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Here’s what’s worth reading today, Tuesday, September 22, 2020:
Battle between grizzly bear and bull elk filmed in Yellowstone National Park
A video showing a battle between a grizzly bear and a bull elk has been filmed in Yellowstone National Park.
The footage captures the elk fleeing into Yellowstone River at Hayden Valley while being pursued by a large grizzly. As the bear gets closer to the elk, it turns and defends itself with its antlers, but the bear avoids them and grabs hold of the elk’s back.
The elk tries to shake the bear off but appears to get weaker in its efforts over time. The elk moves into deeper water where it becomes unstable and loses its footing. The bear then struggles as it tries to pull the lifeless elk to the shore.
BE Judson, who posted the video to YouTube, said he was “startled” by the attack, which took place in the early morning. “The grizzly was successful in taking down the bull elk after only a few minutes, but it worked for around a half an hour to redirect it to the far side of the river and secure it on the east bank, about one hundred yards downstream from the north end of Hayden Valley,” he wrote.
Hunters prepared with bear spray survive attack in Idaho
On the morning of Sept. 18, an archery hunter was attacked by a bear while pursuing elk in a remote area of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest south of Two Top Mountain in Island Park.
The victim and his hunting companion encountered the bear from a close distance while in thick brush. Though not confirmed by Fish and Game, the hunters described the bear as a grizzly.
Both hunters carried bear spray and were able to successfully deploy it during the attack. The victim began to deploy his bear spray just before being knocked to the ground by the bear. The hunting companion came to his aide and deployed his own bear spray canister, shortening the duration of the attack and causing the bear to flee the area.
Their preparedness and use of bear spray allowed both hunters to walk out of the backcountry on their own accord to call for help. The victim was transported by ambulance to Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg to receive treatment for his injuries.
Signs are being placed on nearby roads warning of bear activity in the area. Hunters and other forest users are reminded to always be prepared when in bear country by carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it.
The 12 best early-season treestand locations for deer hunting
Depending on where you live, early-season deer hunting can mean sweltering in 80-degree temperatures or watching frost burn off a clover field at dawn.
Either way, there are two main factors characterize this part of the season: (1) The rut doesn’t play a role, and (2) selecting the best stand site will mean locating the deer’s favorite foods and pinning down the routes they use to reach them.
Early-season deer don’t do much wandering, but their travel patterns do change because their food choices vary. Each plant has a period of peak palatability and nutritional value. Deer know that intuitively and will alter their travel according to what food is most helpful for their survival and most palatable from week to week.
The better you can stay on top of the hottest feeding areas, the more likely you are to enjoy early-season success. You can set up on food itself or along a route that deer use to get there. Here’s are a dozen great spots, of both types.
Basic tools can ease waterfowl hunting anxiety
Skepticism is a waterfowl hunter’s constant companion. It was reinforced the past two years as terrible spring weather, replete with massive, ill-timed rains severely hampered duck nesting and subsequent fall hunts.
The waterfowl forecast appears to be vastly improved this year, with reports of huge flocks of ducks being observed on early-season teal hunts in northern Iowa. I’ve received numerous reports on the teal season there … all of them excellent.
Several die-hard waterfowling friends made many trips to chase the speedy little ducks on Iowa sloughs, and all described the finest shooting they’ve had in years.
Besides reporting booming teal numbers, they’ve also been witnessing incredibly high numbers of wood ducks.
The only downside? Lots of competing hunters.
Ironically, our current pandemic has led to a boom in hunting and fishing license sales. That statistic seems at odds with what should have been a poor economic outlook.
Other Stuff That Might Tickle Your Fancy
Traditional deer hunting wisdom says you can't kill a buck in the morning in September. That's flat out wrong. Here's how to do it.https://t.co/eMBTKkfCjd#meateater #fueledbynature pic.twitter.com/dV98oS1GC0
— MeatEater (@MeatEaterTV) September 20, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFaPv2elIH8/
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