With this cooler weather should I postpone my spring bear hunt?

[trophyhunt]

I know it's only been a few days since spring bear opened but it seems to be a bit slow right now.  And with this cooler weather and snow levels dropping, I'm wondering if I should postpone my 6 day hunt that I have planned for next Wednesday? Do you guys think I should maybe wait a couple more weeks, or more?  I've always gone later, like the end of May in the past, but everyone has been saying to get out early this year.  Have things changed because of the weather, what do you guys think?  Thanks

[bobcat]

I wouldn't bother going until at least the middle of May.

[CAMPMEAT]

What area ? It's supposed to be near 80 here next week in the 101.

[longwalker]

I wouldn't bother going until at least the middle of May.

This, on any spring bear hunt that wasn't my back yard. It only gets better

[Timberstalker]

I wouldn't bother going until at least the middle of May.

Solid advice.

[CAMPMEAT]

I should add, I've hunted bear here in September and have seen them eating grass on the side of logging roads when it's 90 out.

May is when we start seeing them more, than now.

[trophyhunt]

What area ? It's supposed to be near 80 here next week in the 101.

Wenaha

[Buck_Nasty11]

What area ? It's supposed to be near 80 here next week in the 101.

Wenaha

get after them! no time to waste!!

aim small miss small brotha 

[KFhunter]

I had one kinda charge my car yesterday 

[CAMPMEAT]

I had one kinda charge my car yesterday 

Were you parked in his spot ?

[KFhunter]

I had one kinda charge my car yesterday 

Were you parked in his spot ?

She was parked in my spot, the middle of the highway 

[CAMPMEAT]

I had one kinda charge my car yesterday 

Were you parked in his spot ?

She was parked in my spot, the middle of the highway 

To or coming home from your spot ?

[KFhunter]

I didn't get selected for spring bear so I got no spot 

[CAMPMEAT]

I didn't get selected for spring bear so I got no spot 

Me niether. Sad day for both of us......

[Chesapeake]

They breed around June. I don't know the specific triggers, for ending hibernation, but it's always seemed  to me animals key more on photo period, moon phase, and other not so variable triggers than simply weather. Sure an early spring may swing their schedule slightly, but not drastically.
I think us humans get cabin fever more than bears. The Cubs need to be a certain size and strength before leaving the den regardless of weather. I don't think the Cubs were born early because of the warm spring.

Me personally I think it will be better in a few weeks. Just my opinion. It was still brown up there last weekend.

But I don't doubt there are a few moving up there now.

[RadSav]

It is all about food right now.  Temperature has little to do with hibernation.  If a boar can get more nutrition than it burns trying to find it they will stay awake.  That is why they don't fully hibernate on the coast.  Sows obviously have other issues to deal with that will make them more sensitive to weather changes when cubs are too young.  Photo period, phases and cub size seem to have more to do with when they start breeding.  So that may keep the boars from wandering until later in May and early June.  But, if the food is in good supply closer to the dens they should be out.

I have no idea what the Wenaha food sources look like.  So can't really give any advise on whether to postpone or go now.  A few weeks later sure wouldn't hurt, IMO.

[huntnnw]

They are definitely out earlier this year in NE WA.. We don't see many bears before may most years. Bears have been very active starting a month ago up north. We saw 4 in one weekend without much effort

[huntnnw]

My buddy just flew into the Selway wilderness last weekend and saw lots of bear sign there

[Chesapeake]

According to the news the Yellowstone grizzly's got up a month early this year. First sightings were early February.
So maybe the Wenaha bears will be similarly early???

[trophyhunt]

Lot to think about, I'm pulling a trailer so my dad will be comfortable so it's a long haul.  I'm only pulling the trailer once, if I go back myself it will be a tent.  I do think it will be better hunting in a few weeks, it sure is hard to pull the reigns back.  It sounds like a guy could still find bears if we did go early, I'm just used to seeing 3 to 4 bears in a couple days over there in the past.  Tough choice here, but I love having this tag.   

[CAMPMEAT]

It rained here last night and it was 37 at my house and most likely, a bit of snow on Boulder Pass. Grass is greening up really nice..

[Killmore]

Does anyone have a grass report for the adladdin unit? Radsav?

[180-GRAIN]

I met a local on my wenaha hunt last week. He flew our buddy over the area in a plane to familiarize him with the area and see if they could spot a bear. They did not see any bear moving at all. First day of my hunt I did a 7 hour hike and only managed to spot a sow with a big cub with her. Food was not plentiful on the mountain but it was greening up by the time I left last sunday. That local said the bear were up a month early up there but he seemed to think they were down on the flats not up high yet. He also said rule of thumb for that are is if the rattle snakes are out the bears are out? Don't know if that's true or not but we did see a rattler down by the river.

[trophyhunt]

I met a local on my wenaha hunt last week. He flew our buddy over the area in a plane to familiarize him with the area and see if they could spot a bear. They did not see any bear moving at all. First day of my hunt I did a 7 hour hike and only managed to spot a sow with a big cub with her. Food was not plentiful on the mountain but it was greening up by the time I left last sunday. That local said the bear were up a month early up there but he seemed to think they were down on the flats not up high yet. He also said rule of thumb for that are is if the rattle snakes are out the bears are out? Don't know if that's true or not but we did see a rattler down by the river.

Thanks for the report, it would be damn cool to fly over that unit in a small plane.  I'm starting to think seriously of waiting till the middle of may, the ticks might be worse then but if more bears  are out it would be worth it.  Are you going back for more?  Thanks again

[trophyhunt]

Well I talked with my dad and I think it would be better if we wait a little bit longer.  Looking at leaving May 13th instead, the past years we have been drawn we have done very well on Memorial weekend but he is moving that week so the 13th it is.  Thanks for the input, I'm sure either way we are making a good decision. 

[180-GRAIN]

Going to try and head back over the 15th myself. Good luck!

[trophyhunt]

Going to try and head back over the 15th myself. Good luck!

You too, I will be on the Troy side.  Probably be the only guy up there with a 26' trailer, stop by for a beer if your in the area. 

[RadSav]

Does anyone have a grass report for the adladdin unit? Radsav?

Did you draw again already?

[pashok23]

I wouldn't bother going until at least the middle of May.

Im going on 16th

[trophyhunt]

I wouldn't bother going until at least the middle of May.

Im going on 16th

That's 3 of us now going the same time, Maybe some celebratory beer at night!

[180-GRAIN]

I wouldn't bother going until at least the middle of May.

Im going on 16th

That's 3 of us now going the same time, Maybe some celebratory beer at night!

ABSOLUTELY!

[BENCHLEG]

Good luck jerry you will b fine time with your dad will b fun.

[trophyhunt]

Good luck jerry you will b fine time with your dad will b fun.

Thanks Jason.

[ellensburgpo]

Ill be over there the same week trophy, I'll keep an eye out for your trailer.

[trophyhunt]

It's a Layton with a slide out, my truck is a silver gmc lifted quad cab duramax. 

[ellensburgpo]

It's a Layton with a slide out, my truck is a silver gmc lifted quad cab duramax.

Gotcha, I'll be hiking in from the Troy side as well. I'm in the same boat as you as I have next week off but can't decide wether to wait until May as I have two weeks off then too.

[trophyhunt]

It's a Layton with a slide out, my truck is a silver gmc lifted quad cab duramax.

Gotcha, I'll be hiking in from the Troy side as well. I'm in the same boat as you as I have next week off but can't decide wether to wait until May as I have two weeks off then too.

It's killing me to wait till the 13th of May, I won't be surprised if I just take off next weekend for three days and go.  Long way to drive for a 3 day weekend!

[180-GRAIN]

We should hook up and hike in for a few days and spike out. I am having a hard time talking my dad into commiting to the hike into the wilderness but I really want to do it. I may be doing that the morning of the 16th.

[trophyhunt]

We should hook up and hike in for a few days and spike out. I am having a hard time talking my dad into commiting to the hike into the wilderness but I really want to do it. I may be doing that the morning of the 16th.

Trust me, normally I'd be all over that. I cannot leave my dad alone for too long, if you need help getting a bear out just stop by and I will help.  I probably don't have too many years left with him and he also cannot walk very far.  I just hope we can find a bear close to the road, last time we drew we did but he was too nervous to take the shot.  I had to kill it for him, (he's a disabled hunter internet police) so it was legal. 

[Chesapeake]

I'll probably head back up the 8th. Plan on the Dayton side.

[Ghost Hunter]

You guys are killing me.  Get my truck back I'll be scheduling another 3-4 day run to 166.  Hope I don't have to wait till the 22nd.  Keep the reports comings.  Anybody get cell service in the Weneha?  I lose AT&T as soon as I leave Dayton.  Couldn't even get it up at the guard tower.

[Killmore]

As a matter of fact I did!!!

Does anyone have a grass report for the adladdin unit? Radsav?

Did you draw again already?

[trophyhunt]

You guys are killing me.  Get my truck back I'll be scheduling another 3-4 day run to 166.  Hope I don't have to wait till the 22nd.  Keep the reports comings.  Anybody get cell service in the Weneha?  I lose AT&T as soon as I leave Dayton.  Couldn't even get it up at the guard tower.

Silk has been sending pic's and reports from inside the wenaha, but, he probably has Verizon if I had to guess.  At&t does not work well in the woods.

[Chesapeake]

I run Verizon. I had service pretty well anytime I was on a hill top in Wenaha.