2023 Bears

[Stevewazfishing]

Little late on the post, but got this one on opening day after work! Little on the smaller side but makes for an easier pack out 

[hunter399]

Little late on the post, but got this one on opening day after work! Little on the smaller side but makes for an easier pack out 

Heck ya.
Big or small ,still gonna eat.
Congrats 👏

[duckmen1]

Little late on the post, but got this one on opening day after work! Little on the smaller side but makes for an easier pack out 

It was unfortunate for the group to all miss opening morning. But we made up for it dropping 2 bears for the afternoon hunt. It was a late night for both being in different areas but we got it done. Himalayan Black Berries seem to be starting off a bit slower but salmon berries and thimble berries and trailing blackberries have made up for it. Definitely a lot of food out there but the rest of the week has shown minimal bear sign in areas. Just gotta keep covering ground and searching for more.

[okie john]

Little late on the post, but got this one on opening day after work! Little on the smaller side but makes for an easier pack out 

It was unfortunate for the group to all miss opening morning. But we made up for it dropping 2 bears for the afternoon hunt. It was a late night for both being in different areas but we got it done. Himalayan Black Berries seem to be starting off a bit slower but salmon berries and thimble berries and trailing blackberries have made up for it. Definitely a lot of food out there but the rest of the week has shown minimal bear sign in areas. Just gotta keep covering ground and searching for more.

Nice work!

I haven't been able to get out yet and it's driving me nuts. I'm seeing ripe blackberries up to about 500' ASL. How high are you guys seeing ripe ones?

Thanks,


Okie John

[Bareback]

The morning of the second the wife spotted one we put a stalk on for an hour plus. We set up three times for shots but the bear never slowed enough to get it done. Eventually we were winded. A half hour later she spotted another bear a mile away. We watched that bear for four hours before it move into a good spot for a shot. Fortunately the winds shifted in our favor too. We got to within 225 yrds where she dropped it on the spot. While boning it out two more bears walked into our area. One was 20 yards away standing watching us. If we weren’t so hot and getting eaten alive by flies I would have taken that one.  We had an amazing 24 hour period in which we saw seven bears.

[Rainier10]

Heck yes. Love all the success.

[hunter399]

Heck yes. Love all the success.

Congrats 👏
Getting done.

[duckmen1]

Little late on the post, but got this one on opening day after work! Little on the smaller side but makes for an easier pack out 

It was unfortunate for the group to all miss opening morning. But we made up for it dropping 2 bears for the afternoon hunt. It was a late night for both being in different areas but we got it done. Himalayan Black Berries seem to be starting off a bit slower but salmon berries and thimble berries and trailing blackberries have made up for it. Definitely a lot of food out there but the rest of the week has shown minimal bear sign in areas. Just gotta keep covering ground and searching for more.

Nice work!

I haven't been able to get out yet and it's driving me nuts. I'm seeing ripe blackberries up to about 500' ASL. How high are you guys seeing ripe ones?

Thanks,


Okie John

Close to about the same elevation. But in one area they are starting to ripen. Then the next they are still flowering or green at equal elevations. Struck out again on the morning hunt. Just trying to put in the time to get another tag filled.

[blusc21]

Thanks for the inspiration! Seeing some gorgeous bears in the dirt. Haven't seen much sign and zero bears so far, but going to keep pounding dirt until i find berries or bears.

[knob221]

The morning of the second the wife spotted one we put a stalk on for an hour plus. We set up three times for shots but the bear never slowed enough to get it done. Eventually we were winded. A half hour later she spotted another bear a mile away. We watched that bear for four hours before it move into a good spot for a shot. Fortunately the winds shifted in our favor too. We got to within 225 yrds where she dropped it on the spot. While boning it out two more bears walked into our area. One was 20 yards away standing watching us. If we weren’t so hot and getting eaten alive by flies I would have taken that one.  We had an amazing 24 hour period in which we saw seven bears.

Do you mind mentioning what elevation and either west or east of the crest?

[okie john]

Little late on the post, but got this one on opening day after work! Little on the smaller side but makes for an easier pack out 

It was unfortunate for the group to all miss opening morning. But we made up for it dropping 2 bears for the afternoon hunt. It was a late night for both being in different areas but we got it done. Himalayan Black Berries seem to be starting off a bit slower but salmon berries and thimble berries and trailing blackberries have made up for it. Definitely a lot of food out there but the rest of the week has shown minimal bear sign in areas. Just gotta keep covering ground and searching for more.

Nice work!

I haven't been able to get out yet and it's driving me nuts. I'm seeing ripe blackberries up to about 500' ASL. How high are you guys seeing ripe ones?

Thanks,


Okie John

Close to about the same elevation. But in one area they are starting to ripen. Then the next they are still flowering or green at equal elevations. Struck out again on the morning hunt. Just trying to put in the time to get another tag filled.

Thanks. That's kinda what I was thinking.


Okie John

[h2ofowlr]

We hiked into some higher elevation spots this weekend in Western WA.  Around 3,000'-4,500'.  Huckleberries and blue berries were just starting to get a tad bit of purple showing.  Salmon berries were just starting to rippen as well.  Not much for ripe berries.  I think those are down lower based on where I saw many rigs parked.  Another week or two and the bears should be gorging themselves.

[ducks4days]

The morning of the second the wife spotted one we put a stalk on for an hour plus. We set up three times for shots but the bear never slowed enough to get it done. Eventually we were winded. A half hour later she spotted another bear a mile away. We watched that bear for four hours before it move into a good spot for a shot. Fortunately the winds shifted in our favor too. We got to within 225 yrds where she dropped it on the spot. While boning it out two more bears walked into our area. One was 20 yards away standing watching us. If we weren’t so hot and getting eaten alive by flies I would have taken that one.  We had an amazing 24 hour period in which we saw seven bears.

This sounds terrible! How could I ever avoid such a horrible bear infested area?

[The100Road]

This was an Unbelievable day. My first ever bear. I called in with a rabbit in distress call that I made. We dropped the meat off at the butcher and it’s going to be a gorgeous rug at the cabin.

Thanks to my bro Chad Rowden and cousin Jason for all the help!

[mboyle0828]

Nice cinnamon!