Author Topic: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA? (Read 5352 times)

TRD1911 · « **on:** January 12, 2019, 09:34:15 PM »

We've gotten a couple bears down now in the past few years and seen dozens on trail cameras throughout Kitsap, Mason and Olympic units but never seen a color phase bear. Each year I'm trying to up my standards in regards to the quality of animal and feel that a mature color phase would be an awesome goal. Is that a pipe dream in Western Washington?

X-Force · « **Reply #1 on:** January 12, 2019, 09:39:45 PM »

I’ve seen a couple in 437, 418. Nothing super blonde but red brown and brown with skunk striping. I assume closer to the coast would be harder to find color phase.

jpharcher · « **Reply #2 on:** January 12, 2019, 09:41:54 PM »

Seen many in 520 and 560 units

Alchase · « **Reply #3 on:** January 12, 2019, 09:45:03 PM »

Quote from: X-Force on January 12, 2019, 09:39:45 PM

I’ve seen a couple in 437, 418. Nothing super blonde but red brown and brown with skunk striping. I assume closer to the coast would be harder to find color phase.

I found a dead brown phase cub on the beach by Ruby Beach a few years back.

smithkl42 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 12, 2019, 09:49:28 PM »

I get them on my trail cameras occasionally. Haven't actually seen one IRL.

These are from the south end of 407.

TRD1911 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 12, 2019, 09:56:42 PM »

Pic #2....Now THAT'S what I'm talking about. Awesome photos.

Magnum_Willys · « **Reply #6 on:** January 12, 2019, 09:58:03 PM »

Saw a big cinnamon quite a fews years back in the Wind River area.

JWEBB · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2019, 09:59:32 PM »

Yep! 568 multiple times

Bigshooter · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2019, 10:18:46 PM »

I've seen 10 or 12 maybe more color phase bears on the westside. And they have been a lot of different colors. Coolest I ever saw was a light blonde with a black face. I thought it was a cow elk when I first spotted it. Another cool one was a mostly black one with red highlights. It was a big bear and I passed it up kind of regret it now.

TRD1911 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 13, 2019, 08:52:29 AM »

Have you guys noticed any trends in their habitat that differs from traditional colors or does it just seem to be random?

HighCountryHunter88 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2019, 09:19:42 AM »

Have shot two only have pics of one

Boss .300 winmag · « **Reply #11 on:** January 13, 2019, 09:24:25 AM »

Quote from: TRD1911 on January 13, 2019, 08:52:29 AM

Have you guys noticed any trends in their habitat that differs from traditional colors or does it just seem to be random?

I have one spot that I’ve seen blackies, blondes, cinnamons, chocolates, and it’s on the west side.

justyhntr · « **Reply #12 on:** January 13, 2019, 01:41:19 PM »

Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on January 13, 2019, 09:24:25 AM

Quote from: TRD1911 on January 13, 2019, 08:52:29 AM
Have you guys noticed any trends in their habitat that differs from traditional colors or does it just seem to be random?

I have one spot that I’ve seen blackies, blondes, cinnamons, chocolates, and it’s on the west side.

3 of the last 5 we've shot have been cinnamon, all west side. We have a big sow and cub, both cinnamon, on camera in the Mason unit from last spring.

banishd · « **Reply #13 on:** January 13, 2019, 01:46:34 PM »

Saw a nice one in 560 this year

saylean · « **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2019, 05:45:42 PM »

Opening day last year I saw one. I have a hide from western wa that has a red strip down the center of it...theyre out there.

TRD1911 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 23, 2019, 10:05:13 PM »

Cant wait for spring bear. Have three points this year. Fingers crossed I'll have a bigger season to find a nice color phase. Thanks for the input folks

jrebel · « **Reply #16 on:** January 23, 2019, 10:14:57 PM »

3 of the six killed in my party have been color phase. We see quite a few color phase.......we have 3 on camera on our property.

Pete112288 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 23, 2019, 10:25:56 PM »

I have seen 2 on camera. One was a perfect chocolate brown and another was almost black but had kind of a rusty red hue to it that was pretty cool looking. That was all in 564

lewy · « **Reply #18 on:** January 24, 2019, 02:18:37 PM »

Farther east you go from the coast the more color phase bears you are gunna see. For me its about 2 out of 10 on the west slope of the cascades. One year I seen 6 or 7 but I also seen about 25 bears that year.

WSU · « **Reply #19 on:** January 24, 2019, 03:37:46 PM »

Quote from: TRD1911 on January 13, 2019, 08:52:29 AM

Have you guys noticed any trends in their habitat that differs from traditional colors or does it just seem to be random?

I have noticed a trend. The habitat tends to be dry and east of the cascade crest.

acrim · « **Reply #20 on:** January 24, 2019, 04:33:35 PM »

Here are a few from last year. West side color phase are about 50% of bear in this particular area.

TRD1911 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 24, 2019, 04:43:09 PM »

Those are some healthy bears right there!

I should have never started this thread. The days seem to be passing slower and slower every time I see one of these trail cam pics, ha!

fillthefreezer · « **Reply #22 on:** January 27, 2019, 09:20:06 PM »

Kapowsin bear

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

180-GRAIN · « **Reply #23 on:** January 28, 2019, 10:26:20 AM »

Killed 3 in gmu 448. Seen quite a few more as well.

jackelope · « **Reply #24 on:** February 01, 2019, 05:12:37 PM »

TRD1911 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 01, 2019, 08:26:38 PM »

Man I gotta start branching out. My 5 or so go-to spots have yet to turn up one of these. Great pics guys. This is definitely one of my 2019 goals (and maybe a cat but I'm gonna stay realistic, ha!)

JWEBB · « **Reply #26 on:** February 01, 2019, 10:13:13 PM »

Quote from: jackelope on February 01, 2019, 05:12:37 PM

Pretty one jackelope! Out of season?

jackelope · « **Reply #27 on:** February 02, 2019, 06:07:20 AM »

In season. Nobody with a rifle wanted to make the trip. I didn’t have a rifle. It was a long ways away. Was a bone of contention...

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