Salmo-Priest or N. Baldy Bear? (NE WA)

[375HHM]

Hi. I'm still pretty new to hunting in general (grew up on a farm in New Mexico), & super new to bear hunting.  I haven't been able to stop thinking about the Salmo-Priest area, and really want to head up there next year.

At first I was thinking about going after Mulies or Elk up there, but I think I'm going to archery hunt for the first time next year & will try somewhere with higher success. So, my plan is to go bear hunting up there in August. I know there are griz too. Would they push the black-bear out, or are there still quite a bit black bear there too? I'm thinking about heading high (maybe shedroof trail or another trail) and stay above the tree line. Is that a good plan, or does anyone have a better strategy?

Also curious about North Baldy. Curious if anyone has any experience in that area? Maybe that would have higher pressure, especially with deer?

Thanks so much!

[10thmountainarcher]

Hi. I'm still pretty new to hunting in general (grew up on a farm in New Mexico), & super new to bear hunting.  I haven't been able to stop thinking about the Salmo-Priest area, and really want to head up there next year.

At first I was thinking about going after Mulies or Elk up there, but I think I'm going to archery hunt for the first time next year & will try somewhere with higher success. So, my plan is to go bear hunting up there in August. I know there are griz too. Would they push the black-bear out, or are there still quite a bit black bear there too? I'm thinking about heading high (maybe shedroof trail or another trail) and stay above the tree line. Is that a good plan, or does anyone have a better strategy?

Also curious about North Baldy. Curious if anyone has any experience in that area? Maybe that would have higher pressure, especially with deer?

Thanks so much!

There are plenty of bears in there, but like you said there are grizzly in there… A lot more then people think, so make sure you have the identification down. If you check out the trails websites you can see a lot of hikers are seeing bears during their hikes on the trails throughout the wilderness.

[375HHM]

Okay thanks! There are probably Giz around North and South Baldy too, huh? Just not as much?

[10thmountainarcher]

I think the wilderness area has a higher concentration, but they definitely make their way south to the Baldy areas. I’ll try to find the study site and link it, you can see the collared bears travel corridors.

[10thmountainarcher]

https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Selkirk_Grizzly_Annual_Report_2022_081723.pdf

Tons of great info for the NE Grizzly Bears. Again, these are the collared ones, just imagine how many are out there without a collar!

[RB]

https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Selkirk_Grizzly_Annual_Report_2022_081723.pdf

Tons of great info for the NE Grizzly Bears. Again, these are the collared ones, just imagine how many are out there without a collar!

Just did a quick scan and by the data on pages 14 and 15 there is a sharp increase in "management" as the cause of mortality. Good information

[375HHM]

https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Selkirk_Grizzly_Annual_Report_2022_081723.pdf

Tons of great info for the NE Grizzly Bears. Again, these are the collared ones, just imagine how many are out there without a collar!

Thanks so much! I'll check it out!

[TeacherMan]

Wilderness area will have a whole lot more bears in it. Was up there not long ago and the trail log had several reports on it of them. It’s a gorgeous trail and beautiful STEEP country.

[ganghis]

Plenty of black bears in the wilderness area.

[375HHM]

Wilderness area will have a whole lot more bears in it. Was up there not long ago and the trail log had several reports on it of them. It’s a gorgeous trail and beautiful STEEP country.

Thanks! This will be for next year, but my plan is to stay on the ridgeline and glass until I find some berries.

I really want to go in deep, but I'm also really worried about getting in too deep with a downed bear and having to make several trips with griz in the area.

[Machias]

I used to be part of the North Idaho Saddle Mule Club.  We were contracted to clear trail in the Salmo-Priest area for several years.  Since it was in the Wilderness area we had to use crosscut saws.  We did 17 miles each year.  Lots of bear sign.  One year we packed in a Hiking club for a week of trial building and trail maintenance.  We packed their tools in and out.  When we went in to pick them up they were pretty excited about a grizzly bear encounter a couple of days before the pack out day.  Awesome country on the back of a mule!

[Machias]

P.S. Sent you a PM.

[375HHM]

I used to be part of the North Idaho Saddle Mule Club.  We were contracted to clear trail in the Salmo-Priest area for several years.  Since it was in the Wilderness area we had to use crosscut saws.  We did 17 miles each year.  Lots of bear sign.  One year we packed in a Hiking club for a week of trial building and trail maintenance.  We packed their tools in and out.  When we went in to pick them up they were pretty excited about a grizzly bear encounter a couple of days before the pack out day.  Awesome country on the back of a mule!

Oh wow! Yeah, a mule or horse would be awesome for sure!