What am I missing?

[Jordanskylery]

Okay so heres the deal. I have been hunting for several years and have a pretty good grasp on the fundamentals.  This is my first year going after bear.  I have been hunting up and down the I-90 corridor but focusing mainly on a tree farm in Snoqualmie area.  Been hitting the area hard about 10 times sense opening day, and been going at sunrise and taking all normal precautions with scent and everything.  There are 24 miles of roads behind locked gates but as those passes seel out very fast I had to settle for the walk in pass, which is fine, but can't cover as much ground.  I have found several areas about a mile to two behind the gates which consist of thinned forest, some clear cuts, and tons of grassed over logging roads.  I saw one smallish bear opening day on the fringe of a clearcut but nothing sense.  The areas have deff bear sign and look like great areas to me from what I've seen others hunt.  So here are abut 10 questions for you guys with a lot of experience.

1.  I have included some photos of the bushes that literally overgrow these roads.  I have lived in the forest for a long time so I have seen these plants produce red and orange berries.  Am I wrong to assume these will produce berries?

2. Almost every bush I look at has limited to NO berries, and some look like they have been nibbled on.  The majority of these roads are in forested enough areas where they do not receive a great deal of sun... Can/will the berries still grow, seems like the areas in the sun aren't producing fruit either.  Were not talking a few buds, theres nothing.

When do berries tend to ripen around here?

3. Do they ripen sooner at low or high elevations?

Don't have much means of getting up to a high altitude thats the reason for lacing up the boots.

4. Will they get fruit buds this late or is it a waste hunting this area if not fruit is visible at this point?

5. better to stay on the logging roads or get off a ways into the woods?

6.  There are several small lakes/ponds and small rivers.... is it beneficial to hunt near water sources for bear around this time of year?

7. Time of day?

8. Any other tips?

I scouted a good amount before season and have been putting a lot of work in and am starting to get discouraged.  I know there are bear in the area but I feel like I'm doing something wrong.  As I am a masters student my free time is slowing passing and I really want to make this year count.  Any input, tips, general locations or anything will be greatly appreciated..... of course not looking for any secret spots or tricks just some advice to get on the bears.  At this point I have contemplated covering myself in honey before I go out

[kckrawler]

Hate to burst your bubble, but if you're talking about the Hancock tree farm, it's shut down due to fire danger...won't be open until "significant rainfall"...just looking out for a fellow hunter 

https://hancockrecreationnw.com/snoqualmie/about/about-snoqualmie

[rasbo]

those look like salmon berry bushes,most if not all of them are gone now..

[h20hunter]

Sounds like the only thing you are missing is the bears. Really it sounds like you are doing what most guys that shoot bears do....beat feet and sticking to it. They may have moved on to other food sources and that may be key. Are you finding any fresh scat?

[Jordanskylery]

kckrawler - thanks for the heads up, I actually was up there yesterday and saw no signs posted so I would have had no idea. 

Rasbo and H20 - is the salmon berries are done what would be other good food sources to look for?  I have found small areas of blackberries and some huckleberries, any thing else they enjoy eating to keep an eye out for?

Also H20 I have found a few piles of scat but I would venture to guess they are about 3-4 weeks old in one spot.  In the clear cut areas I have seen scat on the road in a few times but other than right on the road it would be hard to find as the area was logged and kind of a mess of brush and stuff on the ground.  Since I dont have access to drive in I am limited to how far I can go in, I believe they are there but the clear cut is large and not sure what a good area to set up is.  Also there is a pond on the back side on the clear cut with a thin layer of trees separating it from the cut... would this be an area they may spend time?

[saylean]

Dont get discouraged. Just find ripe berries in your area and watch the berry patches close in morning and evening.

Mid to late Sept seems to really produce the bears for me....black berries are in full swing by then and the bears also seem more apt to come into calls...but that is just my personal experience.

Find berries, dont lose heart. My best time of day is evening. I like to head out into the area I am to hunt bout 3 ish .....still hot out, but cooling soon...maybe find some shade, eat some berries, take a nap, and hang out till 5 ish..then check some berry patches or watch clear cuts till dusk.

As it gets later in the day, they seem to pop out like bucks do.

[h20hunter]

I would defer my answers to what Saylean said....I'm a bear novice and these guys know a ton more than I.

[saylean]

I would defer my answers to what Saylean said....I'm a bear novice and these guys know a ton more than I.

Your answer was great H20. If he is not finding scat, sign, he should check other spots.

PS...im no expert.

[Jordanskylery]

Good input, I have been going out mostly mornings since it seems to be much cooler but I'll try checking the clear cuts in the evening.

What berries are available that I should be looking for other than blackberries and huckleberries?

Worth setting up near the pond by the clearcut?  I've heard at times of the year they spend a lot of time drinking

[h20hunter]

I would think that as dry as things are there could be some good edibles along the shoreline areas that they may be interested in. Can't hurt to explore and look around. If they are eating on the plants or drinking it should be fairly clear that stuff is a bit thrashed. Worst case is you explore a bit and eliminate an area if it doesn't look promising.

[snowshoes22]

One important thing that my friends don't understand is to be very quiet. When i'm on logging roads i almost still hunt to my spot. I always have a place in mind where i plan on sitting and glassing but many times i catch bears feeding on the sides of roads or trails. They are very noisy when feeding use your ears. Stick with it. It sounds like you are doing everything right.

[Jordanskylery]

I appreciate all the feedback.  And I try to take everything you guys are saying into consideration. 

Snowshoe - I do the same thing when I go out, since you usually hear a bear before you see one I am very quiet.  Even put 2 pairs of socks over my boots to reduce any noise from gravel, sticks, leaves, etc.

Like I mentioned there are plenty of signs of the bears having been in that area recently.
I deff plan to try hunting the area in the evening a few times since I have done more morning hunts, just prefer that since the light isn't an issue when it comes to shooting or tracking.

Only concern I have is that is if there isn't a noticeable food source, such as berries, will the bear still frequent an area? Or is it more likely that occasionally they may just pass by?  Is there food sources I am probably just not seeing?  There are some huckleberries and such just not an abundance, will bears still feed in these types of areas or do they need to be loaded to have good bear activity?

I think I may also try to hunt near the pond since the heat is so high who knows they may be going for swims

[Kowsrule30]

Go higher up.... You may catch a bear moving through but if there aren't any fresh berries and quite a bit of fresh scat you are wasting your time down low...... All the salmon berries at my house have been gone for over a week...... They fall off when over ripened..... Another picture looks like wild blackberry..... The fruit grows in varying shades of orange/pink/red/and another one.... (my kids love those) And the ones left at my hose are over ripened for almost a week... If you don't see flowers or buds starting to form an any berry bush more then likely they are done for the year.... Get your bike and get higher faster..... I've had better luck in the evenings as it cools down for bear.... Then if I get one I'm usually stuck working in the dark.....

[skagitsteel]

I am new to bear hunting as well but have seen 4 bears in 5 trips.  I did quite a bit of scouting earlier and have watched how the bear sign has changed since may.  The lower elevation berries (Thimbleberries, Huckleberries and vine blackberries, I think thats what there called) are prime right now and have been since the first.  Most of the bears and sign we are seeing is between 500 and 2000 ft.  In a few weeks the higher elevation blueberries and Huckleberries will be in full swing.  Torn up stumps and downed logs in 10-15 year old cuts have been the most common sign we have seen thus far.  If you are in an area spend a lot of time glassing details, like which stumps are torn up, bear scat and where bushes are trampled or trails through cuts.  Then we you come back to that particular cut and look at all the areas that had sign, are there any new stumps, new trails or new scat? If so then keep coming back they will show.   Also one thing i have learned is find a good vantage point spend a lot of time glassing and listening.  3 out of the 4 bears we heard a slight rustle or branch snap a few hundred yards away.  Even after hearing them, it till took 10 or 15 minutes of glassing to locate them. the low spots and brush could have a bear working right in front of you for several hours before one shows himself