Tough Running Bears?

If you’ve hunted in more than one location across the country you know bears run different everywhere - but why?

- Jason Mitsin

I truly believe bears are tougher to run in some areas than others, but I don’t have the answers as to why. It may have something to do with available food, weather, and possibly the density of the forest. I have noticed that it also changes from one year to another. Some people say it may have something to do with the hunting pressure from hounds in the different areas. No doubt pressure from hounds can make them run more, but I personally don’t think that’s the only culprit. However, it’s a mystery and houndsmen will never know the full answer.

I have hunted a lot in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, and each state has different variations of forest type. In the southern parts of these states, the forest has a lot more old growth with mixed hardwoods and softwoods, but it is a lot more open than in the northern parts of these states. I think in the southern parts of these states, the hounds can run a lot faster, therefore putting a lot more pressure on a bear. This may make them run a lot faster with the hounds in seeing distance, and this may possibly make the bears tree faster. They simple can’t, or don’t want to, keep up the fast pace for as long.