What am I doing wrong?!

[quackkiller]

Ok so what am I doing wrong? I have done as much as I can, horrible at e scouting so try to do what I can from my feet. Trying to stay close to home 653,652,654 units. Been hunting around greenwater and above for about 4 years now. I have yet to put eyes on bears. Found food water etc. have not seen much scat as trying to glass and not blow things out walking through a food source and such. Any input or any advise would be greatly appreciated. As I would really love to shoot my first bear this year as well as others haha I just don’t know what I am missing but time obviously have 2 little ones and not a whole lotta time aside from work. I really appreciate any tips or advise from anyone! Thanks you guys!!

[NW SURVEYOR]

I'm not a bear hunter, but I do a lot of work for the Forest Service and have seen my share of them.
My opinion is first and last light on the edges of cut overs.
Time spent glassing into canyons and berry patches would be my M.O.
Good Luck

[quackkiller]

Thank you I appreciate it, would you say you’ve seen more bears first or last light? I usually hunt the mornings and have only hunted a few evenings!

[NW SURVEYOR]

Early Mornings, and I mean EARLY.

[Duckslayer89]

Thank you I appreciate it, would you say you’ve seen more bears first or last light? I usually hunt the mornings and have only hunted a few evenings!

Bears are afternoon creatures man. I use to think hunt hard in the mornings and glass then by 11 I was going home but in reality I think getting out into the field around 11 and hunting until dark is better. Obviously morning till dark is best but if you have to choose afternoon by far

[boneaddict]

I don’t even start thinking bear hunting until September.    The only thing that overrides the bears hatred of heat is hunger and they just aren’t there yet. 

Yes, you can see a bear anywhere 24/365, but going in blind you want to up your chances, you’ll need to understand them. 

[Duckslayer89]

I don’t even start thinking bear hunting until September.    The only thing that overrides the bears hatred of heat is hunger and they just aren’t there yet. 

Yes, you can see a bear anywhere 24/365, but going in blind you want to up your chances, you’ll need to understand them.

I killed a bear near Winthrop in the middle of august. I saw it come down and swim before opening day and we got it in the swimming hole. So that’s an idea if you really want to get out now

[jrebel]

I have trail cam pictures that prove bears move at all times of the day and night this time of year.  The bigger ones usually more in the last half of the day and or / nocturnal this time of the year……but literally all hours of the day.

Wind is your enemy so always play the wind in your favor.  A bears natural defense is its nose.   Find food and you will find bears.   

For years I had your same problem…..I didn’t realize how small / short bears really are.   I expected to see some huge hairy animal, when the reality is they walk through brush twice as tall as them.  High ground gives better visibility.   Cuts, power lines, drainages, etc. that have food will have bear. 

Hope you find one.   

[quackkiller]

Thank you all! Yes I always play the wind the right way obviously things happen thermals or whatever it can change but I am a avid deer and elk hunter and have had success in those departments just not a bear yet haha

[idaho guy]

I have seen bears all hours of the day. Probably 90 percent of all the bears we have killed have been in the last hour of light most last 20 minutes. Find food they will be there sounds like you already got the wind figured out. Avoiding getting winded is biggest concern even more so than with elk in my opinion. Once you get your first bear they will probably seem easy. I agree with jrebel you need to learn what to look for when glassing bears, especially in thicker country

[hollymaster]

Lots of hikers up greenwater area, bears are nocturnal in the area, at least that’s when I get them on camera.

[dilleytech]

I think you should spend more time in there food sources. Bears aren’t as spooky as deer and elk. And if you do jump one starts screaming like a firing rabbit and they will stop and likely come back in.

[WoodHacker]

I've killed only 2 bears in 3 years of hunting them.  It seems that no matter what rules I learn for hunting them, bears always break the rules.  But they will always need food and water. 

My best advice is to shoot one that's uphill from the road.  LOL

[trophyhunt]

patience and glassing, but from my experience, I've hunted the 653 for around 30 years, maybe have seen a dozen bears.  Killed about 3 in the area.  I've been all over the backcountry and just haven't seen lots of bears, but I also wasn't looking for them specifically.  Don't think you are behind the curve with other hunters, you are probably ahead just by being out there and trying.  Just keep at it, but look for sign or that canyon full of berries, glass lots.  It will happen, but remember, it doesn't happen very often with still hunting, it's easier to find an elk.

[bkaech]

I've been bear hunting in that area as well and I too have not spotted many bears. I usually spend 3-7 days in that area for each of the past 7 or 8 years. Relative to other areas I have seen less sign and less bears there (actually zero bears outside of the National Park). I think the good habitat for spotting bears (good berries and open terrain) also has a good number of hikers and recreation-ers which keeps bears into thicker cover or out at night. I just think there aren't a lot of bears in that area. But there are some, if you keep at it you will find'em. Also most of the berries in that area seem to be thick in August and are fading by September which then spreads the bears out. I've been spending more time in other areas as the years go by. My advice is to try to stay in the huckleberries and if there isn't bear *censored* there, there isn't bears there, keep moving till you find berries and *censored*, then you will find the bears. Cover and water is everywhere around western WA just stick to ripe berries and no hikers/people pushing the bears away. 

[quackkiller]

Thank you guys all for the replies and advise!!! Really appreciate it a lot! Keeping at it, no luck yet!

[GASoline71]

In the thick stuff, you're probably going to hear them more than see them.  Brush rustling (eating berries), stump ripping (looking for larvae), bark tearing is all in their agenda.  Also when glassing, look for movement in the brush and not so much as trying to spot a "black spot".  Even when glassing you'll see brush moving usually before you see the bear.

When bears are on a food source, it's like a buck in the rut.  It's the only thing on their mind, and they get a lil' stoopid and only focus on what they are doing.  But stay upwind of them, as they have exceptional smellers.

Gary