Spring Bear Odds

[Gobble]

I have never put in for spring bear but I'm going to this year. What are the odds of getting drawn the first year? How long did it take you to get drawn?

Thanks,
Dave (Gobble)

[Michelle_Nelson]

I can say 100% but your odds of drawing the first year are not good but it can happen.  This will be my second year putting in for the spring Bear hunt.  I didn't draw last year but I think I only put in 1 choice.  This year I will probably put in for more.

[Timberstalker]

Eastside or Westside?

[rasbo]

Ive never been drawn,my two buds have been drawn twice...

[Gutpile]

Took me two years to get Huckleberry but I think that was a fluke.

[bowsandhose]

im 0 for 4

[Ridgerunner]

I'm hoping to get lucky the first time. 

[Gutpile]

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

I've never had fall bear before but my spring bear was fantastic. Liked it better than venison. The hams and bacon were out of this world. Lean? Oh, yeah. No fat at all. YUM!!

[Ray]

My fall bear was better than venison. I have had 4 people chewing on it and all liked it. Including my friends wife who does not like venison. She came back for a second helping. I think it depends on what they have been eating more than anything else. Blueberries seem to make a tasty bear.

[rasbo]

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

I've never had fall bear before but my spring bear was fantastic. Liked it better than venison. The hams and bacon were out of this world. Lean? Oh, yeah. No fat at all. YUM!!

never had a bad spring bear,the best eating I think and good hides not rubbed out

[Gobble]

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

I've never had fall bear before but my spring bear was fantastic. Liked it better than venison. The hams and bacon were out of this world. Lean? Oh, yeah. No fat at all. YUM!!

I hope to find out. I've never targeted bear so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[bobcat]

It all depends on what hunt you apply for. By the averages it looks like the most difficult hunt to draw took 4.38 points. This should give you a pretty good idea:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/specperm/bear.htm

[Ray]

Bobcat, do you know where the success rates of those special permits are published? If in fact they are...

[rasbo]

Bobcat, do you know where the success rates of those special permits are published? If in fact they are...

I dont know where but for the hancock kapowsin 3 bears 100 permits was what I heard.To not pull a bear outta there a guy would really have to be screwing up,or not putting in the time.

[bobcat]

Bobcat, do you know where the success rates of those special permits are published? If in fact they are...

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/harvest/2007/permits/bear.htm

[Antlershed]

Bobcat, do you know where the success rates of those special permits are published? If in fact they are...

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/harvest/2007/permits/bear.htm

What's with so many people drawing and not hunting?

[Ray]

The statistics have to be wrong somehow. I don't know how they can justify that more than 100% of the available hunters hunted in some of those columns.

Thanks for the info Bobcat.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I have applied 4 times without being drawn, I hope 5th times a charm!!

[huntnphool]

I have applied 4 times without being drawn, I hope 5th times a charm!!

I've never applied, do you get points if you dont draw?

[rasbo]

I have applied 4 times without being drawn, I hope 5th times a charm!!

I've never applied, do you get points if you dont draw?

yes

[rasbo]

The statistics have to be wrong somehow. I don't know how they can justify that more than 100% of the available hunters hunted in some of those columns.

Thanks for the info Bobcat.

they might have taken two bears

[billythekidrock]

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

My 2005 spring bear had inches of fat from head to butt. More fat then any fall bear I have ever killed.

[billythekidrock]

I have never put in for spring bear but I'm going to this year. What are the odds of getting drawn the first year? How long did it take you to get drawn?

Thanks,
Dave (Gobble)

Depends on what unit. There are some where you should be able to be drawn with one point. I have been drawn 3 of the last 4 years.

[billythekidrock]

they might have taken two bears

Can't take two in the spring.

[billythekidrock]

What's with so many people drawing and not hunting?

Some people have situations that change, family/work/etc. Some just don't report their hunting activity so it looks worse then it is.

[Antlershed]

What's with so many people drawing and not hunting?

Some people have situations that change, family/work/etc. Some just don't report their hunting activity so it looks worse then it is.

Most of them have close to 100% reporting, or do you mean people shoot bears and then say they didn't when it comes time to report? I realize things can come up, but only 18 out of 50 hunted in CF, and some of them are worse than that.

[billythekidrock]

I am saying that a lot of people don't report if they didn't kill an animal.
If someone drew the CF unit, hunted 10 days but did not kill a bear, then one of three things can happen.
1. They report their activity.
2. They don't report.
3. Report, but state they did not hunt.

By reporting that you did not hunt you don't have to go through the extra questions/menus and your reporting is done. If you state you hunted then you have more questions to answer.

[Antlershed]

Gotcha. Its too early to think clearly. 

[boneaddict]

I've applied 6 years I believe without drawing.  I have no idea if there are points or not.

[Gutpile]

Depends on what unit. There are some where you should be able to be drawn with one point. I have been drawn 3 of the last 4 years.

3 of 4? Is that west side? Blues?

[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!!