Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game MI Bear reminder

Reminder, May is the bear application month. This year is year 13 for me - applying as non-res for Carney area.

I'm conflicted - fairly sure I won't get one of the 4 non-res tags they'll give out (even tho bear numbers are up in my area) but also, because opening weekend overlaps my son's wedding- the MI DNR will absolutely give me a tag.

Anyway - if you bear hunt MI - don't forget to get your application in.

Little MI bear action to wet the whistle. Yoop

Bought my 19th point last week.

SOB - where you trying to draw? Just grabbing points or actually applying?

I'm just buying points. Just about the time(2018) I had accumulated enough points to actually get a tag here(Baldwin Unit), we had a VERY bad wind storm come through and completely change the landscape of the area I had planned to hunt, and then I lost access to that property in 2020.

So, every year I continue to buy a point, and when I find another property to hunt on, I should be about guaranteed to draw.

Pretty much the same with elk points. I have 11 of those now, though I believe that draw system works a little differently than the bear draw does.

Ahh - makes sense on the number then. Looks like Baldwin gives out ~5x the number of non-resident tags as Carney and seeing you at 19 as a resident - dang.

I just want this one bear tag. I've hunted bears in Canada back when it was easy and cheap but we've never gotten a bear off our camp in the Yoop. So that's the hope/goal. Course I've no illusions about success but I do enjoy the process.

I only plan to do it once here, so I'm going to want to dedicate some time to get as much out of it as I can, and the last 6 years just haven't been real conducive to being able to make that happen.

I will pick a year where I don't have anything already planned for that time of the year, and then dig in and set my mind to getting it done.

My buddy is going for a tag this year, 16 points, I'm at 12 but will just put in for the point. I'll be doing most of the baiting for my bud as he lives down state. All for Baldwin unit!

I am glad I live in Virginia. I just get on line and give the VDWR $20.00 and I have a bear tag.

Wish that were the case and at one point in MI - you could shoot a bear on a deer tag. BUT Lansing figured out how to do this instead in 1980 - more money.

I don't know what the bear population was then, compared to today to know if that was necessary for their conservation or not. I will say - MI admits that the population is up 25% between 2012-2022. Something like 12k bears with 10k in the Yoop.

I'm starting over again with 0 points. Drew the Carney unit last year. It was a tough hunt, only saw a couple of sow's with cubs. There were a couple bigger bears hitting the baits, but wouldn't come in until after we left. A few nights, the cell cameras were going off by the time we walked back to the 4-wheelers. Definitely not like the Canadian hunts I've been on.

My Brother in law may have enough points to draw the Gwinn unit this year, so hopefully I'll tag along with him.

I've got a good bear on my brother's deer cameras the last 3 years on our property. My son saw him last fall too. Has me excited for my chances.

Friend 3 miles down the road who tends to pull a regular tag and hunts hard said he was having the same issue as you - nocturnal bears or bears who definitely had his pattern down. Didn't see anything above a cub in daylight.

Seems like bear numbers are up the last couple years. Dad had to chase a young one off the picnic table at our place up near Baldwin.

How many points does it typically take to get drawn?

Is it like the elk lottery? I've got a zillion points in the elk draw but then so does everyone else....

The game digest says 11 pts for Baldwin. My old buddy drew 4 years ago, took him 14pts tho! Mostly National Forest land around here.

Just got mine . Thanks for the reminder !
7 bear pts
20 elk points

I haven't even decided how to hunt the thing should I get a tag.

Dust off the bow?
7-08 loaded with 140 grain TTSX/Accubonds?
Ruger 480 pistol?
50 cal Colonial Flintlock from Kibler?

I just applied for a point. I'm up to 5 now. Good luck to everyone in the draw.
Teal,
A bear with the 480 would be special. There isn't a bad choice on your list. In 2019, I used a 338 when I hunted in the Gwinn unit.

The 480 likely goes with regardless and if the opportunity presents itself - it will get used I think.

I'd like to take one with my 50 Beowulf! My Delta Elite 10mm, will be with me when I run baits.

.480 is a badass round

I'd use that just for the cool factor

It's the front runner for sure. Never shot game with a pistol before. I think I can set up in such a way to make that happen too. Given where I expect to have my most active bait.