This is horrible - 22 yr old killed by bear in West Milford

[buzzbaiter]

Originally Posted by dakota560

Eskimo,

Your post hits home. I started fishing the area you mentioned this year after many years of being away from the river. Last week I noticed droppings on the river which had to be a bear, all berries and too large to be anything else. When I fish that stretch, I fish along the rivers edge but on the way back I typically will walk up to the path which parallels the road to walk back to my car which is parked next to the three minute light. Every time I walk that path I think nothing other than this must be prime bear territory which I know it is. As I said in my earlier post, it's a risk I take fishing that stretch. i wouldn't suggest all bears in the Water Gap area be hunted down because as I said I'm infringing on their domain and it is what it is. If there's any area where bears have moved into a populated area I would take a different position but when people decide to spend their leisure time in the wilderness there are risks associated with that choice. I don't agree that killing every bear that calls the woods it's home is the solution.

Just for what it's worth which is what actually got me started thinking about bears along that stretch was when I started fishing there around June, there were hundreds if not thousands of dead shad on the river bank from the shad run. The stench was very strong and if there were any bears in the area I assume they would be down at the river after dark for a free meal. I'm sure they are. Absolutely something to think about after reading this thread. Probably won't be fishing into dark there anymore. Walleyes and small mouths just aren't worth the risk!

Dakota

Raspberries along Old Mine Rd this year were all over the place. I'm sure they were chomping away on them. I sure was. Blueberries along the shorelines of our higher elevation lakes(sunfish pond/blue mt lake/stokes st fst and high pt st pk lakes and ponds) were also quite abundant. Hickory trees are full of nuts. They've had plenty to eat so far this year. Low water in rivers, swamps, ponds also means fish and frogs r easy prey. Not sure why they are chasing people for Granola bars.

[baetis]

Why does anything need to change based upon a single rare occurrence?

What I see are groups of people, using an extremely rare tragedy, going half-cocked to try to support their own agenda.

Hunters who want earlier/bow/muzzy seasons for bear are standing on their soap box. People who want less stringent gun regs will argue this is proof you need to be armed in the woods. Anti's will claim the bear was pushed out of its range by early season scouting and accustomed to human handouts from bait piles. Tree huggers will claim over development.... You get the point.

Take a deep breath, enjoy the outdoors and if you see a bear - don't panic, use common sense and enjoy the moment.

[flatcreek]

Originally Posted by baetis

Why does anything need to change based upon a single rare occurrence?

What I see are groups of people, using an extremely rare tragedy, going half-cocked to try to support their own agenda.

Hunters who want earlier/bow/muzzy seasons for bear are standing on their soap box. People who want less stringent gun regs will argue this is proof you need to be armed in the woods. Anti's will claim the bear was pushed out of its range by early season scouting and accustomed to human handouts from bait piles. Tree huggers will claim over development.... You get the point.

Take a deep breath, enjoy the outdoors and if you see a bear - don't panic, use common sense and enjoy the moment.

X2

Thoughts and prayers for the boy and his family.