Free: Contests & Raffles.
Ran into some bear sign at 7000+ on the east side this weekend. 5-6 piles. Some a week or so old, and some "yesterday" fresh. Was a little surprised to see bear sign so high up already...
I'm tagging along in here asking for some advice on this year.I've got a spot I hunt in early August that always produces, so I'm not overly concerned about that time frame. However, a friend of mine and myself were planning a pack in high country hunt the 18th-22nd. Trying to apply the "50-60 days from melt out" rule looks like it rules out a lot of wilderness areas worth packing into. Anyone here with experience on the east slopes(or hell, west slopes too - we're open) have any input on how viable this plan is? Most of the areas with any glass-abilty are up at 4k+. This is all central/north cascades.I'm kind of paralyzed at the moment - if its going to be more of a backpacking trip with guns I'd sooner leave the guns behind and go enjoy the high country in another fashion, or look for more low country area and involve the family.
Quote from: JeffRaines on July 20, 2022, 10:08:30 AMI'm tagging along in here asking for some advice on this year.I've got a spot I hunt in early August that always produces, so I'm not overly concerned about that time frame. However, a friend of mine and myself were planning a pack in high country hunt the 18th-22nd. Trying to apply the "50-60 days from melt out" rule looks like it rules out a lot of wilderness areas worth packing into. Anyone here with experience on the east slopes(or hell, west slopes too - we're open) have any input on how viable this plan is? Most of the areas with any glass-abilty are up at 4k+. This is all central/north cascades.I'm kind of paralyzed at the moment - if its going to be more of a backpacking trip with guns I'd sooner leave the guns behind and go enjoy the high country in another fashion, or look for more low country area and involve the family.That's a bit early in my opinion. I've been seeing bears in upper elevations right now because it's green there and berries haven't started once berries start they will move down and into timber. And they won't start coming out of the timber consistently until the blue berries at upper elevations start really going and the timber berries start fading. If they can eat in the timber they'll stay there. Not hard and fast rule, you can see them come out early and late day but makes them hard to get on. Mid September to early October is prime time for high elevation. First week of October is gang busters.
Quote from: Ntbutcher on July 21, 2022, 11:10:52 AMQuote from: JeffRaines on July 20, 2022, 10:08:30 AMI'm tagging along in here asking for some advice on this year.I've got a spot I hunt in early August that always produces, so I'm not overly concerned about that time frame. However, a friend of mine and myself were planning a pack in high country hunt the 18th-22nd. Trying to apply the "50-60 days from melt out" rule looks like it rules out a lot of wilderness areas worth packing into. Anyone here with experience on the east slopes(or hell, west slopes too - we're open) have any input on how viable this plan is? Most of the areas with any glass-abilty are up at 4k+. This is all central/north cascades.I'm kind of paralyzed at the moment - if its going to be more of a backpacking trip with guns I'd sooner leave the guns behind and go enjoy the high country in another fashion, or look for more low country area and involve the family.That's a bit early in my opinion. I've been seeing bears in upper elevations right now because it's green there and berries haven't started once berries start they will move down and into timber. And they won't start coming out of the timber consistently until the blue berries at upper elevations start really going and the timber berries start fading. If they can eat in the timber they'll stay there. Not hard and fast rule, you can see them come out early and late day but makes them hard to get on. Mid September to early October is prime time for high elevation. First week of October is gang busters.I’ve located a few areas that were melted out mid June that should have some berries by mid august(according to the 50-60 day rule anyway) but yeah I was assuming - especially this year - that later would definitely be better. I’m just trying to work with what I got. I have a Montana elk tag I’ll be taking a load of time off for in September so I don’t think I’ll get a chance to be up there then. Maybe early October, but weather tends to be a huge factor that time of year and trying to wait for a weather opening is everything. I’ve been up there when it’s clear in October, and I’ve also been up there where it’s decent down low but absolutely socked in up high. I’m also sorta toying with going further east - but I don’t think that area lends itself to being a hike in style hunt(Sherman area).
I've been scouting a bit.I'll be glassing some cuts .With this heat ,who knows if anything will be moving.Mainly hunt mornings in this heat,just so if I get lucky and spot something.
A couple of bears I’ve gotten on cam down low in the last month