Spring Bear Odds

[Curly]

Is this just for the hunt? Does the meat taste edible? Seems like they would be pretty lean that time of year.

The spring bear my brother shot a few years ago in the CF tasted really good.  I was a little surprised that it was so good.

[Ridgerunner]

the units that give out a large number of tags, like 50 or 100 will be much easier to draw than those units that only give out 5-15 tags. 

[billythekidrock]

the units that give out a large number of tags, like 50 or 100 will be much easier to draw than those units that only give out 5-15 tags. 

Yep, but some of those units with larger permit numbers are harder to find bears in.

[BuckHunter23]

My brother got drawn this last year for Spring Bear in the Huckleberry unit, I think GMU 121.  It was his first try at the tag.  Guess his buddy had been putting in for over 10 years for that unit and has never been drawn.  Unfortunately the winter sucked and the bear were nowhere to be found.  Funny thing was, it was turkey season, so we saw tons of hunters, none of which saw any bear.  Everyone looked puzzeled when we told them we were looking for bear.  Saw a ton of turkey and ton of whitetail.  We also got stuck in the snow up high.  Brother had to drive his quad down the mountain to find someone to drive up and pull us out.  Real nice guys, paid em $60 for their time, since we took about an hour away from their turkey hunt.  My bro was actually relieved to run into the hunters, as he wasn't lookng forward to driving his quad up to some of those houses.  No offense to anyone who lives out there, but some of those areas look straight out of the movies Wrong Turn or Deliverance.  I've never seen so many broken down cars in my life.

In any event, it was a fun experience being out their with my little bro.  Maybe we'll get luckier next time.

[Gutpile]

My brother got drawn this last year for Spring Bear in the Huckleberry unit, I think GMU 121.  It was his first try at the tag.  Guess his buddy had been putting in for over 10 years for that unit and has never been drawn.  Unfortunately the winter sucked and the bear were nowhere to be found.  Funny thing was, it was turkey season, so we saw tons of hunters, none of which saw any bear.  Everyone looked puzzeled when we told them we were looking for bear.  Saw a ton of turkey and ton of whitetail.  We also got stuck in the snow up high.  Brother had to drive his quad down the mountain to find someone to drive up and pull us out.  Real nice guys, paid em $60 for their time, since we took about an hour away from their turkey hunt.  My bro was actually relieved to run into the hunters, as he wasn't lookng forward to driving his quad up to some of those houses.  No offense to anyone who lives out there, but some of those areas look straight out of the movies Wrong Turn or Deliverance.  I've never seen so many broken down cars in my life.

In any event, it was a fun experience being out their with my little bro.  Maybe we'll get luckier next time.

Weird, they've only offered spring bear in Huckleberry for 2 years. Started in 07. I drew this year and I saw 4 plus the one I shot but they were late this year. Got mine with only two days left in the season.

[BuckHunter23]

Maybe it a was a nearby unit that his buddy was trying for then?  Swear he said Huckleberry.  That's where we were, near Colville  None the less, we didn't have any luck.  He wasn't able to hunt the last few days of the season due to work commitments.  Maybe we missed the best days to go?  Either way, it was fun being up in that area.  We definitely are planning some trips back over there to do some more scouting and get a better feel for the area.  There are not many pockets of public land, and some of them were hard to get to or impossible.

Congrats on pulling one out of there!

[Gutpile]

Thanks. All the NE usnits started in 07 for spring bear. He's probably talking about the blues. I know people who have tried there for years and years.

The NE bears were way late. Grass wasn't green till way into May. I can't wait to get drawn again. On my way out after shooting my sow I saw a big bruiser staring at my from 150 yards. Big old melon head. Really nice coat too. 

[Airnip]

Hey there, Maybe this study on the Olympic Pennisula by G. Ziegltrum on bear feeding tree damage in the spring might up your odds of success. Supposing you are lucky enough to get a tag.

http://www.wfpa.org/pdf/news/Efficacy_of_Black_Bear_Supp....pdfhttp://

[fc2038]

Same here 0 for 4. I know a couple of people who have drawn twice. I am getting used to it. Seems to happen to me all the time!!