Hi all,
I've been hunting public land in the Mashel GMU for several years with the express purpose of getting a black bear. I live in the area so its convenient but I cant help but wonder if I should just drive up to a more northern area closer to Canada for a better chance at a bear. The area I hunt has recreation trails limiting rifle use (have you figured out the spot I'm talking about yet?) so I have been using my bow and arrow. I do have a nice 300 win mag if there was a good place for rifle hunting elsewhere. The trouble with the area I hunt is that there are berries everywhere! Those bears could stay in that thick cover all day and never cross a forest road. Which by the way, my main technique has been to sit on a section of closed forest road and glass about 300 yards a head of me for bears. There are berries on both sides of the road and evidence of bear scat and spring time tree damage.
Anyone else had any bear hunting luck in this GMU? Is it just plain easier in other GMU's of western Washington? I'm usually out to my spot at dawn time and frequently checking the wind. Any other tips? If you PM me I can give you exact details of where I am hunting. Just dont want everyone in the world knowing. Also if any of you have other GMU public land recs I'd be most grateful of a PM with info on those spots. I could care less about deer or elk. I've always wanted a bear and with many years of trying it is now become the top of my bucket list.
