Bears in the rain

[andrew_in_idaho]

I'm just curious what bear activity is typically like when it's raining, probably a difference between the bears here in idaho and the ones in western WA. A buddy of mine who is a pretty successful bear hunter says they don't come out in the rain. What are all of you experts experiences with bear activity in the rain?

[Turner89]

I don't see them very often while raining.   

[Limhangerslayer]

I've seen them quite often during the spring bear hunts I've been on  in the blues.   And it can rain pretty good down there in the spring if it's not snowing!

[luvmystang67]

Never seen a bear in the actual rain, however I do tend to go out less often on a rainy day.  I've seen bears when its an overcast day and looks like rain....

D-Rock and I have decided that bears hate rain... which is our excuse for not hunting in the rain.

[skagitsteel]

In the last three seasons I have seen around 50 bears, not a single one in the rain! (I shot one once in a very light sprinkle with a high cloud ceiling)  I have hunted in snow, rain, wind, sun.  I know some of the lack of sightings are because of limited visibility in rainy conditions, however based on my experience I would say with confidence bears are definitely less active in the rain, at least where I hunt..

[Longbowz]

Interesting.

My experience is unless it's really down pouring I've seen as many bears in the rain as in the sun shine.  This is on the westside of the Cascades.  In fact a couple years ago I watched four bears eating berries on an open ridge.  They didn't appear until the clouds parted and I could see the ridge.  It was raining the whole time.