 07/25/2007 3:11 PM |
| spice things up for them, a bit of cayene pepper, skunk paste something that only they will touch and it might work. I used to put skunk paste on a stick and have it on my cams, never had a problem. Also heard about using like pepper spray on items to keep them away.
good luck | | | |
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Gibber -
Button Buck
Virginia
| | 07/25/2007 6:27 PM |
| | Here's an idea......I did this in Philmont with the Boy Scouts and it works great. Tie one end of a rope around a rock and throw it over a limb about 10 feet high (or even higher) and then do the same with the other end of the rope...in a tree about 10-15 feet apart. Take the excess rope (that's lying between the two trees) and tie the feeder with it. Then pull both ends...suspending the feeder between the 2 trees and tie the rope off on each tree. This will prevent any bears from reaching your feeder, as it hangs between the trees. I hope I explained that well and that it is do-able. | |
Gibber
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Dawg -
Button Buck
Virginia Beach, Virginia
| | 07/26/2007 3:40 PM |
| | Thanks guys for the suggestions. I will try the cayenne or skunk paste and putting the feeders between 2 tree limbs. Hopefully this fellow doesn't try to tight rope walk out to the feeders. The feeders have to come out in September and i am going to make sure that in October and November when i bow and Muzzleloader hunt that i will be loaded and ready. | | | |
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Hunterman -
Button Buck
| | 07/26/2007 5:09 PM |
| ive seen bears climb trees, pull ropes, push over poles, take boards off the side of a shed to get the bird seed and etc, they also some how get up on my DECK to Destroy the humming birds feeder.
Ive heard of them pulling open the draws of bee hives, eating everything inside and then close the draw. think that one must have excaped from clarks traden post.
If they want something bad enofe, there going to get it one way or the other. the more you bear proof, the more damage the bear does to unproof.
you should see my nieghbors trees, he was doing the rope thing. the bear just climbed the tree and ripped the "big" branches the feeders were on, right off the tree. | |
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Jeremiah Johnson -
Spike
| | 07/27/2007 8:41 AM |
| Been there, done that for years. First find two tall strong trees 20' or more apart. (this is to keep bear from climbing and reaching over).
Measure length of 3/8" or better wire rope needed to fasten from tree to tree and fasten around both.
Secure a pulley fo sufficient strength to hold loaded feeder midway between trees. This will be 10' or more equal distance from the trees.
Run wire rope (of enough length to do what follows later) through the pulley, we use a boat railer pulley on the other end but that is not necessary.
Secure wire rope to each trees high enough that the bottom of the feeder will be no less than 11' off the ground so bear cn't jump and hit it.
Fasten the free end of the wire rope to the top of the feeder.
For the other end of the wire rope either tie it off securely to one of the trees or mount the hand crank winch to the tree.
Raise the loaded feeder. We bundle some barbed wire around the winch to discourage the bear and lock the winch to discourage thieves.
Bear can't reach the feeder either from the ground or from a tree. They haven't learned to bite through the wire rope. Now they can only eat corn when it goes off. This also makes it difficult for squirrels and racoons to raid the feeder.
We have tried other methods but bears have an uncanny ability to solve problems. I'll look for a picture to post.
PM me if I can help, include your phone number and I can call back.
Good Luck. Mike | | | |
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asst19chief -
Button Buck
| | 07/27/2007 12:49 PM |
| Claymores and a mine field, bouncing betty's work well! | | | |
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Jeremiah Johnson -
Spike
| | 07/31/2007 8:07 AM |
| | One more thing, we use 55 or 30 gallon steel drums, not plastic. The squirrels gnaw through the plastic. | | | |
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