Where to go?

[They Prey]

This will be my first year hunting for Black bear, and I have no idea where to go! Some people have said that I should head over to the Olympic Peninsula, and others have said go to Darrington. Me, being the inexperienced black bear hunted, I have no idea which place I should go to. Any ideas?

[h20hunter]

Start here....

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,94678.0.html



Lots of good area up by Darrington

[Kc_Kracker]

in the woods 

[They Prey]

I'm thinking darrington may be a good place to, now my next question, what should I be looking for? Also, I heard that the best hunting hour is an hour before night, is this true?

[92xj]

I'd be looking for a bear if it was me.
I would also look for what bears eat.  You will know that when you find bear poop.  Look at the poop to determine what he/she ate.  Find that source of food and look for bear.

[h20hunter]

I'm thinking darrington may be a good place to, now my next question, what should I be looking for? Also, I heard that the best hunting hour is an hour before night, is this true?

Depends on who you ask that has killed bears. My buddy on here, D-Rock, kills bears in the evening. My only two were in the morning. Find the food, shoot the bear.

[buckfvr]

We have as many or more mid day pics of bear as we do night pics.......think water mid day......

[They Prey]

Alright, what should I be looking for in bear scat? Also, should i just be hiking or hike to a meadow and wait their for a bit? There are 3 of us going, so should we stick in a group? or fan out?

[buckfvr]

Stop and glass anywhere you have a vantage....even if its only a hundred  yards.  Patience is your friend, go slow and dont worry about covering huge amounts of ground......go slow enough to keep your heart rate down to the point you can shoot off hand.

Berries in old clear cuts, adjacent to stream bottoms......get somewhere hopefully you're in the shade,  and set and glass.....know where your pards are but dont be together.......and hunt the wind.

[CAMPMEAT]

I've seen more bear driving around on logging roads than any other way. You cover more area instead of sitting means a better chance. Pack a lunch

[They Prey]

Any other random tips I should know before I go out?

[h20hunter]

Yep. If you are solo shoot a little one, if you can call for help shoot a big one. Not kidding.

[skagitsteel]

I've seen more bear driving around on logging roads than any other way. You cover more area instead of sitting means a better chance. Pack a lunch

maybe on the Eastside or areas where there is lots of visibility.  Lower elevation westside bears might get lucky and spook one off the road, but most of the ones Ive seen this time of year are in some pretty thick stuff that takes patience to glass.

Alright, what should I be looking for in bear scat? Also, should i just be hiking or hike to a meadow and wait their for a bit? There are 3 of us going, so should we stick in a group? or fan out?

Lots of good bear areas in the general vicinity of Darrington, been scouting quite a bit not too far from there.  Thimble berry and red Huckleberry and vine blackberry are prime right now from 500' to about 2500'. Bears have been real active this year from what Ive seen so far.  Find some old overgrown clear cuts that are behind some locked gates and put some distance from the truck.  Look for little stuff like scat on the edges of the grades, trails through the berry patches, ect.. Asso torn up stupms and logs are a dead give away.  Listen carefully as you walk my experience this time of the year is you usually hear them first!  when your glassing look for movement, bushes shaking often times see the bushes moving before I spot the bear

[CAMPMEAT]

I've seen more bear driving around on logging roads than any other way. You cover more area instead of sitting means a better chance. Pack a lunch

maybe on the Eastside or areas where there is lots of visibility.  Lower elevation westside bears might get lucky and spook one off the road, but most of the ones Ive seen this time of year are in some pretty thick stuff that takes patience to glass.

Alright, what should I be looking for in bear scat? Also, should i just be hiking or hike to a meadow and wait their for a bit? There are 3 of us going, so should we stick in a group? or fan out?

Lots of good bear areas in the general vicinity of Darrington, been scouting quite a bit not too far from there.  Thimble berry and red Huckleberry and vine blackberry are prime right now from 500' to about 2500'. Bears have been real active this year from what Ive seen so far.  Find some old overgrown clear cuts that are behind some locked gates and put some distance from the truck.  Look for little stuff like scat on the edges of the grades, trails through the berry patches, ect.. Asso torn up stupms and logs are a dead give away.  Listen carefully as you walk my experience this time of the year is you usually hear them first!  when your glassing look for movement, bushes shaking often times see the bushes moving before I spot the bear

I lived over there years ago and never saw one bear when I hunted them. I learned how to use a predator call, which works pretty good. There has to be lots of clearcuts on the westside left over from years gone by. I'd drive around and look at them and call.

The OP lives on Camano Island it looks like. I'd drive the extra 1.25 hours and go to the eastside myself.

[bearmanric]