Bear hunting Western Washington

[Washington Outdoors 24/7]

Does anybody know of a good place for bear hunting close by Olympia/Tummwater/Shelton/little rock/Maytown area(s) during the fall? 

[GBoyd]

Sorry. Everyone works really hard to find their secret patch and we don't want to share!

Search the bear forum here. There's plenty of information on scouting and what to look for when you're walking around preseason. You have three months to find a good spot! I would start on Google Earth and then go check out as many areas as you can.

[elkrack]

Does anybody know of a good place for bear hunting close by Olympia/Tummwater/Shelton/little rock/Maytown area(s) during the fall? 

That's quite a first post! Lmao

[Blacktail Sniper]

Does anybody know of a good place for bear hunting close by Olympia/Tummwater/Shelton/little rock/Maytown area(s) during the fall? 

That's quite a first post! Lmao

Go big or go home!!!


 

[emac]

Yep all those areas you listed are good

[6.8mmARHunter]

You could try looking in some forested areas, or maybe some recently logged areas. That's what I would do. You could also check some maps. Yeah, there's also the harvest reports from last year.

[RadSav]

Once you get off the slopes of the mountains my fall focus changes from huckleberries to Salal berries, Oregon grape and blackberries.  Starting in mid August you can start driving and looking not only for the right berries, but also for pigeons.  This is my Big Secret bear hunting technique that I used to keep very close to the vest...You find pigeons, you find bear!

Once you find the right berries and birds - now look for swamps and big timber.  Bear like to move fast between feeding grounds.  In the fall bear hunting is a lot like hunting blacktails in the rut.  They cruise natural breaks in terrain and breaks in timber growth.  Not only using the timber for cover and heat regulation, but also using it to cruise the edges using their nose to find ripe sugar filled berries.  This also puts them on a path of old rotten logs and stumps when the berries are not yet ripe giving them protein in grubs, ants and other nasty bear goodies.  Like big blacktails they will usually bed in the thickest, nastiest crap close to water.  Usually going to water first before heading out into the hot sun around 1PM to start feeding on the sugary treats.  (There is a W.W. elk secret for you too - Shhh, don't tell anyone)

Put it all together - ripe berries, pigeons, breaks in terrain, easy movements, water and Western Washington holes of torture and you will likely have found yourself a good bear spot!  Good bear spots are everywhere over here.  Asking for a good bear spot in western Washington is a lot like asking a guy on a glacier where you can find some ice.  Those good spots are all around you.  You just need to assemble all the right ingredients at the right time!!

Good luck to you!  Bear hunting is a lot of fun if you've got the patience for it.

[Eli346]

Good post Rad!!

[Turner89]

Good post Rad!!

 

[MLBowhunting]

Hey that could be Miss Radsav    she has killed some HUGE BEARS.