Looking for a place to start...

[Woltzsm]

Hello everyone!  I'm new to hunting this year and I've spent many hours this year out scouting different parts of the state for bear.  I'm hoping for a little reassurance or guidance while I wait for my woman's board approval. I usually hunt with my husband and we've been told to start by looking for a food source and sign and go from there.  A good friend of ours advised that we go up high... and find a good ridgeline to glass but in our experience we haven't had any luck in the higher elevations.  Everything is dry and the further up we go... the less sign of bear we see.  So we've been focusing our search in lower elevations... clear cuts and power lines. I feel as though the bear are lower but we haven't seen any!  It's hard to find a good vantage point.  Is it better to hike around the streams and rivers in the woods?  Should we try using more distress calls to draw them out? Any advice would be appreciated.  I don't expect anyone to lead me directly to a bear, I just want to be pointed in any direction that might get me started!  Thanks 

[quadrafire]

I'll tag along as I'm a novice  on the east side. I went this weekend at about 3k elevation. Didn't see one bit of bear sign.   Crispy dry over here. No berries where I was.

[Machias]

This time of year I just try to find any berry patches that still have berries.  IF I find smoking fresh bear scat I will call for sure.  This time of year bears are on a ravenous food quest, up to 23 hours a day feeding.  Find the food and you will almost certainly find bears. 

[Woltzsm]

Thank you! I think we should be calling more so I'm going to give that a try!

[Expedition Scout]

You may also look into older rotten stump or downed rotten log areas as they will provide insects/ants. I've seen the bears eat yellow jacket hives for the larva on a dry year. I'd agree with your assessment on dropping lower. If we had a normal year you could still find berries up high. But at least for our area, the lack of rain cooked off the hill sides a month or more ago.

Find a food source and you should find the bears. maybe ask a local biologist what they could be feeding on this time of year without the berries...

[Skyvalhunter]

Bears do not like the heat. When it's warm they usually hang out in creek bottoms or river valleys where it's cooler and have access to water. Now with the recent rains they will change their patters. Normally they seek berries but the berry crop might be low this year. Some bears will also be on the prowl for salmon. Just a few thoughts for you to chew on

[Woltzsm]

Thank you all so much for the help!  I'm going to try a few things differently this weekend. . Happy Hunting everyone.