Where have all the bears gone...

[Bullets_n_Octane]

I have searched the woods from Bacon Creek to Cascade River to Illabot to Darrington to Barlow Pass to Skykomish to Rieter/Spada to Pilchuck and all locales in between... I have never seen so little sign of Bears... as in I've seen nothing... Dismal year for Bears... I don't even know a single hunter in my friends group that has even seen one... anyone else being completely Skunked on the west side?

I've likely spent $400+ on fuel so far....

[southern transplant]

im very new to bear hunting so its probably not saying much ive only seen 1 in three years but ive burned lots of fuel and called and called and havent seen a thing. only found one are with multiple piles of scat in it.

[Bullets_n_Octane]

I am no stranger to getting Skunked on seeing an actual Bear, I think we're all used to that... However I at least expect to see some scat, tracks, Blueberry bushes that have been lipped clean... etc etc... It's like they're just still hibernating... maybe it's just time to go East.... everything... seeing how I haven't seen a single deer this year either!

[Boss .300 winmag]

More boot time, less windshield time! 

[jasnt]

They have all moved to the east side. Lol. I have seen 6 this last 2 weeks.   

[Bullets_n_Octane]

I'm not a Road Hunter by any means... That crap drives me insane! I have the blisters and sore ankles to prove my boot time... it's been almost a month since the season started and I've spent nearly three weeks straight in the bush... I've seen 3 rabbits,a Skunk and a Burly Wolverine... yeah, a wolverine... and no bears...

[Timberstalker]

You saw a wolverine?

[Bullets_n_Octane]

Yes, in the same place I've seen one in the past. Scary *censored*s... especailly when you sneak up on em!

[6.8mmARHunter]

I've been out scouting (pre season) 9 out of 10 weekends since April. Been out every weekend in August. I did see one bear back on father's day. Haven't seen any wolverine. I did spot a cougar at the Mt. Si Tavern. 

[Bullets_n_Octane]

I've only ever seen Wolverine very high up in the North Central Cascades... in Grizzly country.

[BGhunter]

The best advice I can give is as tempting as it is, stay away from open gated roads. Your chance of seeing bear go way up when you walk in behind closed gates. That's just what I've noticed.

[boneaddict]

Find the food.   I've seen a couple and haven't even been trying.  We were after the same food source.

[bearpaw]

Find the food.   I've seen a couple and haven't even been trying.  We were after the same food source.

   follow the food

[b0bbyg]

Hiking around on StHelens we did not see any bears. But they seem to leave a pile in the trail every 1/8 mile minimum anywhere near the huckleberry fields.

We covered a lot of miles and elevation so I am thinking it took lots of bears to generate the amount of scat we stepped over.

Can't hunt the areas we hiked but there are lots of areas close to the mountain that would have ripe berries. Find a big berry field and wait they will show up.

[hunterrcc]

I've likely spent $400+ on fuel so far....

That's means roughly 4 days for me of gas in my truck!  Keep on looking.  Just last week I seen a bear just too small and I had the wife and two kids under 3 with me never even left the truck.  It was more just driving around and a little trout fishing for the kiddo.  Don't hunt so hard for them and I seem to see them more often.  The days I go hiking and looking hard for them I don't see too many.