Bear hunting around Green Mountain Lookout

[Ellensburg]

Thinking of heading up to this area for a few days.

Anyone know if this is a decent bear spot?

I hear the bugs are bad but the berries are starting to ripen up.

Any advice appreciated. Never shot a bear.

[bearpaw]

If the berries are ripe that looks like a great area. It's all about the berries being ripe!

[spin05]

Ive hunted it in the past. it gets pretty buisy with granola eaters on weekends

[knighttime25]

Been a few years since we've been up there but it's definitely a popular hiking area for all the liberals/hippies from around the countryside. Nothing like getting glared at by everyone you pass. We got tired of everyone mean mugging us as we went by and one lady finally asked what we were looking to shoot and my dad gave her a smart ass "anything that moves" comment and kept walking by  ....bugs are some of the worst I've ever been in as well. Definitely bears up there though 

[jcswamp]

Lots of bears, i will be over there later in the year myself. As mentioned, lots of hikers on the trail itself, but if you are willing to go in the brush and explore you can find some really nice areas. Last year the guys at the Darrington Ranger station said they had seen a bunch and asked me to make sure i dont leave a gut pile in view of the trail. Those were the only restrictions that were mentioned, and they aren't actual restrictions more like common sense and decency. Have a fun trip and let us know how  you do. I will also mention that the last time i went up the trail it was 60 degrees at the trailhead and snowing up top so be prepared for anything.

[Elkcollector82]

Was up in that area few days ago. Berries above 5k are still green. Some starting to ripe. Anything below that was ripe. Just a heads up on what the berries were like in surrounding area.

[fisheral87]

I spent six weekends in the alpine last year around a popular trail. I had one person who totally ignored me when I said good morning. The rest of the people I encountered were really just curious what we were doing and I had good conversations about what we were hunting, why and the season dates.

The groups ranged in demographic, a couple empty nester house wives who were out for the day that didn’t know there were bears in the area, a group of four college buddies who didn’t know bear had an open hunting season or even tasted good, a few young couples and one group of four young boys with their parents who raised so much hell coming up the trail I thought they would just annoy the *censored* out of me as the passed. But they didn’t. They stopped and asked me questions about what I was doing, what kind of gun that was, if I saw a bear if I would shoot it and were quiet as mice, probably for the first time in their lives, while I tried to answer their questions honestly. Their parents looked flabbergasted as they approached our little pow-wow and my guess is they appreciated the relative, albeit brief, silence.

Every encounter is an opportunity.

Al

[LongBomb]

I spent six weekends in the alpine last year around a popular trail. I had one person who totally ignored me when I said good morning. The rest of the people I encountered were really just curious what we were doing and I had good conversations about what we were hunting, why and the season dates.

The groups ranged in demographic, a couple empty nester house wives who were out for the day that didn’t know there were bears in the area, a group of four college buddies who didn’t know bear had an open hunting season or even tasted good, a few young couples and one group of four young boys with their parents who raised so much hell coming up the trail I thought they would just annoy the *censored* out of me as the passed. But they didn’t. They stopped and asked me questions about what I was doing, what kind of gun that was, if I saw a bear if I would shoot it and were quiet as mice, probably for the first time in their lives, while I tried to answer their questions honestly. Their parents looked flabbergasted as they approached our little pow-wow and my guess is they appreciated the relative, albeit brief, silence.

Every encounter is an opportunity.

Al

I had similar experience this year when i was coming out with my elk. 2 groups were curious about elk and hunting. 1 group was a family with 2 little boys. There mother was very excited for the boys to see my pack loaded down bloody game bags n all. I also met 2 ladies coming up the trail and one of them said if her pack wasn't already full she would come help me pack out meat! Come to find out she does some rifle hunting with her husband. On the other hand I have came across people that are glaring, rude and talking smack. I usually say high because some are nice enough folk, the "other" types I just take off hiking as soon as  they start accusing.

[AlwaysPackn]

The knife ridge behind the lookout gets pretty sketchy to hike down, my pics won't attach for some reason. As previously stated, the amount of day hikers can get crazy. On the way down the mountain I ran into over 20 people on the trail and everyone was pleasant to talk to.

[jackelope]

It’s weird. I’ve been up there a dozen times in the last few years and can probably almost count on 2 hands how many people I’ve encountered up there. Mostly I’ve only been there during general deer season. Was up 2 weeks ago and saw 3 other people.

[AlwaysPackn]

This is what the trailhead looked like yesterday around 2pm.

[Boss .300 winmag]

This is what the trailhead looked like yesterday around 2pm.

Rainy Pass looked liked Walmart the day government checks arrive yesterday, Wa Pass and Blue lake trailhead was really busy as well. 

Weather wasn’t that great kinda cold, but I was on my motorcycle.🤣

[Thehowler]

None of those look like hunter rigs.

[jackelope]

Whoops. I saw the title and went somewhere else. I’m thinking of the wrong place. Hopefully the berries are as good there as they were where I was

[The Marquis]

None of those look like hunter rigs.

Eh, never pass judgment.  My rig doesn't look anything like a hunter rig.  I get it though.