With another nine days left in Minnesota’s bear season, this year’s harvest is still lagging far behind that of recent years. As of last Sunday, four weeks into the season, hunters had taken 1,746 bears, said Dave Garshelis, bear project leader for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. [...]]]> From the Duluth News Tribune
published Oct. 5, 2008

With another nine days left in Minnesota’s bear season, this year’s harvest is still lagging far behind that of recent years. As of last Sunday, four weeks into the season, hunters had taken 1,746 bears, said Dave Garshelis, bear project leader for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Last year at the same time, the harvest totaled 2,982. From 2003 to last year, the four-week harvest totals ranged between 2,900 and 3,400, he said.

The 2002 harvest, however, was similar to this fall’s, and only 1,653 bears had been taken in the first four weeks.

Garshelis attributes the lower harvest to an abundance of wild foods, which means fewer bears are visiting hunters’ baits, and possibly lower densities in the state’s bear population.

Hunters claim that bears have become more nocturnal and haven’t been presenting themselves during hunting hours. Using remote trail cameras, hunters can verify that bears are moving nocturnally. But Garshelis says he hears the same thing every year, even in years when the harvest has been higher.

Duluth city bowhunters up to 143

Here’s the Duluth city bowhunt tally through September. The hunt began Sept. 13 and continues through Dec. 31. Through Sept. 30, hunters had taken 143 deer, three of them bucks and the rest antlerless, according to Brian Borkholder, who keeps hunt records. Of the total, 59 were taken on private land and 84 on public land. Four were taken from ground blinds (allowed only in a few areas) and 139 were taken from tree stands. Last year, hunters took 567 deer for the whole season, 84 percent of them antlerless.

Retrievers shine

Mark Vossbein of Biwabik and Pete Coldagelli of Eveleth both handled dogs that completed every test in the Master National Hunt Test, held Sept. 21-28 in Hibbing. A total of 292 dogs took part in the event, which tests retrieving breeds based on simulated hunting situations. Of those, 132 passed all six tests, each a series of retrieves on land, water or a combination of the two.

Vossbein’s yellow Lab, The Captain’s Mark-V Renegade, passed the Master National test for the first time. Coldagelli’s yellow Lab, Ramblin Man’s Bella Donna, completed all required tests for the second time, earning her the title Master National Hunter. A dog must complete the National Master tests in two different years to earn the title.

The week-long test was intense, Coldagelli said.

“As the week goes on and you get closer, the excitement builds and the nerves build,” he said. “You know your dogs are capable of doing the work, but they’re dogs, and they can have bad days just like us.”

Bernie Carey of Duluth came close. His dog, Stellar’s Full Throttle, passed five of six tests.

The event was hosted by the Minnesota Iron Range Retriever Club based in Virginia, with help from the Duluth Retriever Club and other clubs around the state.

Edmondson recognized

Duluth photographer Dudley Edmondson has been recognized with the Wilderness Society’s “National Faces of Conservation” award, according to a news release from the group. The award was made for his “groundbreaking work encouraging other African-Americans to discover the beauty and solitude of the natural world through his photography and writing,” the society said in making the award.

Edmondson has spent 17 years traveling the United States, photographing subjects as diverse as rain forest and desert habitats, grizzly bears of Yellowstone and butterflies in boreal bogs, according to the news release. He’s the author of “Black and Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places.” For more on Edmondson’s work, go to www.raptorworks.com.

Sharptail wings sought

Sharp-tailed grouse hunters in Minnesota are asked to send in wing samples from harvested birds for a research project. The samples will be used to evaluate the genetic health of sharptail populations. The project is a collaboration between the Minnesota Sharp-tailed Grouse Society, the Wisconsin Sharp-tailed Grouse Society, the Wisconsin DNR and the Minnesota DNR. For details on sample collection, preservation and shipping instructions, go to www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/grouse or contact Eric Nelson, Minnesota DNR assistant area wildlife supervisor, at (218) 681-0946 or at eric.nelson@dnr.state.mn.us.

Tournament applications now online

Wisconsin fishing tournament organizers now can apply for permits online. The online application and a printable form can be found on the “Fishing Tournament” pages of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Web site at www.dnr.state.wi.us.

Two black bears have been found dead about 150 yards outside a bear sanctuary near Orr in the past week.

Both of the bears were regular visitors to the American Bear Association’s Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary, said Dennis Udovich of Greaney, who is president of the association and [...]]]> From the Duluth News Tribune
published Sept. 24, 2008

Two black bears have been found dead about 150 yards outside a bear sanctuary near Orr in the past week.

Both of the bears were regular visitors to the American Bear Association’s Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary, said Dennis Udovich of Greaney, who is president of the association and also president of the Minnesota Bear Guides Association.

The first bear was found dead Saturday. It was not field-dressed, and its hide was intact, said Lt. Greg Payton, district enforcement supervisor at Eveleth for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The second bear was found Monday, Payton said. Its head, hide and paws had been removed, but its carcass was left behind. Because the usable parts of the bear were left, enforcement officials could charge the shooter with wanton waste, which carries a $275 fine.

Neither bear was unusually large, unlike the 800-pound sanctuary bear, Duffy, that was killed near the sanctuary’s boundary in 1998, Udovich said. Another sanctuary bear was shot and killed in 2004 just outside the boundary, he said.

Payton said enforcement officials have no suspects at this time. A reward of $2,250 has been offered for anyone with information about the shootings that leads to an arrest and conviction. Information may be forwarded to the TIP (Turn in Poachers) hotline at (800) 952-9093.

Minnesota’s bear season opened Sept. 1 and continues through Oct. 14. It is legal to hunt near the 520-acre sanctuary’s boundaries, but hunters are discouraged from doing so, Udovich said.

“Certainly, it’s unethical, whether we have a poacher or licensed hunter involved,” Payton said.

The Minnesota Bear Guides Association in 2006 passed a resolution stating that just because a bear is legal to kill doesn’t mean it’s ethical, Udovich said.

“I’m just so upset that people would do this,” he said.

The bears were shot on state land, Payton said.

“They were definitely sanctuary bears,” Udovich said. “These guys [shooters] set up along a travel corridor. It would be like a runway going to a deer feeder.”

About 20,000 people visited the sanctuary last year, Udovich said. Wild bears are fed at the sanctuary. Volunteers at the staff provide interpretive information about bears to visitors. The sanctuary is about 14 miles west of Orr and four miles from Nett Lake.

The following is another “Have Fun or Get Out of the Way” column by Don Leighton and Mike Granlund and their alter egos, Lance Boyle and Billy Pirkola, which runs occasionally in The Daily Telegram.

Keith Holly does not stick out in a crowd. His stature does not afford him [...]]]> From the Daily Telegram
published Sept. 20, 2008

The following is another “Have Fun or Get Out of the Way” column by Don Leighton and Mike Granlund and their alter egos, Lance Boyle and Billy Pirkola, which runs occasionally in The Daily Telegram.

Keith Holly does not stick out in a crowd. His stature does not afford him the best view at the Fourth of July parade, but in the world of bear hunting, Holly is a giant.

This spring, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources adjusted its estimate of the number of bears in Wisconsin from approximately 12,000 to 25,000. Don’t blame Holly for the increase in bears. Holly, the owner of Big Bear Guide Service, has a unique and interesting trade located in the heart of the town of Tripp, just north of Iron River.

“You know the excitement a deer hunter feels when he sees a big buck? Well, multiply that by eight when you first see your bear,” Holly told a group of people on a balmy evening last week as he welcomed more than 40 people to the preseason pork feed at the building that serves as the center for Big Bear’s hunting ventures.

In the crowd were his family, past hunters, Holly’s crew, a DNR warden, Billy Pirkola and, of course, this year’s hunters.

The evening opened with the Rev. Tom Blomberg blessing the food and praying for a safe and successful hunt. In addition to the fine food, hunters were instructed on the proper methods, procedures and techniques of the sport. An emphasis was placed on DNR rules and sportsmanship.

Four first-time hunters from the La Crosse area were excited for the hunt to begin. Brian Adams of West Salem, Alan Pasch of Tomah and Dave Whalen and Wayne Helminger of Bangor heard about Big Bear from a friend who had hunted before. It was 12 years ago Adams first put in his application, so he was definitely ready.

Jim Pandow and Tim Hartman of Brodhead are veterans of the hunt and appeared quite prepared for the quest ahead.

Holly is also quite a hunting veteran. He first became interested in hunting through his father. While in the woods with his dad at only eight years old, Holly witnessed his father trap a black bear. It probably didn’t come close to the size of some bears now shot, but to an eight-year-old kid, it made quite an impression. Holly was hooked on hunting.

Holly got his first guide job when he was only 15. He lived in Cable and a group of doctors from Rochester, Minn. hired him to help them hunt deer.

Holly continued to provide guidance to hunters throughout his life in addition to working “real” jobs. He raised hogs in Tripp for 18 years and when he quit that occupation, he decided to concentrate on the guide business. His neighbors George and Joe Goetsch do much of the baiting, and one season had 71 sites to care for.

George’s wife, Donna, has taken on the title of the Doughnut Queen of Oulu. Her fresh baked goods impressed us (I wonder if she is using Dorothy Elonen’s recipe?).

Another who helps with the hunt is John Blasius. He comes all the way from Olive Hill, Ky., to help with tracking the animals along with local outdoorsmen David Smith, Wayne and Bob Holly, Mark and Kyle Karshbaum and Matt Palmer.

Even teenagers get involved as Logan Holly, Devin Holly, Micah Tuura and Cody Stone help with the “taco feed,” by preparing the portions for the bait boxes. Keith Holly’s wife, Lenore, serves as sounding board, making sure the male hunter’s enthusiasm and excitement is tempered with the wisdom and common sense of a woman.

Big Bear does not hunt bears using dogs. Dogs are only allowed on a leash and only to track a wounded animal. More than half of hunters use a bow to conquer their prey, which seems to be a growing trend over the years.

The success rate statewide for bear hunters is estimated to be around 70 percent, according to local game warden Brad Biser. But in the last three years, Holly has hosted 79 hunters and, amazingly, every one has gotten a bear. We are right on the middle of the four-week season and he is trying to keep the streak alive. We aren’t sure if this should be compared to Cal Ripken’s 2,632 consecutive games played streak or Joe Dimaggio’s 56 game hitting streak, or maybe Bret Favre’s 275 consecutive games-started streak for the Packers that was just stopped through little fault of Brett’s, but any way you look at it, it is impressive.

Each year brings different hunters as it takes from five to eight “points” to get a “kill tag.” An unsuccessful annual application earns one a “point” and most of this year’s hunters waited years for this honor. It’s no wonder they are pumped up by the time the eve of the season arrives.

Bear hunting is not confined to just ment. Shelly Tobiasz of Red Granite, Wis., one of the past successful hunters, was back this year for her third time. Other hunters at the preseason feed surmised she could qualify to run for vice president some day. Her daughter, Jessica, participated in the youth hunt one season and bagged a 330-pound bear.

Shelly proved her mettle as she got a 444-pound bear on the second day of this season. Not to be outdone, her husband John rushed up north Sept. 12 and proceeded to get a massive 580-pound bear the same evening. They are believed to be the largest bears taken in one season by a husband-wife combination.

Larry Lindsay, a retired dairy farmer from Mondovi, came back after last year’s successful hunt. Asked why he was back even though he could not hunt, he said he just wanted to be around the excitement when hunters bring in their bears. He had his 445-pound bear made into a beautiful rug by Lake Nebagamon taxidermist Mark Lundgren. Crawling under that huge blanket in January will save Lindsay on his winter heating bills but could terrify his unsuspecting grandkids.

The largest bear Holly’s group ever nabbed was a 589-pounder back in 1999.

For the last 25 years, local bears have feasted on broken taco shells, procured from the taco plant in Poplar. With the recent closing of that business, Holly has turned to another source of cuisine for our ursine friends: gummy bears. Yes, gummy bears will be the main bait used next year as Holly recently had 23 tons of the children’s treat delivered to his business. You read that correctly; 23 tons. The gummy bear company must think Holly has a real sweet tooth.

Lance and Billy will be investing in stock in the gummy bear parent company.

Holly does not confine his guide service to bears. Deer season is big on his agenda too, and bobcats are warned to keep clear of Holly and his crew. The largest bobcat they claimed was a 47-pound critter taken in 2000.

And amazingly, at age 66, Holly also had time to be the pitcher this season for the Grace Baptist team in the Northwoods Church Softball League. The team’s record? Twenty-five wins and no losses!

Yes, Holly is a giant in the world of bear hunting and an amazing man. But if you are of the ursine variety, “Let the bear beware!”

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer reports for Tuesday, Sept. 16

District 5 – Eveleth area

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) spent time on wetland issues within the station. Checked grouse hunters and archery deer hunters, very little activity with the rainy weather. Bear hunting activity starting to slow [...]]]> From the Duluth News Tribune
published Sept. 16, 2008

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer reports for Tuesday, Sept. 16

District 5 – Eveleth area

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) spent time on wetland issues within the station. Checked grouse hunters and archery deer hunters, very little activity with the rainy weather. Bear hunting activity starting to slow a bit. Handled an injured eagle complaint, the eagle was captured and later sent on a plane to Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota.

CO Lloyd Steen (Ray/Kabetogama) reports checking grouse hunters on the opener. Very few hunters seen in the drizzling rain and fewer grouse. Violations for juvenile hunters under 14 years of age, unaccompanied by adults, juveniles illegally operating ATVs, juveniles on ATVs without helmets, juveniles without ATV safety certificates, and adults allowing illegal operation of ATVs by juveniles were addressed. Also checked experimental regulation lakes of Kabetogama and Namakan where citations for illegal length walleyes, transporting filleted walleyes on the water, and reducing fish to more than two fillets were handled. Also investigated camper trailers left on state land for more than several weeks unattended with litter.

C0 Troy Fondie (Orr) reports assisting Ely conservation officer with work project monitoring boating and angling activities and working on various equipment up keep issues.

CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports following up on a fire from last week, dealing with a problem bear and mink, requests for bear meat, bear hunting questions, deer hunting questions, grouse hunting questions, internal DNR questions, and checking for hunting activity.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) finished field training with COC Vollbrecht. Officers worked early goose hunters, the opening of the small game seasons, ATV’s, and bear hunting activity. An illegal fire investigation was completed with a citation issued, along with enforcement action for littering for another individual in the case. Enforcement action was taken on no federal duck stamp, no state duck stamp, operate a motor vehicle on a state trail, fail to register bear bait station, careless or negligent fires, and fail to display ATV registration.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent time checking bear hunters and their baits. Some unmarked bait stations are being watched. Unfortunately, while looking for bear baits, CO Frericks found some active deer baiting. CO Frericks located a fisher set from last season. The trap had the remnants of a large fisher in it. The conibear trap still had the trap tag on it and an investigation is underway for a trap tending violation.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) checked fishing activities on area lakes and found fishing to be slow, the fall bite hasn’t started yet. Bear hunters are having some success and report bait stations are just starting to get hit. Officer Fredin also gave a law presentation for the Moose Orientation in Ely, many questions were answered, good luck to all of them.

District 6 – Two Harbors area

CO Brandon McGaw (Babbitt) spent time in the woods and on the water. The fish bite has picked up a little since temperatures are dropping. Bear hunters are having mixed results and most have called it a season. Time was also spent in Ely giving a moose orientation class to some of this falls moose hunters. Grouse hunters hit the woods on Saturday and had trouble seeing birds due to the thick foliage.

CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) kept an eye on bear hunting activity throughout the week. Opening of deer archery and small game seasons were greeted with some soggy weather, which dampened the outing for many. Angling pressure has slowed some after Labor Day, however many are still catching fish both on Lake Superior and inland. Officer Thomasen would like to remind people to give extra consideration to wearing PFD’s as the weather and waters become colder. It could save your life.

CO Tom Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked anglers on Lake Superior. People need to review their salmon and trout identification before heading on the water. Stealhead are to be immediately released. Officer Wahlstrom checked bear hunters and their baits; overall compliance was good. A few grouse were bagged during the small game opener. The hunters enjoyed the changing leaves but found it frustrating to see the birds.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that a bear guide stopped him on the road and showed him some digital pictures of garbage and furniture dumped onto Forest Service land. The CO recognized a recliner that he had seen at another bear camp a few days before. The CO made some phone calls and fingers were pointed in the direction of a suspect and the case was turned over to the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer. A citation was issued and the mess was cleaned up. The CO issued more citations this week for garbage in bear baits and for baiting with mammal bones. The majority of bear hunters do things right.

District 7 — Grand Rapids area

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) and COC Paurus spent the week on fishing and small game enforcement. They completed a dumping investigation where a large amount of garbage and vehicle parts were illegally left on public land. The officers also investigated wanton waste of some Canada geese.

CO Randy Patten (Northome) worked bear hunting activity, checked anglers, finished a required defensive driving training session, attended a trails meeting, and issued a cease and desist for a potential wetland violation.

CO Jeff Koehn (Grand Rapids – OHV Specialist) presented an enforcement report to the Itasca County Trails Task Force. CO Koehn helped train COC Vollbrecht in OHV enforcement efforts. They patrolled by ATV along trails and in known ATV use areas. Numerous deer stands were located and checked prior to the archery deer hunting opener. CO Koehn and COC Vollbrecht checked campgrounds common to ATV users. Enforcement activity for the week included, operate ATV with youth passenger no helmet, fail to display ATV registration, operate ATV without headlights, allow illegal juvenile operation of an ATV.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, watercraft, ATV’s, small game and archery deer hunters. He also checked bear hunters and handled several complaints during the week.

District 8 — Cloquet area

CO Randy Hanzal (Brookston) despite the rainy weather lots of sportsmen were contacted this weekend for the opener of small game and archery seasons. A district meeting was attended where current law updates and other issues were discussed. Bear hunters are reporting more activity at bait stations. A few ATV violations involving juveniles were encountered during the week. An informational visit was made to a local Game Farm and some of its neighbors.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) attended a district meeting with other conservation officers and also spent time working on wetland cases in the area. One citation was issued to a person for failing to comply with a Wetland Conservation Act Restoration Order. Other time was spent checking small game and bear hunters in the area. Success rates are slow in the area. One hunter harassment case was worked and is still under investigation. CO Staples and CO Humphrey assisted with and taught the law portion of a trapper’s education class in Cromwell.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Kettle River) worked small game and archery deer opener and investigated complaints of trespass and deer shining. Officer Humphrey attended a district enforcement meeting and assisted at a Trapper Education class in Cromwell. Inclement weather put a damper on opening weekend activities in the area.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent time working small game opener over the weekend. Several people were out chasing grouse, but the weather didn’t cooperate for most of opening weekend. Contact was also made with several archery deer hunters. All were excited about being in the woods again for another year. Some time was also spent checking goose hunting and fishing enforcement. Several calls have been taken during the week, with some requiring time and follow-up with possible enforcement action needed when completed.

CO Sarah Sindelir (Duluth) continued to investigate a dock complaint this past week. She also attended a district meeting in Cloquet. She spent time working early goose, bow, small game, and bear hunting activity. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession.

Duluth Marine Unit

CO Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) attended a district meeting, worked on reports and paperwork from some past cases, and performed equipment maintenance. He checked boaters and anglers and assisted in area stations with early goose, small game, bear and archery deer hunters. Enforcement action was taken for a bear hunter who did not have his license in possession and investigation is ongoing into another possible violation.

CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit) checked anglers near Silver Bay and Tofte. The salmon and lake trout are cooperating with anglers much better now. Equipment maintenance issues were handled, and work areas were scouted for the beginning of hunting season. Enforcement action was taken for angling, boating, and controlled substance violations.

C.O. Keith Olson (Marine Unit) checked muskie anglers on the St. Louis River. One fish of +50″ was seen. Moved the Lake Superior boat for repairs. Attended a District 8 meeting. Calls of the upcoming deer season are on the increase. Small game hunters and ATV’s were checked over the wet and rainy weekend.

Minnesota bear harvest down

Minnesota black bear hunters have shot only about half as many bears as at the same time last year, said Dave Garshelis, bear project leader for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. As of Sept. 11, hunters had killed 1,267 bears this fall, compared with [...]]]> From the Duluth News Tribune
published Sept. 14, 2008

Minnesota bear harvest down

Minnesota black bear hunters have shot only about half as many bears as at the same time last year, said Dave Garshelis, bear project leader for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. As of Sept. 11, hunters had killed 1,267 bears this fall, compared with 2,452 at the same time last year, Garshelis said.

Minnesota’s bear season opened Sept. 1 and continues through Oct. 14. Garshelis suspects the abundance of natural foods in the woods has kept bears from visiting hunters’ baits as often as in some years.

“There’s a lot of natural food, and a lot of it was delayed all summer,” Garshelis said. “Stuff that shouldn’t be around is around now — berries like cherries.”

He also said the bear population may not be as large as it was a few years ago. The last population survey was done in 2002 and turned up an estimate of 20,000 to 30,000 bears. A new survey, using tetracycline baits that leave a trace in bears’ teeth, is under way this fall and next fall, Garshelis said.

Fishing pier ready at McQuade

With the addition of an accessible fishing pier, McQuade Small Craft Harbor now offers opportunities for everyone to fish Lake Superior, according to a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources news release.

The harbor facility, nine miles north of the Duluth Harbor entry, is fully accessible including parking, paved walkways, a pedestrian tunnel, docks, benches, drinking water and restrooms. The fishing pier has protective railings and is built out from the breakwater to provide for lake fishing.

Grouse brood count up in Wisconsin

The average number of grouse broods seen and the average size of the brood both increased 12 percent from 2007 levels in northern and central Wisconsin this summer, according to a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources news release. The primary range for ruffed grouse, the central and northern forest portions of the state, were mostly spared from the heavy rain events of June, according to the news release.

DNR field personnel averaged 1.03 broods seen during the 2008 survey period, compared with 0.92 in 2007. Brood size was up as well with broods averaging 4.7 young per brood, 4.2 in 2007.

Firearms safety instructors wanted

If you’ve ever thought of becoming a firearms safety instructor, here’s your chance. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold a Certified Volunteer Firearms Safety Instructor Training Class from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Hermantown Police Department, 5111 Maple Grove Road. Preregistration is required. The class is free. Participants must be at least 18 and pass a background check. To register, contact Lt. Shelly Patten at shelly.patten@dnr.state.mn.us or (218) 244-8051.

Demand for firearms safety instructors is high, said Patten, a DNR conservation officer and regional training officer.

“In Minnesota, we have more youth than the national average who are hunting,” Patten said. “Nationwide, it’s about 11 percent. In Minnesota, it’s around 20 percent, and gets up to 25 percent in the Northland.”

Surplus turkey permits available Monday

Minnesota turkey hunters who were unsuccessful in this year’s lottery for the fall hunting season may apply for 2,243 surplus permits starting at noon Monday, according to a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources news release.

The DNR makes surplus permits available at all Electronic Licensing System (ELS) outlets and online at www.dnr.state.mn.us.

The Web site also contains information on surplus licenses availability and the status of lottery applications. The fall turkey hunt consists of two five-day seasons: Oct. 15-19 and Oct. 22-26.

Hunters who did not enter the lottery will be able to purchase any remaining surplus licenses beginning noon Monday, Sept. 22.

Minnesota’s bear season opened Monday to some of the worst conditions a bear hunter could have imagined. Temperatures pushing 90 degrees. Big wind.

The second day of the season was marked by thunderstorms and heavy rains in many areas.

But by midweek, bear guides and hunters across Northeastern Minnesota had [...]]]> From the Duluth News Tribune
published Sept. 7, 2008

Minnesota’s bear season opened Monday to some of the worst conditions a bear hunter could have imagined. Temperatures pushing 90 degrees. Big wind.

The second day of the season was marked by thunderstorms and heavy rains in many areas.

But by midweek, bear guides and hunters across Northeastern Minnesota had the kind of weather they wanted.

“She’s coolin’ down,” Dennis Udovich of Udovich Guide Service near Gheen said Wednesday.

The forecast was for cool temperatures throughout the week.

“We’re seeing a lot of smaller bears,” Udovich said. “A lot of our guys are looking for bigger bears.”

One of his clients, an 80-year-old man, shot a bear that field-dressed at 260 pounds on Tuesday evening, Udovich said. Another customer had a sow and two cubs come to visit.

“He said, ‘I watched them for 20 minutes. That was my hunt.’ ”

The hunter didn’t pull the trigger. Rules are strict at Udovich Guide Service. Hunters sign an agreement saying they won’t shoot a sow with cubs, nor a bear that isn’t 4 feet long. Udovich places 4-foot-long logs near his baits so hunters can properly size up their bears.

Other guides filed similar reports from around the region.

“I welcome this cool weather,” guide Mike Bissonette of Babbitt said Wednesday. “The baits are getting hit good. We’ve managed to get a few. One we got field-dressed at 235 pounds last night [Sept. 2]. That’s a nice bear.”

Most berries in the woods have dropped or withered, he said, so bears are more willing to visit hunters’ baits.

Bissonette had eight hunters in camp at midweek.

“Overall, I’m expecting a good season,” he said.

Bear guide Kelly Shepard of Grand Marais is already having a good season. Nine of 15 clients have shot bears so far, he said Wednesday.

“We’re doing well. We haven’t gotten any real big bears yet. But it’s looking good. Nice and steady,” Shepard said.

Wilderness Outfitters in Ely had eight hunters in the woods, said co-owner Marcy Gotchnik. “We’ve had one kill. One hunter missed two bears. They’ve been hitting the baits good. They’re eating Gummi Bears.”

Hunters and guides place all kinds of goodies to attract bears. The menu is limited only by what a hunter can afford, beg or scrounge. Gummi Bears, popcorn, chocolate-covered cherries, fruit syrups, day-old pastries, spray scent concoctions and other “secret” ingredients are popular.

Udovich said most of the berries are gone in his area, but plenty of hazelnuts remain. Bears like to eat hazelnuts.

“That will make things a little harder. We’ll have to make our baits taste better,” Udovich said.

Wisconsin’s bear hunting season opened Wednesday for hunters using bait. The season for hunters using dogs opens Wednesday.