Author Topic: Bear hunting for newbies (Read 9808 times)

jstamp · « **on:** June 22, 2009, 04:06:58 AM »

I have been asked recently by several of my friends, who hunt but don't bear hunt, where to find bears. they always seem to be astonished when i tell them how many bears i see (in hunting season) every year. for those of you that know where I bear hunt (jackalope) know what i'm talking about... my advice is to hunt where the food is and get far away from the trails and motorcycles. you will see plenty of bears. also focus your hunt in late august til the first 2 weeks in sept.

Now, judging a bear is tough, look at the ears, and overall size. I like to look at things around the bear and try to judge off of that, since i'm familiar with the area. I'm sure most guys on here will offer up some good suggestions about how to judge bears. if not just research some posts, there are several.

jstamp · « **Reply #1 on:** June 22, 2009, 04:10:51 AM »

this bear scored 19 5/8 and was roughly about 300lbs.

Black Bare · « **Reply #2 on:** June 22, 2009, 07:20:30 AM »

Why do you suggest focusing your hunting during late august/early sept?

KillBilly · « **Reply #3 on:** June 22, 2009, 07:49:45 AM »

Quote from: Black Bare on June 22, 2009, 07:20:30 AM

Why do you suggest focusing your hunting during late august/early sept?

More abundant food sources....

hoytem · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2009, 09:54:37 AM »

nice pice... kind of strange how there is a barb wire fence and road in the background.

saylean · « **Reply #5 on:** June 22, 2009, 09:58:37 AM »

probably his yard.

Alan K · « **Reply #6 on:** June 22, 2009, 12:32:59 PM »

LOL

I'm one of those newbies. I've never actually hunted specifically for bear aside from a spring bear tag I drew last year, but I still buy a tag every year incase I happen on one while deer and elk hunting.

The ones that I've seen have been feeding on grasses. This past year there was a sow and two cubs about 400 yards from my tree stand during archery elk season, and we had a sow and two cubs dart off grassy road one time while we were driving through some black reprod in Vail.

I'd love to get into actually hunting for them. It'd be another season to take advantage of in the fall.

saylean · « **Reply #7 on:** June 22, 2009, 12:36:53 PM »

Dont do it alan..its boring.

Actually, I like hunting bears more than anything at the moment.

Timmybob · « **Reply #8 on:** June 22, 2009, 11:53:05 PM »

Thanks for the post..I am a lot like Alan K..I always buy the bear tag with my deer/elk tag, but never get a bear. This year will be my first year actually "Bear hunting". So my question is, What type of food sources should I be looking for in Aug/Sept? Thanks.....Tim

cascademountainhunter · « **Reply #9 on:** June 22, 2009, 11:56:25 PM »

oh man all this talk about bear hunting I CANT WAIT FOR AUGUST!!!!!!

Huntbear · « **Reply #10 on:** June 23, 2009, 12:07:15 AM »

ok, i am watching this thread, am wanting to learn everything I can, keep the info coming.

jackelope · « **Reply #11 on:** June 23, 2009, 12:14:56 AM »

Quote from: hoytem on June 22, 2009, 09:54:37 AM

nice pice... kind of strange how there is a barb wire fence and road in the background.

yep he was obviously hunting a high fenced bear ranch.

not sure why the guy even tries helping folks out.

whats a pice?

billythekidrock · « **Reply #12 on:** June 23, 2009, 05:54:42 AM »

Quote from: Black Bare on June 22, 2009, 07:20:30 AM

Why do you suggest focusing your hunting during late august/early sept?

I also suggest that time frame but because there are less people in the woods. You get an opening week rush of bear hunters and then it slows down before the archery season in September.

billythekidrock · « **Reply #13 on:** June 23, 2009, 06:00:01 AM »

Quote from: Timmybob on June 22, 2009, 11:53:05 PM

Thanks for the post..I am a lot like Alan K..I always buy the bear tag with my deer/elk tag, but never get a bear. This year will be my first year actually "Bear hunting". So my question is, What type of food sources should I be looking for in Aug/Sept? Thanks.....Tim

Where will you be hunting?
Obviously orchards can be great. Berry patches should be coming on as well. Grubbing activity is high at that time of year so really old cuts are a good place to look. It just depends on where you are at.

lewy · « **Reply #14 on:** June 23, 2009, 06:18:35 AM »

I love hunting the blue hucks, they come in at a little different time every year depending on weather, but the end of aug. puts you real close. One peice of advice that i would give is to watch the bear for as long as you can before deciding to shoot it, not simply to judge its size but to make sure there are no cubs-they can be tough to see in the berries and might not even be close to the sow. You will also learn alot about them by watching. 1 more month!!

lewy · « **Reply #15 on:** June 23, 2009, 06:34:24 AM »

After hunting bears for a while you can see the swagger in a mature boar, body shape and head. That may take a while, so one good way to judge size is the ears. A small bear will have a micky mouse look to it with the ears appearing to be on top of the head and large. As they mature the ears move to the side of the head. A mature boar will also get a dimple in the top of there head. I will include a picture of a big boar who's "dimple" is pretty obvious as well as his ears...hope this helps a little

Kain · « **Reply #16 on:** June 23, 2009, 09:56:13 AM »

Here is a discussion with a ton of links to articles and videos on bear calling. There are also recommendations on books and videos you could buy.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,27890.0.html

Kain · « **Reply #17 on:** June 23, 2009, 10:08:43 AM »

If you wanna know what a young bear in distress sounds like.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2vPceh7X48[/youtube]

KillBilly · « **Reply #18 on:** June 23, 2009, 10:11:32 AM »

Quote from Branden
[q]Bears are easy because they eat all the time. The only two things a guy needs to know about bears is what they are eating that time of year and that they are going to be as far away from people as possible. Probably one of the easiest animals to hunt in Washington besides goats. [/q]

Anyone wanting to learn should contact Branden, he sounds like the guy to learn from

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,28958.0.html

rasbo · « **Reply #19 on:** June 23, 2009, 10:36:46 AM »

Probably one of the easiest animals to hunt in Washington besides goats. [/q]
I better take some bear classes..

saylean · « **Reply #20 on:** June 23, 2009, 10:41:31 AM »

I think the only thing that makes them "easy" is that if you see a bear (and are not picky), generally it is a legal bear (and I am referring to NOT shooting a sow with cubs).

Other than that, I dont think it is all that easy. Especially when you first start out.

Or you have to pack it out...

or track it...

or call one in...

now back to the Poo picks!

To give a tid bit of help on this (sorry for the thread Jack

....

Dont look for "whole bears". Bears when on all fours will be low to the ground. Even in brush 5 ft tall, you might not see much more than the brush moving when they do. In western wa, search for berry patches in the late summer/fall. Look for bits of bears in the brush, or brush movement. Listen carefully as well. You will often hear them before you ever see them.

Watch these berry patches closely for movement and then (as always) be sure of your target. Bears do not have good eye sight but can smell and hear very well.

In eastern wa, look for brushy, cooler draws and gullys. Rose hips, berries, etc.

Good luck.

rasbo · « **Reply #21 on:** June 23, 2009, 11:09:05 AM »

depending on where ya hunt,come aug and sept,its hot..they like to stay cool,so if they are not out feeding cool dark areas is where I like to go.feed is usually not to far away..I will call in those areas..Or still hunt where you know they are laying..spend time around thick cool wet spots..steep to..soon you will learn have fun learning is some of the best times..just dont stop learning..It will all come together

Branden · « **Reply #22 on:** June 23, 2009, 11:21:16 AM »

Nice bears by the way guys.

Pathfinder101 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 23, 2009, 11:26:24 AM »

Quote from: lewy on June 23, 2009, 06:34:24 AM

After hunting bears for a while you can see the swagger in a mature boar, body shape and head. That may take a while, so one good way to judge size is the ears. A small bear will have a micky mouse look to it with the ears appearing to be on top of the head and large. As they mature the ears move to the side of the head. A mature boar will also get a dimple in the top of there head. I will include a picture of a big boar who's "dimple" is pretty obvious as well as his ears...hope this helps a little

Quote from: lewy on June 23, 2009, 06:34:24 AM

That is a great looking bear. Huge head. Good post too.

saylean · « **Reply #24 on:** June 25, 2009, 02:43:56 PM »

Here is an example (referring back to what I spoke of earlier) of how low a bear is in the brush when on all fours. The brush in the pic is about low chest height (im 6 1"). He is actually walking down a game trail which I thought would be used by bearskies.

So, keep in mind, if you just starting out hunting bears, they will often be very low to the ground and tough to spot in thick brush, so watch carefully and always always always be sure of your target. No brush shooting.

lewy · « **Reply #25 on:** June 25, 2009, 02:46:29 PM »

nice pic saylean!

Machias · « **Reply #26 on:** June 25, 2009, 03:12:43 PM »

Yep and no idea how many cubs are trailing behind. That is the real travesty of outlawing baiting and hounds.

lewy · « **Reply #27 on:** June 25, 2009, 03:18:35 PM »

exactly!

Pathfinder101 · « **Reply #28 on:** June 25, 2009, 04:02:59 PM »

Quote from: saylean on June 25, 2009, 02:43:56 PM

No brush shooting.

Awwwww.... c'mon....

...where's your sense of adventure....

saylean · « **Reply #29 on:** June 25, 2009, 04:06:25 PM »

I was in the brush looking for my brothers bear last year, praying to god I wouldnt get brush shot (not by my brother, but any other hunter).

Going into thick brush after a possibly wounded bear is more than enough adventure for me.

Pathfinder101 · « **Reply #30 on:** June 25, 2009, 05:38:33 PM »

Quote from: saylean on June 25, 2009, 04:06:25 PM

I was in the brush looking for my brothers bear last year, praying to god I wouldnt get brush shot (not by my brother, but any other hunter).

Going into thick brush after a possibly wounded bear is more than enough adventure for me.

...and that's why I bowhunt for elk now...

zackmioli · « **Reply #31 on:** June 26, 2009, 09:14:24 AM »

this will be my second year bear hunting. last year i only was able to get away for opening weekend with Snowman (who i havent seen on here for a long time), Dirty dan, and Shadowcat. It was a great time and Snowman took a bear while i was with them. This year ill be getting out by myself and looking for some berry patches to watch! ill be up scouting a lot until august 1st!

littlebuf · « **Reply #32 on:** June 26, 2009, 05:05:48 PM »

Quote from: saylean on June 25, 2009, 04:06:25 PM

I was in the brush looking for my brothers bear last year, praying to god I wouldnt get brush shot (not by my brother, but any other hunter).

Going into thick brush after a possibly wounded bear is more than enough adventure for me.

i did that last year and i was by myself way behind a gate, the brush was sio thick it took me 20 min to go 20 feet and that was with a machete. needless to say it was a little exiting

saylean · « **Reply #33 on:** June 26, 2009, 07:32:52 PM »

Also if you wound a bear (they dont always fall where you hit em, the tough SOB's), if it doesnt drop right away, be prepared mentally and physically to go through stuff like this...(a pic I took while looking for my bro's bear last year)...those things can hide just about anywhere in that type of stuff.

billythekidrock · « **Reply #34 on:** June 26, 2009, 08:13:59 PM »

Quote from: saylean on June 26, 2009, 07:32:52 PM

Also if you wound a bear (they dont always fall where you hit em, the tough SOB's), if it doesnt drop right away, be prepared mentally and physically to go through stuff like this...(a pic I took while looking for my bro's bear last year)...those things can hide just about anywhere in that type of stuff.

I will second that. You need to be prepared to follow through and sometimes that will take you into places you don't want to go...hunting or not. I have crawled through bear tunnels were a rifle is useless and have searched in areas where you will touch your buddy before you see him. You know it is thick when a human is standing 3 feet from you and you can't see them.

SHANE(WA) · « **Reply #35 on:** June 26, 2009, 08:55:37 PM »

we have walked up on 2 alive still on bear tunnels, not a fun deal

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Author Topic: Bear hunting for newbies (Read 9808 times)

Branden

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