Oregon spring bear hunt

[BLUEBULLS]

I was curious as to how many of you have hunted spring bear in Oregon. I'll be applying this year and hopefully hunting. the draw odds are pretty fair. I somewhat know what to expect and I know the areas fairly well but I'd like to hear some stories to get me all fired up.

[PacificNWhunter]

I'll see if I can get my buddy to let me post a pic of his 2008 bear. He got a fairly big boar, 250lbs plus and the taxi measured it at almost 18 inches. I'm tossing the idea around about putting in there.

[WDFW-SUX]

I looked a the tag numbers and was surprised that they gave out so many tags for there spring bear hunts compared to Washington

[bucklucky]

Jake, the biggest bears I have been able to mount have came from the spring hunts in Oregon. I have done 2 that were over 400 and 2 that were right close to 400 and those hadnt really put the fat on yet.

[PacificNWhunter]

I think there were tags left over last year.....I know my buddy has been drawn every year for the last 6 years.

[finnman]

Just sitting here at the desk filling out my Spring Bear application for Oregon, my two hunting buddies in Oregon and myself will be putting in for the West Blue Mnt. area NE of Pendleton. Paul Ellis owner of Ellis hunting ranch in Pilot Rock has hunted this area before. He has some video footage of him and a friend taking a 300+ lb. bear a few years ago. They saw like 15 bears a day!
This is one of the hardest hunts to draw, I have 4 points and that just put me at 100% draw odds. The season is all of April and May.
Bonus too is that the elk will be shedding around that time, so its going to be a combo hunt!
My wife also has 12 preference points for elk, and this is the unit she will be drawing for hopefully in the next 2 years!

[bobcat]

I've got one point, missed the deadline last year or I would have had 2. I'll be putting in for a point this year.

[lamar_hunter]

deadline is Feb 10th i beleive.

[gmac]

I live in oregon and I thought I could help you guys out.  The application deadline was Feb. 10th so you missed that if you haven't applied already.  Starting this year the SW oregon spring bear tags were sold on a first come first serve basis.  They are selling 3750 tags, and as of February 2nd there were still 978 left.  The results of the draw come out February 20th or a day or two before and I assume the rest of the tags will go quick to the people that didn't draw.  This hunt covers units: 20-30

[Ricochet]

I put in for the point saver so I have to wait until after the drawing to purchase a SW tag.  Its going to be interesting to see how many people kicked themselves out of the drawing by buying that tag before the drawing had taken place.   I've got twelve points now, someday I'll go and take a couple friends with me.

[Elkstuffer]

I hunted the Snake river unit quite a few years ago. Horse backed up to Lord Flat in Hells Canyon. It was May 5th and real warm at base camp on the Imnaha river. 6 hour horse back ride to spike camp and it snowed 24" in 2 days. Saw 1 bear. It was still a fun hunt.

[Opportunist]

Finnman, If you draw let me know, I went on that West Blue mountain hunt with a friend of mine who drew 5 or 6 years ago.