Incredibly Frustrated!

[kglacken]

I am so frustrated with my Copalis hunt. I have tried finding clear cuts to call or some where that I can see from a distance. I tried finding a good place for a tree stand, but the trees are either too thick together to see, or they are not tall enough to get off the ground. I am trying to remain optimistic and I will keep after it, but I am just frustrated with it. I consider myself to be a good hunter who is willing to adapt to my surroundings, I just dont know what to do in order to increase my success. I understand nothing ensures success, but I am looking for any type of advice on how to hunt the thick, flat area I have been hunting. If I set up to call on a spur road, will a bear come out of the thick stuff to check out my call? I am not sure. I am looking for some tactics or tips to try. I will listen to any hints. Thanks guys!

[xXLojackXx]

I would cover ground and make sets on the outskirts of the thick reprod stuff, calling for 1-2 hours and then move a 1/4 mile or so. The more ground you cover, the greater your odds of calling one in. Keep your head up, we all know they're part ghost. One will show up without making a noise

[carpsniperg2]

You just have to be in the right place at the right time. Really look for sign then hunt in the areas that are showing you sign. Keep at it They will come out of the thick to check out your calls if they are in the mood and like what they hear. Not all bears will commit and come to calls.

[RadSav]

Really look for sign then hunt in the areas that are showing you sign. Not all bears will commit and come to calls.

That really is the key there!!!  Seems overly simple, but hunting where the bear are is step #1.  #2 would be- Find food/find bear!  This time of year that means "Find the Green".  If you are seeing sign, can't find many green clear cuts and there is not much option to glass the best places really are on the roads.  The edges of the roads really should be getting green before anything but the wide open clearcuts.  Stack the miles on the boots and round any corners in the road extremely slow - "peekaboo corners" produce a lot.

About calling...From the reports I'm getting the bear are really just getting warmed up and staying awake for more than a few days at a time.  When bear first come out of the dens from a long sleep they often do not have the desire for high protein foods yet.  Plus, the sows will have very young cubs and are often frightened by distress calls fearing a large boar is feeding on the weak little guys.  Calling will produce more large boars in the mood for high protein diets, but you will usually see more bear by simply walking.  Calling should increase in efficiency as the season goes on and the bear become more capable of that type of food.

If it was me and I was committed to calling I would work the calls hard in a few choice spots first of the morning and then start to walking/still hunting the roads and clearcuts the rest of the day.  But I'm not big on calling in the spring.

[kglacken]

So it sounds like if I wanted to call I should try first thing in the morning? I have been calling mainly in the evening.

[bobcat]

I have called in a couple of bears, back in 2005 during the spring bear hunt. I believe the dates were May 15 and May 22nd. We did a lot of calling prior to that with no luck. We also had not seen much fresh sign until about a week into May. Both bears were called into a clearcut and both times we started somewhat late in the morning (9:30- 10:00). And, both times the bear showed up at an hour and 15 minutes into the calling session. We used an electronic call with a fawn in distress sound.

[kglacken]

I have called in a couple of bears, back in 2005 during the spring bear hunt. I believe the dates were May 15 and May 22nd. We did a lot of calling prior to that with no luck. We also had not seen much fresh sign until about a week into May. Both bears were called into a clearcut and both times we started somewhat late in the morning (9:30- 10:00). And, both times the bear showed up at an hour and 15 minutes into the calling session. We used an electronic call with a fawn in distress sound.

That sounds exactly like my set ups except in the evening. I think I may try setting up in the spur roads in order to pull them out and get them in the open for a shot. I found one area that seems to have good bear sign and activity. I will try getting off a spur road in the morning there and then walking the grassy roads.

[headshot5]

Check out any swampy areas too.  The most bear sign I find is usually not too far from swamp/marsh and meadows (This is lowlands).  I'm betting if you have a clearcut that runs down near a creek you could pull them out of the buffer zone along the creek pretty easy.  Keep at it.

[bearmanric]

Bear cub Distress. Rick

[xXLojackXx]

Bear cub Distress. Rick

Boom. You just got some free advice that took years days and years to learn 

[Machias]

Personally I don't like calling cuts, way too open.  I like it thick, 30, 40 yards max visibility.  They feel more comfortable approaching your calling.  I could never get my electronic caller loud enough to suit me.  I like to really crank up the volume with Rainshadow or Bearmanric's calls.  Put a lot of agony into your calls.  I have called in 15 bears so far and most came in within 30 to 40 minutes.  I have had bears come in that made no sound and I only spotted them turning around and leaving.  Hang in there, I average a bear every 15 to 20 stands.  Also put a watch out in front of you, calling for an hour seems like an eternity, 20 minutes in to a stand and you think you've called an hour already.