Spring bear and color phase bears

[Ridgerunner]

I've spent a little bit of time in various NE and SE units but never focused on bear, mainly deer.  I'd love to shoot a nice color phase bear, ideally a chocolate, but a cinnamon phase would be cool too.  Are there certain units that seem to have higher numbers of color phase bears based on what you guys have seen while deer hunting or spring bear hunting in the past?  I'd appreciate any insight you guys have to offer. 

[trophyhunt]

Seen more colored bears than black phase bears in the blues. Imagine it’s the same in the north east corner, and  I’m sure the population is much better too in the NE!!!!

[lightning9191]

I hunted the NE corner last year and saw 2 blacks, one blonde, and shot a cinnamon.

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[jrebel]

My experience actively hunting bears and running trail cameras year round, is that color phase appears to be about 50% in eastern Washington regions.   Central, NE, SE, South Central, etc......50% color.  From the pics I see, it appears that the SE has consistently bigger bears.  The NE appears to have average sized bears with the occasional big...or monster bear. 

These are just my observations based on trail camera pics and hunting them pretty hard for the last 10 years. 

[cougforester]

There a shocking number of colored phase bears just in Central WA for fall bear.  I've yet to shoot a black one, all have been various stages of chocolates and blondes. Seen a few but mostly it's color phase there.

[HillHound]

I agree based of sightings, pics and personal harvest that probably 50% of eastern wa bears are color phase. Saw a black sow on the east side last year with three Cubs, one black, one blond, and one cinnamon. Not sure if she picked up an orphan or two but cows have different colored calves so I suppose bears could too. I have shot one bear on the west side and it was black. Shot 6 bears on the east side with 4 being black and two cinnamon.  I would say any east side unit ups your odds over finding a color phase on the west side

[jrebel]

Couple pics to liven up the thread.  Lots of color phase in this state. 

[jrebel]

A few more 

[bigbds61]

My color phase sow from last August.  Tastes like huckleberries.  LOL

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[trophyhunt]

Spring 2020 and spring 2017

[High Climber]

Couple pics to liven up the thread.  Lots of color phase in this state.

That brown and white bear rugged out is a unique one. Very nice 👍

[jrebel]

Couple pics to liven up the thread.  Lots of color phase in this state.

That brown and white bear rugged out is a unique one. Very nice 👍

My taxidermist called it a Champagne color and said is the only one he has seen and is very unique and rare.  It was my son's first bear shot in Central Washington.  He shot it at 9 years old.   

[Woodchuck]

Fall Blues bear

[Karl Blanchard]

Most of my bear time has been in the blues and I'd say probably closer to 75%/25% color phase to black is what I see. NE corner seems to have a lot more black in the spot ive hunted. Hopefully get my big jet black boar with brown muzzle one of these days.

[Ironhead]

From my observations in Wa state, it seems like the areas with thick dense timber have darker Bears. As the canopy opens up the coats lighten up.