maine last fall?

[lifreediver]

My freinds have been going to maine since 2000 the guide we go with been running dogs there since the 70 s last year was the worst could not stop the bears how did you guys do. We would start on a 250 and bump a 70 and could not tree em .Seemed like a lot of under brush and berries from the heavy rains .Brush slowed the dogs Thanks

[spruce mountain]

We did well last year but I do agree that the bears seemed to realy want to run, for what ever reason.

[Borderpond]

Most of the guys I talked to in Maine had good seasons last year.

One bad thing about running off baits.If you have a real runner of a bear thats hard to catch, its easy to get on him many times.Bears go from bait to different baits alot .You can end up being on that hard one starting from different baits in the same general area.That can make it seem like all the bears are hard to catch.

Lifreediver, I can feel your pain about starting on a big one and bumping a smaller one.If there are multiple bears on a bait its about impossible to pick the one you want to run.The bigger one may have been there first and the smaller one came in after to pick up the scraps.

One thing that does help.I know some guys that are putting cameras on the baits they want to run off.If they see a sow with cubs, or a small single bear, they pass on them.One of these guys has a bunch of cameras out.He said he keeps checking till he finds a shooter before he turns out.The pictures are timed so he can pick the freshest track too. It worked about perfect for him last fall. Thats getting a little scientific for me but if I was still guiding I would probably be doing it too !!!

Nothing like a an all day 70 lb track star on Monday to burn the dogs up for the start of the week !!

[lifreediver]

We were rigging off a truck and driving dirt roads. some times We would see the bear cross roads check size of tracks after a strike then dump the truck. Next thing you know a split race and picking up dogs a few hours later.The guide only runs baits at the end of the season.
Spruce mountain what was you catch percentange on running the dogs on bears and treeing them.And what was the biggest bear last season.Thanks

[spruce mountain]

I have no idea what my percentage was I dont realy keep track,I know during training season in August and about the first three weeks of the season I only had one bear that I didnt tree or bay up and that one outran me twice.The third time I ran him I treed him,I guess the dogs finally got in shape enouph to catch him.He was about a 120lb male.After that I had some hard runs and one of my best dogs blew out his pads and my percentage went to heck.I need to rest him a day here and thier next year lol.The biggest bear we got was 420 lbs we also got one that was 372lbs,you can see pictures of them on my website http://www.sprucemountainhunting.com

[Borderpond]

Hey Spruce Mtn, how has the cat hunting been going ? Must be some decent snow this year ?

[PLOTT88]

HEY SPRUCE MOUNTAIN IS STRONG CLOSE TO LINCOLN. I HAVE RELATIVES THAT LIVE THERE, NEVER BEEN TO THE EAST MYSELF.

[spruce mountain]

The cat hunting for me hasnt been to good ,One of my best dogs was in heat the first month so I couldnt run her with the male I have .Together they seem to be a pretty good team,so far I have run them together on two cats This season and they both went in holes.I am hoping the last few weeks of the season go a little better,we do have good conditions now.Do you cat hunt? If so hows your season going. plott88 No Strong is not that close to lincoln,about three hours east of us.We are located in the western mountains near Rangely or the Straton, Eustis area. Sorry lifreediver didnt mean to hijack your post.

[Borderpond]

Hey Sprucemtn, I thought Spruce Mountain Guide service was in Forest City ? I must be
mixed up ?

[spruce mountain]

Thats spruce mountain lodge& guide service.Im spruce mountain guide service.

[Racin_GT]

Thats not the first time Ive seen that lol

[Borderpond]

Wow, thats about as close to the same name for 2 guide services as you can get ! Thats why I was confused I guess. I was thinking this was Steve from Forest City.Hes had that guide service there for ever it seems.Sorry about the mixup.

[spruce mountain]

Yeah it never was an issue untile the Internet, I didnt even know there was another guide service with that name.He sent me a letter saying I couldnt use my name anymore but come to find out I was using the name before he was so I guess we have decided to just go about our business.It dosent bother me ,we both have good reputations as far as I know so its realy not an issue.Every once in a while I have to say thats not me its the other spruce mountain lol.