Frustrated!

[JeffRaines]

So for the last couple weeks I've been trying to track down a bear to no avail. I've found sign, but no actual bears. It's obvious I'm doing something wrong - but what?

I've read, read and read more on bear hunting. I feel like I could write a book on the concepts of bear hunting - but the practice? I have no clue.

So, I've read time and time again that buying a guide helps out immensely when you're first starting out... But before I go that route I figure I'll throw this out here - would anyone be willing to help out a newbie for a day? I'm not looking for you to take me into your spots. I'm also not looking for you to just give me a spot either - while it's a nice gesture it's not going to do much for me come next year or when I'm out looking for my own places to hunt. In return I'd gladly help you pack out an animal, share any harvest I get, or both, or none.

Ideally I would like to keep it local, but I wouldn't mind driving anywhere in the state. I have a vail permit if that's where you hunt.

Let me know!

[h20hunter]

I would go stay at dales place and buy the diy maps he offers.

[JeffRaines]

I would go stay at dales place and buy the diy maps he offers.

I've considered it. I bought the maps for turkey that turned out really well. I would just like some one on one.

[Eli346]

Talk to Saylean and see if he might have a few personal pointers. I don't know if you have his book or not but it might be worth a try!

[Machias]

You may not be doing anything wrong.  That's bear hunting, stick with it and you will score.

[beaslayer6]

Find there food source and u will find a bear. They don't call them black ghost for nothing.

[h20hunter]

Also, Rick on here is a great guy....aka bearmaniac....makes beautiful calls that work, and would be a great source for tips and maybe even a shared camp.

[baker5150]

Stick with it.   I've been hunting Bruins for years with no score. Finally this year I was able to spot one and my buddy made a clean shot on it.  First bear for him.

[Wetwoodshunter]

Jeff, my best advice is if you see a dark spot put eyes on it every time. I probably look a hundred dark spots before I see a bear.

There is a bear in this picture, you can see his back legs.

Can someone spin that pic?

[jrebel]

I have been out 8 or 9 days now have only seen 3 bears (one on the day before the opener).  I have been learning for a few years now and I still struggle.  Bears are very elusive, I think that is why I have so much fun hunting them.  I have heard...once you learn how to hunt them, they are one of the easiest animals to hunt and kill.  In a way I am excided for the day that is true and in another way it kind of scares me because it may take the fun out of it.  Keep at it, the learning curve is part of the fun.   

[Kit Carson]

Jeff, I'm in the same boat as you.
Trying to get my first bear. Found sign in almost every spot I've hit, but no bears. I've found the berries, glassed the old clear cuts, sat by the rivers, waited till sunset on these hot days, walked quietly and hung around areas with fresh scat and tracks.....even tried calling with fawn distress on a foxpro at a fork in an old logging road covered in berries. Still no bears. 

I know I'll run into some bears soon but still trying to figure out the little things that make a huge difference....I've been told to pay more attention to the wind. Been told to walk quieter and softer....not sure what else to do different.

Definitely interested in what others have to say...

Good luck!

[JimmyHoffa]

I have been out 8 or 9 days now have only seen 3 bears (one on the day before the opener).  I have been learning for a few years now and I still struggle.  Bears are very elusive, I think that is why I have so much fun hunting them.  I have heard...once you learn how to hunt them, they are one of the easiest animals to hunt and kill.  In a way I am excided for the day that is true and in another way it kind of scares me because it may take the fun out of it.  Keep at it, the learning curve is part of the fun.   

I've looked at some of the collar stuff from a national park, and the sows were very predictable and the boars not nearly as much because the breeding season.  Basically the sows take the same trails each year up a drainage starting in the spring and same trails back down in the fall.  The boars do similar until breeding and then they start roaming into various drainages looking for the females.  The sow cubs would tend to use the same trails their mom used, unless there were too many bears and they had to disperse.  Sows would go up to a ridge (major ridge) but not cross it--really defined territory.   They would go from food source to food source.  So, guess the tough part is knowing when they will arrive at the right food source.  But! That was in a national park....for industrial timberland I don't know how much it would really change things--one year it is nice looking timber, the next year loggers are falling and yarding, moonscape the next, then food again.   

[dmoua]

Bears are short and can be easily missed if you don't pay extra attention. If there are fresh bear signs then it's all a matter of timing. I glassed up a really nice bear yesterday evening after 3 hours but too bad the unit doesn't open until September. Be persistent and you'll get one eventually.

Are you getting out there early?

[Turner89]

You may not be doing anything wrong.  That's bear hunting, stick with it and you will score.

If you have spot that has good bear sign, then it's just a a matter of time.   When I find a spot they have been hitting I just Hunt it tell they come back. ..... they usually interrupt my nap time 

[rasbo]

I you see a ton of sign in a feeding area think what you would do in the weather..If its hot find the coolest area you can there this time of year..where would a bear go to feel comfortable??

[Skyvalhunter]

I do believe Frustrated is a song by The Knack!!

[Timberstalker]

I do believe Frustrated is a song by The Knack!!

Thanks for your contribution.

[Skyvalhunter]

Back at ya

[saylean]

You may not be doing anything wrong.  That's bear hunting, stick with it and you will score.

If you have spot that has good bear sign, then it's just a a matter of time.   When I find a spot they have been hitting I just Hunt it tell they come back. ..... they usually interrupt my nap time 

Ya buddy

[n_mathews13]

I have been out 8 or 9 days now have only seen 3 bears (one on the day before the opener).  I have been learning for a few years now and I still struggle.  Bears are very elusive, I think that is why I have so much fun hunting them.  I have heard...once you learn how to hunt them, they are one of the easiest animals to hunt and kill.  In a way I am excided for the day that is true and in another way it kind of scares me because it may take the fun out of it.  Keep at it, the learning curve is part of the fun.   

I don't know about  "easiest animals to hunt and kill".  I love hunting bears, but it is by far harder and involves more patience then hunting other animals. But once you get that first one under your belt. Yes for some reason , for me anyway, it did seem to get easier to go in the woods and find a bear. Every time I go I fell like I learn something new.

[Machias]

I just love the adventure of hunting for bears.  I hope it never gets "easy"!!!

[MuzzyHunter28]

Hunt south / southwest facing slopes. Hunt on warm sunny evenings. I have never seen / killed a bear on cold / cruddy day. (Not saying you can't, just seems to be better on hot evenings) I had a bear hunting professional tell me "Go put a 100lb wool coat on and get it wet. Tell me how you feel after lugging it around all day". Those words stuck with me. I hunt & see bears on hot dry days. I bring a nice comfortable folding chair & sit over clear cuts and just wait. (Don't forget your Thermacell!) My theory is, sit until your butt goes numb. Then sit for 2 hours after that.... If the wind isn't perfect get the heck outta there. Bears have 7x the nose of a bloodhound.

[JeffRaines]

Since I've made this post I've ventured into some "abandoned" areas around St. Helens, the next weekend I even went 8 miles up to a nameless basin thats off-trail in the ALW to spend the night and not even any sign up there, much less a sighting. I'm not sure what else to do. 

Its tough business. Its hard to get motivated to leave the house at this point... I like hunting, but at some point when you haven't seen anything and you've been out all but one weekend since July it just runs together. What am I doing wrong? What am I doing right? I know sitting here writing this post instead of being in the field is wrong, but thats the only solid lead I've got.

[bknilvr00]

Since I've made this post I've ventured into some "abandoned" areas around St. Helens, the next weekend I even went 8 miles up to a nameless basin thats off-trail in the ALW to spend the night and not even any sign up there, much less a sighting. I'm not sure what else to do. 

Its tough business. Its hard to get motivated to leave the house at this point... I like hunting, but at some point when you haven't seen anything and you've been out all but one weekend since July it just runs together. What am I doing wrong? What am I doing right? I know sitting here writing this post instead of being in the field is wrong, but thats the only solid lead I've got.

It's tough to stay motivated. I've had a bear tag for 3 years, but to this day I have yet to see one in the field. However, putting in footwork is the only way to find them. Yesterday I found what I believe to be the best bear spot I've ever managed to find. Shredded stumps everywhere, very fresh berry bear crap, and game trails galore. I've been where bears have been passing through, and in my limited experience I thought that put me on the money. Incorrect. When you find where the bears are hanging out, it's decisively apparent.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

[JeffRaines]

Since I've made this post I've ventured into some "abandoned" areas around St. Helens, the next weekend I even went 8 miles up to a nameless basin thats off-trail in the ALW to spend the night and not even any sign up there, much less a sighting. I'm not sure what else to do. 

Its tough business. Its hard to get motivated to leave the house at this point... I like hunting, but at some point when you haven't seen anything and you've been out all but one weekend since July it just runs together. What am I doing wrong? What am I doing right? I know sitting here writing this post instead of being in the field is wrong, but thats the only solid lead I've got.

It's tough to stay motivated. I've had a bear tag for 3 years, but to this day I have yet to see one in the field. However, putting in footwork is the only way to find them. Yesterday I found what I believe to be the best bear spot I've ever managed to find. Shredded stumps everywhere, very fresh berry bear crap, and game trails galore. I've been where bears have been passing through, and in my limited experience I thought that put me on the money. Incorrect. When you find where the bears are hanging out, it's decisively apparent.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

I'm definitely far off then, as the most I've found is somewhat fresh sign. Good luck!