collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: New to bear hunting  (Read 6354 times)

Offline ZaneHunts

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2021
  • Posts: 206
  • Location: Mason county
  • Groups: NWTF, NAFA, WFA, RMEF, HOWL
New to bear hunting
« on: July 20, 2025, 05:35:10 PM »
Hey fellow hunters!
This is my first year really going after bear and I'm not real sure where to start. I would like to hunt the west side in the Olympic NF but would be willing to travel to the Cascades if prospects are better.

I'm not asking for anyone's hunting spots, just need help figuring out how to find promising areas worth my time. I know bears like berry patches but how do I find good berries? Does e scouting with onX help?
Any help getting me pointed in the right direction would be greatly appreciated!


Offline JDArms1240

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2019
  • Posts: 267
  • Location: From ID, stuck in WA

Offline ZaneHunts

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2021
  • Posts: 206
  • Location: Mason county
  • Groups: NWTF, NAFA, WFA, RMEF, HOWL
Re: New to bear hunting
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2025, 10:04:43 PM »
Awesome, I'll look at that. Thanks John!

Offline JimmyHoffa

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 14579
  • Location: 150 Years Too Late
Re: New to bear hunting
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2025, 10:39:22 PM »
For westside of OP, there's likely to be a number of types of berries at once.  And then the difference between one drainage and the next, north facing vs south and the same type could be ripe a month apart.  The berries I find the most, fresh sign is usually thimbleberry.  But it usually isn't from the biggest bears.  Biggest bear poops seem to be by salal or cascara ( from what I find).
Likely to have thimbleberry, blackberry, cascara cherries, choke cherries, salal, huckleberries, salmonberry, raspberry and elderberry all in Aug and September.  If it's really hot I don't see the bears much during the middle of the day.  Usually see them before 9 and after 4, but occasionally see one in the road at noon.
I see most early season looking down in clear-cuts that have buffers for streams at the bottom.  I don't see lots of berries down there, other than salmonberry by the water and scattered huckleberries in the buffer.  So, probably headed high in the cut to the big patches.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

What to do?? by Crunchy
[Today at 08:16:12 PM]


Montana Big Game Combo Draw chances by teanawayslayer
[Today at 08:10:13 PM]


Springer season getting close, who's going by HntnFsh
[Today at 08:07:39 PM]


Your biggest spike elk by HntnFsh
[Today at 07:48:21 PM]


Discretion !!! by greenhead_killer
[Today at 06:46:05 PM]


No 4-1 fools joke. by metlhead
[Today at 06:16:58 PM]


Stop the Coyote "game" classification proposal by Ghost Hunter
[Today at 06:10:50 PM]


Bills to relocate Bob Oke and continue pheasant release programs by JDHasty
[Today at 04:13:03 PM]


Where to buy beef? by Dan-o
[Today at 03:16:48 PM]


Back to the Pack - Hunting backpack suggestions by Dark2Dark
[Today at 03:11:34 PM]


Stick with the 50's by Ghost Hunter
[Today at 01:58:21 PM]


Small plastic boats? by slm9s
[Today at 10:56:47 AM]


Idaho Non-Res draw results by bearhunter99
[Today at 10:05:04 AM]


Coyote broke my cage by Kingofthemountain83
[Today at 09:56:36 AM]


New Zealand in May by pd
[Today at 08:41:13 AM]


Tribal police on Roosevelt jurisdiction by Henrydog
[Today at 08:22:52 AM]


Multi season draw odds by bucksbearsbeers
[Today at 08:00:39 AM]


Bucket List Elk shed help wanted by Longfield1
[Today at 07:19:56 AM]


2026 North Central WA Mule Deer Foundation Banquet is approaching! by bearhunter99
[Yesterday at 08:26:43 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2026, SimplePortal