I posted a while back looking to trade a bear hunt in Northern Minnesota for an Iowa Whitetail hunt now that I am living a long way from the nearest decent buck. I had several repsonses, and I will probably put one or two trips together next year. An update on the bear hunting is in order. The bear harvest was way off this year, in fact, the DNR extimated that there would be 4000 bears killed, but they dropped their estimate to 2000 after the first week, and I believe it was actually only about half that. My local locker normally does 70-75 bears a year, this year they did 9. Success rates were terrible. I ran as many as 14 baits and was doing better than most, but only had one bear actually come to the bait while the hunter (my wife) was there and she missed the bear from 15 yards. It was her first bear and the bear stood right under her ladder stand for quite a while before going to the bait, so I can understand why she was a little jittery. Many bear hunters who drew a tag didn't even go purchase the tag since they couldn't get their baits working. Anyway, Many factors have been blamed for the miserable baiting conditions, mostly the incredible bumper crop of blueberries, raspberries, chokecherries, acorns and blackberries.
The DNR will need to make some changes next year because the bear population is already stretching the limit and they will need to hammer them hard next year. I believe it is going to be a lot easier to get a permit next year. There is also talk that they will open a hound-hunting season, which I seriously doubt they could get through. I think they may extend the season at both ends to give deer hunters a chance to take one during the deer season, and to allow baiting to start before the berry crop hits. We'll see. It does look like it will be a great year for bear hunting in 2003, and hopefully I can show someone a great hunt in exchange for another chance at a good Iowa buck.