Backcountry Bears

[MLHSN]

Several bear questions for you guys:

1.  I was out scouting for elk last weekend.  I was about 8 miles back into the wilderness and ran into 3 bears.  The funny thing is they were feeding in a small meadow along with elk and deer at the same time.  Are elk and deer really that comfortable with having multiple bears within 100-200 yards?  I found it kind of interesting.

2.  Every bear I've seen before then has turned and booked it after seeing me.  These bears looked up at me and then went back to eating like they didn't care.  I was within 30 yards of one.  He didn't seem to care.  I thought this might be usual for garbage can bears but Wilderness bears?  They didn't seem to mind my presence.  It made me a little jumpy at camp that night.  Especially when I saw them again in the morning about 200 yards from camp.  I'm pretty sure I was the first one into the area this year.  I went across a decent amount of snow and crossed two ugly creeks.  I didn't see any other boot tracks so I was pretty sure these bears are not acclimated to humans like ones that hang around campgrounds.

3.  Any good books you guys would suggest on hunting backcountry bears?  I've read a few books on DIY, backcountry wilderness hunting for elk and deer.  But there is not much out on bear that matches the area.  The few books I've read appeal to different areas and talk a lot about baiting, etc.

4.  The cub I saw with a large sow was rather big.  How long do they stick with mom?  At what point do they become independent?  The sow looked massive and the cub was about half the mother's size.  I know you are not suppose to shoot a sow when she has a cub with her but it made me think.  Is there a point where the cub is big enough or is it always an ultimate no-go to shoot?

[bear hunter]

I would have no problem taking a sow with a 1 to 1.5 year old juvenile. She is probably going to give the boot soon anyways. I sure would hunt the opener in that area. 

[MLHSN]

I would have no problem taking a sow with a 1 to 1.5 year old juvenile. She is probably going to give the boot soon anyways. I sure would hunt the opener in that area. 

That brings me to another question.  Is there any rhyme or reason to how bears move and what areas they are in at different times of the year?  I noticed they spent quite a bit of time chomping in the meadow in one area.  I went over later to see what they were eating.  It looked liked what I thought was Columbine.  I know a few random hikers will start going into the area soon once the snow melts more and probably push the deer, elk, and beer higher up or farther back.  I'm justing wondering if there is any trend to what beers do or if it is completely random.

[ICEMAN]

They follow the food.

[3nails]

 A few years back I shot a bear about 40' from a huge blacktail. Oddly, after the shot the buck walked right up to it to check it out. Got it on video. They will hang fairly close to each other.

 Get up wind of them and I'll bet you get a different response!

 I personally would not shoot a sow with any cub mostly because I don't want to kill a sow.

 In the fall find the berries and you'll find the bears.

[bear hunter]

They follow the food.

and like 3nails said berries fields and salmon in September.

[mountainman]

Don't forget orchards and grubs..

[sirmissalot]

I think the answer to number 2 is just the fact that it is spring and they are a little groggy from their deep sleep. I just killed a spring bear that a turkey hunter had seen one evening feeding on grass at 40 yards, he was able to take several pictures and leave the bear be. That evening he told me about it and I went there, sure enough it was there eating grass. Bearpaw led me to believe that it's fairly common for a bear fresh out of the den to be a little dumb, like its still trying to wake up.

[kerrdog]

I've been hunting (elk) ryderwood and coweeman for 3 years now and have never seen a bear?  Are there not alot of bears there or is it the wrong time to see them?

[Bhunter253]

I hunt the ryderwood and have killed a bear there. I've seen several usually in and around the  thicker jack fir 10 to 20 years old.

[kerrdog]

Thanks Bhunter.  I was hoping somebody who reply.