Copalis spring bear hunt. Any success stories?

[afaa]

I'm a noob at hunting. Got drawn for Copalis. Just came back from a 2 day trip in there. Lots of thick woods. Didn't find  any good stake out places. My impression is that this is like trying to find needles in a hay stack. I need some encouragement to continue. Went with tje little lady. She's brainwashing me with the pessimism. 

[afaa]

Anyone successfully bag a bear here? Please post your story for some encouragement. No need for location specific if it matters to you.

[NW-GSP]

I hunted it for 14 + days three years ago. Only saw one bear the whole time and it was running across the road and I had no chance of getting a shot.
The thing they don't tell you is that they run dogs to hunt the bears in there.

[bobcat]

Of all the spring bear permits, that's definitely the toughest hunt of all. No doubt about it. Best bet is try to call them in with a fawn in distress call.


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[Boss .300 winmag]

Here is a thread about that unit spring bear permits.




http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,120603.25.html

[pd]

I'm a noob at hunting. Got drawn for Copalis. Just came back from a 2 day trip in there. Lots of thick woods. Didn't find  any good stake out places. My impression is that this is like trying to find needles in a hay stack. I need some encouragement to continue. Went with tje little lady. She's brainwashing me with the pessimism. 

OK, I am up to your challenge---you need positive encouragement, right?

1. Your tag is good until May 31st (if memory serves correctly).  Don't think you have to fill it in the first week.  You can't hunt every day or even every weekend.  Make a commitment to yourself to hunt the whole period.  In other words, give it your best.  (You bought the access permit, you owe it to yourself to make the best effort.  You WILL become a better hunter for this.)

2. Now that your better half knows how difficult this unit is, let her stay home next time.  The Copalis unit is said to be the most difficult spring bear unit, this is no place for casual observers.

3. I, too, strongly considered this unit, but applied for other areas because of the thick brush.  Now that you have the tag, you will have to do 2 things.  #1 is find open areas--this can be done by talking to locals if you cannot find advice here.  #2 is calling in the bear---this can be done by using manual mouth calls, or by using electronic calls, your choice.  Stalk hunting sounds really hard there.

4. During the week (whenever you can't hunt), go through the archives of this site.  Use the search function on the bear hunting section, and read every post with "copalis" listed as the search criteria.

At the end of this 6-week period, IF you bust your rear-end, you will become a much better hunter.  Good luck.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Just save your time and gas for fall hunting in a better area! 

[RadSav]

There are still a bunch of bear in there.  Just have to put some miles on your boots and keep an eye out for sign.  Calling does produce good results in thick brush areas, but I wouldn't rely on it.  Keep moving during early hours and then call once the prime grazing hours have passed.  You might want to send some PM's to Bearmanrick and Billythekidrock.  Maybe one of those guys can give you some one on one bear calling advise and get you set up with the right call!

[afaa]

Thank you all for your inputs. My permit is good until June 15. From reading this forum, I've seen people recommend hunting later in the spring season towards the end of May. I can see the reasoning behind this. Bears wake up, hungry, eat what they can in the immediate surroundings. Once that food source is depleted, they expand their area and travel outward.
I'm going to do a ton of research and asking for as much tips as possible before the next outing.  I'm thinking toward the end of May for the next trip. The lil lady agree to tag along as long as we'll be staying at a hotel/motel nearby at night. We were roughing it in a tent in the woods with down pouring rain  . That was pretty much the deal killer for her. 

I do have a Primos Frantic fawn. I'm looking for an affordable electric caller in the sub $100 range. If you have a recommendations on which one to get that would be helpful. I'm thinking of this particular one: ICOtec Call of the Wild GC300

I'm determined to bag a bear. I can envision the moment I sight the bear in my scope. I feel the adrenaline rushing just by thinking about it. 

[RadSav]

Not nearly as important to wait on Copalis bear.  They don't sleep the same way bear in the NE and SE do.  When you start seeing fresh green grass they should be moving.  We are starting to see bear movement here around Vancouver already.  I expect Copalis to be about the same as here.

[billythekidrock]

There is a reason that there are 100 permits for Copalis, and it is not because there are a lot of bear.

I have seen bear in there in the spring, but I see more sign in the fall. I drew this permit two years in a row and if it were free access I still would not apply again.

I suggest calling in areas with feeding activity or peels. There are lots of roads and when the bear are active you should find some sign on or along the roads.

The unit is mostly flat and it is extremely wet, even when it's not raining. I would scout the edges of the creeks and swamps. I would not waste my time with then clear cuts until mid May, unless there are pockets of grass and new growth.

Look for peels and focus on the area of fresh peels.
Pay attention to peels and

[afaa]

There is a reason that there are 100 permits for Copalis, and it is not because there are a lot of bear.

I have seen bear in there in the spring, but I see more sign in the fall. I drew this permit two years in a row and if it were free access I still would not apply again.

I suggest calling in areas with feeding activity or peels. There are lots of roads and when the bear are active you should find some sign on or along the roads.

The unit is mostly flat and it is extremely wet, even when it's not raining. I would scout the edges of the creeks and swamps. I would not waste my time with then clear cuts until mid May, unless there are pockets of grass and new growth.

Look for peels and focus on the area of fresh peels.
Pay attention to peels and

Thanks. I'll try that next time. I also got some tips from Eli on this board of where to start.

[oldschooltrucks]

Drew Copalis last year and didnt have any luck.  We never did see a bear.  We ran into one guy who heard us calling from a ridge line.  He glassed a bear grazing and told us that the bear never turned.  He continued eatting as we called and called.  May have been too early still for calling as it was middle of May.  He was looking for that trophy bear so he didnt take the shot...was his story lol.   I was told by several people they're out the last few weeks of the season. 

[bobcat]

The harvest report for last year's spring bear hunt in Copalis shows 1 bear killed out of 48 hunters.


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[oldschooltrucks]

i heard there was more than that.    Something like 4 or 5 taken?  But that's from running into other hunters and listening to thier gossip LOL  I found all kinds of signs while hunting there, just never saw them

[afaa]

Went in again today. Took the 6000 rd iff Kirkpatrick. Haf the e-caller going all day alternating between fawn distress and coyote pyp distress. No luck. Nothing. I was hoping for at least a coyote to fire a round but nope.

Drove out to Ocean Shores. Sitting at the restaurant now drinking cocktails to make up.

[pd]

Went in again today. Took the 6000 rd iff Kirkpatrick. Haf the e-caller going all day alternating between fawn distress and coyote pyp distress. No luck. Nothing. I was hoping for at least a coyote to fire a round but nope.

Drove out to Ocean Shores. Sitting at the restaurant now drinking cocktails to make up.

Keep the cocktail count low, and get out there again.  This is how you become a better hunter.  (Copalis is tough.  Good luck!!)

[mrgoodwrench]

We haven't been seeing many bears in Copalis yet, but I saw a few peels Monday when I was in there reconing some road construction.  This picture was taken off a spur off the 6000, there were several peels in this area, they looked to be a few days old since they were turning orange.

Hunt the open swamps, grassy roads, anything along the REZ boundary, and the north end of the property.  We usually see more bears later in may, and I think the tag is good until June 15th?  It used to be anyway. 

FYI, we have not hunted bears with hounds in a few years.  Adjacent landowners still do, but we do not.

[afaa]

Sitting out here off of rd 6011. No rain yet. Good thing there's strong cell signal here to keep me entertained.

[notellumcreek]

Sitting out here off of rd 6011. No rain yet. Good thing there's strong cell signal here to keep me entertained.

Anyone else out there hunting? Planning on heading up the last 2 weekends of the season for sure, plus a couple extra days during the week.

[jackmaster]

The absolute best way to hunt bear in the brush is walk the roads, especially roads that are gated that cant be drivin down, you gotta walk slow and hunt with your ears, if the wind is in your face, you will be fine, bear cant see that well , they can hear pretty good but their sense of smell is everything. Evenings and early mornings are best, especially the evening from like 5pm on... you gotta walk slow and open your ears, you will hear them before you see them most of the time, they love to rip into stumps and peel trees, it is actually pretty friggin loud when they are ripping into stuff, again you still hunt with your ears when huntn bear

[sled]

The absolute best way to hunt bear in the brush is walk the roads, especially roads that are gated that cant be drivin down, you gotta walk slow and hunt with your ears, if the wind is in your face, you will be fine, bear cant see that well , they can hear pretty good but their sense of smell is everything. Evenings and early mornings are best, especially the evening from like 5pm on... you gotta walk slow and open your ears, you will hear them before you see them most of the time, they love to rip into stumps and peel trees, it is actually pretty friggin loud when they are ripping into stuff, again you still hunt with your ears when huntn bear

  Exactly How I Have Been Hunting.

[afaa]

Thanks for the tip. I'll try that next time. Saw a couple guys there on my way out. Seemed like hardcore hunters. One of which I recognize the van from last trip. Talked to another hunter who said he lived in the area and been out there like 30 times. This is very discouraging. I'm starting to think there's not many bears here.

[sled]

Thanks for the tip. I'll try that next time. Saw a couple guys there on my way out. Seemed like hardcore hunters. One of which I recognize the van from last trip. Talked to another hunter who said he lived in the area and been out there like 30 times. This is very discouraging. I'm starting to think there's not many bears here.

  I've Been In My Areas 30 Times Also.  I Know There Are Bears, It's Just A Matter Of Right Place At The Right Time.  Good Luck. 

[RadSav]

The first year I guided I had a new hunter book a bear hunt for himself and his expert hunter friend.  The expert hunter had a certain goal in mind and I only had two bear targeted that would break 400# and 19" in skull size.  So we skipped over the high population area close to the house and drove 45-60 minutes to the home of the big boys.  As soon as I pulled off of highway 101 the expert started complaining.  He and his family had hunted this area for elk since he was a kid, "There are no bear here!  Why are we hunting this ^)&^$$ spot?!!!"  He was mad!  Wanting me to refund his partners money before we ever stepped out of the truck!  I asked, "Have you ever walked more than a few hundred yards in this area?  Can't believe you could have or you would have seen bear poop."  His response was, "Sure we've seen poop, but that's probably just bear passing through.  Cause no one in my family has ever seen one here!"

His partner feeling very embarrassed says, "Let's at least give it one evening and see what this is all about."  Huffing and puffing the expert tells him to go ahead, but he's not getting out of the truck as it's just a waste of time. 

In this area I had four swamps we would call at on our way to the bait sites (of course this was back in the days we could actually bait).  The first swamp held three bear...that we saw!  And the new hunter made an impressive 200 yard offhand shot on a 350# boar with his .270 Ruger 77 and the 130 grain Core-Lokt dropped him in his tracks!

Took about two hours to get the bear out of the swamp and onto the Argo for the 1/4 mile ride out to the truck.  The whole time the expert was telling the newbie how lucky he was, how it was a miracle the 130 grain bullet killed that bear and that it weighed at least 500#.  When we got to the Bumble Bee plant and had the bear weighed and field dressed the accurate weight was 348# and the tissue damage from the Core-Lokt was extensive and penetration was deep!  Later that evening after plenty of winged warriors the expert mentioned the family had only taken three elk in 20 years there too

Sometimes just being in the presence of bear is not enough for success.  Takes a while to learn how they move, what and where they eat, and how they use the terrain.  I expect the rut to be early this year making encounters more frequent as time goes on.  They should start responding to calls better as the season goes on as well.  Just keep after it and taking good notes!  Shouldn't be much longer and you will notice where they are and where they aren't.  Then you can invest time doing the most important thing in bear hunting...hunting where the bear are with a positive attitude

[liljozie495]

^ hey RadSav... How about the gps cords to that spot 

[RadSav]

^ hey RadSav... How about the gps cords to that spot 

Not sure what that spot looks like these days.  Been 20 years since I've been there.  But if you plan on hunting the Oregon coast I'd be glad to send you some of my old spots to check out.  Best spot was always the back parking lot of the old Taft Highschool - honestly!!

[MisplacedAlaskan]

Afaa,

Any luck in Copalis?

[notellumcreek]

liljozie and I are heading out tomorrow morning for 4 days to hunt Copalis. Hopefully we will have some pics to post up of our experience, successful or not. Just looking forward to learning some new area and having a good time in the outdoors.

[liljozie495]

Very flat and brushy haha, cruised around 3 or so hrs around 6000 line, does anyone recommend calling for them in here jw? Seen a nice herd of elk this morning a few bulls and about 20 cows and some very very fresh calves. They were pretty cute running around the calves were haha. Any entail to "how" to hunt this out here a little better were all ears. Going to do some walking later after we got te area more figured out.

[Rooster1981]

Stay close to the elk  bear love killing early calves. I read somewhere Washington bear average two calves a year. Food for thought

[billythekidrock]

I would stay close to the elk and use calf distress and cow/calf mews. I have called in and killed several bear with that combo.

[liljozie495]

Got one done about 320... Notellumcreek is up to bat now...

[liljozie495]

320 pm that is, I'd say maybe a buck80 for lbs big dang noggin for the body.

[bobcat]

Cool, that's quite an accomplishment out of the Copalis unit! Would be great to hear the story when you get a chance.

[RadSav]

NICE!!  That's a dang fine spring bear.  Way to get it done!  And in arguably the toughest spring unit.  One to be proud of for certain

[liljozie495]

Not much story haha luck was just on our hands feeding in the grass on a side rd that we almost decided not to go past lol a little wind to help cover the truck sound and bam done about it. We tried calling prior to that but no such luck... Just coinsedentaly came across it our 11:11 make a wish mud have worked I guess? Haha