Hello,
I got a Weyerhauser permit this year for pe ell south and am hitting up my scouting for early season elk every chance I get in August. Assuming the 2021 stats are somewhat accurate, the numbers aren't great, but it does look like there are bears in the area.
506 - Willapa Hills 9 3 12 319 4% 3,551 296
530 - Ryderwood 12 3 15 350 4% 3,482 232
I've never hunted bear before, but I plan to use early mornings and evenings for bear hunting and devote the rest of the time to elk scouting. With the heat was planning on trying to identify some north-facing slopes with huckleberries coming in and glassing those areas.
If anyone has any other suggestions or doesn't think this area would hold many bears, I'd love to hear the opinions from folks with experience.
Thanks!