My username implies this threads' content

[wetbehindtheears]

First thing I have to say is WOW!!! This forum is absolutely amazing and loaded with great information, tips, pictures and stories.  It's not too often I look up a subject on the internet and find one place so well stocked!  I also now know for sure from many of the pictures I've seen that bears really do $#!+ in the woods. 

Now a little about me and why I am here....

I grew up in North Dakota mainly hunting pheasant, grouse, partridge, and deer.  I moved to WA at 21 and have been here for 12 years.  I lived mostly on the east side of the state and have moved to the Lynnwood area last year.  For the past 5 years I have been hunting the Blues south of Dayton with deer, elk, bear, and cougar tags, which is generally a donation from me to the state    For me it's been more about getting out and enjoying the outdoors and hanging out with some relatives more than anything.   Well this year things are changed a bit, my Dad and Brother are coming out to hunt for a week with me in about the 3rd week of September and are relying on me to hopefully lead them to some bear.  Here's a few things I have done.

I got harvest numbers from huntwashingtonstate.com for all of the gmu's that had decent bear harvest numbers and compiled them to find where my best percentage of chance to get a bear would be and it appears as though right next to home in unit 448 is the answer.

I have spent almost all day today reading this bear forum and have gone through all of the sticky's and as many of the links that worked in those sticky's.

I will definitely take the bear ID training and quiz until I know I'm certain of what I'd be shooting at and make sure my family does the same.

After reading many of the threads, I now know I should've gotten my butt in gear sooner than this to get prepared but as they say hindsight is always 20/20.  I saying that, I have a few questions for you knowledgeable actual bear hunting folks.

1.  Where exactly am I allowed to hunt?  I'm not looking for anyone to tell me their spot or anything, I had just always gone with an uncle in the blues that knows the area and knows where hunting is allowed.  I've seen in some of the threads that there were comments about gates and trailheads and such.  Will no hunting areas be clearly marked?  I don't want to hunt on someone's land that I shouldn't be on.  Are all gates accessible to walk past to hunt?  Can you really park at a trailhead to go hunting, I had always assumed they were just for hikers and it's what I've always used them for. 

2.  My largest caliber rifle is a Ruger M77 6MM.  Is this a large enough gun for bear hunting?  I've heard mixed reactions to this over the past years and would like to know from people who actually hunt bears what they think.  And if it is large enough, what type of ammo should I use?

3.  Should I carry a sidearm "just in case" and if so is a .357 mag enough or should I bring the heavy .44?

4.  Are there certain foods I should not pack for snacks or eating during the hike because of overpowering scents?  Although this seems very open to debate as many say just make sure to watch the wind.  This only helps if you know where there bear is though, if you don't know, how do you know if you are upwind or downwind right 

5.  Although I would love to have and always wanted a rug for a trophy, I'm not sure that I could afford it after processing all of the meat.  What do you do with the hide in that case and is that also why there is a sticky for cleaning claws?  I know I would want the claws and teeth in the bear if I were to make a rug.

6.  I want to try some calls out, does anyone have a particular recommendation of what animal distress call might best work for this area? 

7.  Is camping allowed pretty much anywhere hunting is allowed?  I realize that fires are probably out of the question in most areas at night due to not having any rain for quite some time.

8.  Are there rifle ranges around here that are free to use or are they all member pay sites? Mine could use a good sighting in.

I had more questions but can't remember them right now.  I have never seen a bear in the wild yet but after reading this forum all day I have a whole lot more confidence about taking my family out and want to thank those of you who contribute to this forum to make it a better place.  I look forward to your responses and will definitely be sharing stories and photos if we are successful.

[carpsniperg2]

Welcome to the site! I am pretty tired so I just wanted to say welcome. When I get a chance tomorrow I will sit down and try to answer as many questions as possible. I am sure a few other guys will pipe in as well and help you out as well

[furiouzgeorge]

Sounds like you've got the right attitude. I haven't harvested a bear yet but I'm going out again this weekend. All I can say is RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH. Go to the GoHunt tab on Fish and Wildlife's page (just google GoHunt and WA) and you'll find some good resources on finding sites you can hunt. A lot of timber companies allow hunting and typically have a sign posted at the gate indicating whether or not you can. Never assume you can unless you've really done your research. Your first order of business however should be to sight that rifle in and make sure you have your family do the same. Beside the ethics, HuntWA forum members don't like people who wound game...you don't want HuntWA against you!!! Another thing I've noticed is that these folks are extremely helpful, down to the point of offering to help recover game or help dress it out. Take all of the advice and help you can get. But like I said it seems you have the right attitude, welcome and I look forward to learning from answers to your question!

[wraithen]

Ok, I can't help much but I dig the attitude. Here's what I got for ya

1.) I know your pain. Pretty much anywhere that isn't restricted firearms and also not national just to keep it simple. If the land isn't posted, ask the landowner. If it is posted, ask the landowner. Don't do this while hunting and don't do it with camo and a rifle on your back.

2.) While it is debateable, that cartridge is fine. These bears are not armored, but the fat content will plug there holes, so a good shot is key.

3.) Carry whatever you want, attacks are really rare. My question is could you employ that handgun faster than shooting the rifle and would you be more effective? Bear spray seems to work for most people as well, but winds can be tricky.

4.) IDK

5.) You can just get the hide tanned and then save the money for the rug until able. Yes there's a sticky that I believe michelle has done up about cleaning claws.

6.) Ask Rick about calls. He will remind you that once you start some of his calls, nothing is coming near you that can't eat what you're pretending to be. Not expensive and they sound great!

7.) Not sure. I don't run into people when hunting when I'm not driving to or from.

8.) Depending on where you are, there are some places in the woods all the locals shoot. Ask around more for your neck of the woods. Running a range for free is kind of a difficult proposition. If you want an actual range, you'll most likely have to pay.

Welcome and good luck.

[Special T]

437 & 448 both have bear.  Since you are unfamiluar with the area the best thing to do is go for a drive. Look online for public ground and then go look for th gates. If you have a GPS log where you are so you can figure out the access. Generally speeking,  the big logging gates are a great place to go for hunting. Never block a gate even on a weekend. Log trucks don't haul on the weekend but they do maint and move equip... Firearm restricted area is pretty much W of Hwy9 in 448 so if you go east of there (which is where mostof the public land is) you'll be fine.

[Carl]

Tagging this thread.  Great questions.  I'm prepping for next year.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Welcome to Hunt WA.  Sounds like you have the right outlook and you will find lots of help here. 

I am new to the Thurston Co area this year so am kind of in the same boat as you as far as areas to access and their general quality, chance of success.   Lots of the forrest lands are private timber companies and each have different rules and degrees of public access.

Weyerhauser is who I am most familular with, they have a hotline that you can call and get access infor to their various tree farms:  1-866-636-6531.  I am sure the others have someting along the same lines just have not had to opportunity try them out.  Some charge a pass fee, so something else to keep in mind.  Also, DNR lands require the Discovery Pass to park on or risk a ticket. 

For shooting, again, not knowing the local area yet, I have been going to Joint Base Lewis-McChord and using the range there.  You have to go through their background check and paperwork, but it isn't really a long or difficult process and they have a very nice range they open to the public on weekends and Fridays July through September. 

Bench rests and target stations out to 300 yards.  Cost is $7.00 a day if you are not current military or retired, then I believe it is $5.50.

Good luck looking forward to hearing some success stories as you get to konw your new stomping grounds.  And can always share pics & stories from past hunts if you like, always like readabout other's adventures and seeing the results.

[wetbehindtheears]

Thank you for the responses so far (still hoping for more yet!)  I have located some maps online and and while I think I understand I'm still not positively sure what is ok to hunt, so I will do more research and probably make some phone calls.  I'll probably break down and go pay at the range in Kenmore to get my rifle sighted, it's an alright price I guess.  In ND we had 2 gun ranges near where I lived that were free to use that were built and kept up by the state fish & wildlife department there, so it's a principal thing for me is all.  The Discovery Pass I already have as the fam and I like to try to hike and camp as much as we can during the year and we are more than happy to spend $35 a year to help support state parks.   I'm hoping to hear from Rick about some calls I guess, I have no idea who he is but I'd like to have a chat   AND ya'll is dang right I got the right attitude   You got have the right attitude for hunting, just follow the rules whether you think some suck or not and you should be able to hunt for years to come, it's the ones who don't give a flying pig fart about the rules and are just there to make something die or put holes in whatever that are gonna ruin it for us.  Just have good ethics, it's that simple.  Anyway I look forward to reading more from you all and maybe some more input on my questions?

[wraithen]

Rick is a sponsor. RRCalls is his username I believe. His header on the advertising banner is Rick Robbins Calls. Google it if you can't find it under the sponsor section.

[saylean]

Welcome to the site. Glad you are reading up and interested. I will answer some of your questions as well.

1. WDFW website has a link called "gohunt" which shows huntable land. Pretty much, DNR land, WDFW land, National forests are all huntable. You will find that you have to walk in past gates most of the time. Use google earth as much as possible to save on gas.

2. Caliber would be fine...SHOT PLACEMENT is crucial. Read up on the link at the top for shot placement. Use a heavy bullet grain. Try to get under 100 yards to make the shot.....sounds tough, but much of the area you will be hunting will be very brushy and it is more likely that you will be under this range anyway. That is my opinion however. Many people are happy to shoot several 100 yards out....but thats not me. Not knocking those who do.

3. Carry what you like, .357 would be fine provided you hit the target. There are studies where bear spray works just as well if not better on charging or aggressive bears....but I still prefer a gun over spray anyday.

4. I wouldnt worry about snacks. Unless your packing an onion sandwich or garlic bread...just watch the wind (try to have it in your face as much as possible), try to avoid having it blow down gulleys you want to watch, etc. Bring snacks and enjoy, your hunting.

5. Some people dont use the rugs, for whatever reason....poor quality, slippage, etc...however, you can use the claws to make craft stuff (i made a bear claw necklace out of one of my claws). There is a sticky for how to prepare your hide. If you cant afford a rug, but you still want the hide, just get it tanned...which is more than likely much cheaper, but still cool.

6. Lots of info on calls, calling, on bear forum....etc...callingbears.com is where I would start. Lots of great call sponsors on here.

7. Camping is site specific. Some places clearly state no over night camping, other places you can camp...just depending. Check local authorities on the subject.

8. On what I have always called "gun hill" which is between lynwood and brier, there is a rifle range (just google it, should be able to pop up pretty quick). Dont recall the name, but it is close to you and probably isnt too expensive to sight in with.

Bears are TOUGH. They get hit and if they can, they head to the nastiest, crappiest gullies, cover, you can get into. Bring leather gloves with you, as you will more than likely be on hands and knees crawling through devils club, black berries and briers looking for a wounded bear.  Make the shot count. Make the effort to recover it. If you need help finding a wounded bear, post on here....you would be surprised of the amount of volunteers who might show up.

Best of luck, ...others on here left good info, research, practice, know your quarry, have fun.