Author Topic: Thank you (Read 4531 times)

kbdavear · « **on:** March 19, 2010, 09:27:40 AM »

I have spent the last few days looking through the fifty something pages of posts on here, and there is an extreme amount of information. I just wanted to say THANK YOU to those of you that take the time to answer questions for those of us that are less experienced in Bear hunting. I am looking forward to continuing to gain knowledge from this site, and with any LUCK, maybe get my first bear this year. I know the area, now I need to find the spot. Which brings me to my question.

When (in your opinion) do you feel is the best time to start scouting the areas that you want to hunt? If I see a clear-cut that I want to try and get to, how do I find out how to get there?

Woodchuck · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2010, 09:32:44 AM »

county auditor should have maps that tell who owns what, from ther you know who to call to ask or find what is public. google earth is a great tool to find spots that are not easily seen

kbdavear · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2010, 09:37:29 AM »

The problem I have with google earth is the last year I looked at Suattle and it showed nice clearings. The image was from '06 though. Thanks for the info on the auditor, I will keep that in mind.

let.it.fly · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2010, 10:03:11 AM »

i usually start poking around in early july. im looking for the berry bushes, looking to see what stage they are in so i can kinda determin when they will be ripe. it helps. in my experience its good to be there in the first week of being ripe. bears seem to hit them very hard when they are first ripe. a new food sourse is good. i gues its kinda like eating burgers all year, then your wife asks if you want steak. imo.

kbdavear · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2010, 10:12:25 AM »

Quote from: let.it.fly on March 19, 2010, 10:03:11 AM

i usually start poking around in early july. im looking for the berry bushes, looking to see what stage they are in so i can kinda determin when they will be ripe. it helps. in my experience its good to be there in the first week of being ripe. bears seem to hit them very hard when they are first ripe. a new food sourse is good. i gues its kinda like eating burgers all year, then your wife asks if you want steak. imo.

Now, are you scouting areas that you have previously utilized? I am checking an area that I have never been, should I still wait until the berries are at least starting?

saylean · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2010, 11:04:03 AM »

Nothing beats boots on the ground. Look around for food sources and those that come in first (not all black berries/blues, come in at the same time). Thats were you'll find some bearskies....

Think food, find bears.

Shootmoore · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2010, 11:28:18 AM »

Quote from: saylean on March 19, 2010, 11:04:03 AM

Nothing beats boots on the ground. Look around for food sources and those that come in first (not all black berries/blues, come in at the same time). Thats were you'll find some bearskies....

Think food, find bears.

Pretty much this! Luckily I think like a bear, if it makes a turd I'll eat it.

Shootmoore

JackOfAllTrades · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2010, 12:28:41 PM »

Quote

Nothing beats boots on the ground. Look around for food sources and those that come in first (not all black berries/blues, come in at the same time). Thats were you'll find some bearskies....

No kidding there! Learn where the Huckleberries are and when they ripen. Salmonberries, Blues, Blacks.. Learn areas where south or west slope grasses, then later the north slope grasses are young and growing as the snow melts to reveal them. Skunk cabbage areas.
Old cuts that have insects in rotting stumps. Bee hives. Find an area that has all of this to offer, and you're in Bear country!

-Steve

Alchase · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2010, 12:57:01 PM »

Quote from: saylean on March 19, 2010, 11:04:03 AM

Nothing beats boots on the ground. Look around for food sources and those that come in first (not all black berries/blues, come in at the same time). Thats were you'll find some bearskies....

Think food, find bears.

Dang, do they not even chew? Looks like they could be re-used in a cobbler
LOL

Cool pick Saylean

carpsniperg2 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2010, 12:58:44 PM »

that is a cool pic right there. i find the buggers move around so much that i only like to scout a few days before i plan to hunt i call so i like to find area that has freash sign and then that is o.k. for.

but not everyone calls just the way i do it.

winston2789 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2010, 01:59:16 PM »

Saylean's right, find the food=find the bears. Then it becomes a waiting game. good luck

saylean · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2010, 02:04:47 PM »

I dang near popped one right in my mouth. Smelled like berry pie....

but then I thought about what the hell I was doing...

machine · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2010, 09:59:33 PM »

Id also like to thank everone that posts info in here.Knowing absolutely nothing about bear hunting,or hunting anything for that matter I started reading at page 1 in the bear section.Hitting the berries when there first ripe must be good advice because I've found rows of salmon berries with scat every 10 feet but after many days of hunting no new sign and no bears.When i found the huckleberry's up high i thought i was set but the only place I've seen bears is clearcuts.

MikeWalking · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2010, 10:21:06 PM »

Quote

The problem I have with google earth is the last year I looked at Suattle and it showed nice clearings. The image was from '06 though. Thanks for the info on the auditor, I will keep that in mind

Good point. most Google Earth images are several years old. I counted on one G-E search to take a trip up the Rapid River road off Beckler, North of Skykomish. It didn't show the planted boulders closing the road at the 2.5-3 mi mark. The road is about 12 miles long.

Berries, Vine Maple...went through one area where the bark was eaten off a dozen or more trees all at the same height and plenty of scat. Looked like toasted oatmeal.

billythekidrock · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2010, 06:47:20 AM »

Quote from: kbdavear on March 19, 2010, 09:27:40 AM

I am looking forward to continuing to gain knowledge from this site, and with any LUCK, maybe get my first bear this year. I know the area, now I need to find the spot. Which brings me to my question.

When (in your opinion) do you feel is the best time to start scouting the areas that you want to hunt? If I see a clear-cut that I want to try and get to, how do I find out how to get there?

If you already know there are some bears in your primary area then I would suggest scouting a few new areas right now. Look for skunk cabbage and new grass in the swamps and openings. Then early July is a good time to check the food sources in your chosen area. Check again for fresh sign just prior to the season. Monitor any and all options of food and definitely learn scat.

As for locating ways in and out of areas...as mentioned, Google Earth and County Auditor sites as well as Terra Server are all good sources. Yes, some aerials are old but you just have to learn how to read them. Most every aerial of WA in color is from 2006 (possibly newer) so if you see a new cut in the photo you can expect it to be at least brushy with visibility if not fairly thick with good cover.

One way to stay on top of new logging on state lands it to monitor the DNR webpage for timber sales and watch the deadlines on specific sales.

billythekidrock · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2010, 07:01:47 AM »

Quote from: saylean on March 19, 2010, 02:04:47 PM

I dang near popped one right in my mouth. Smelled like berry pie....

but then I thought about what the hell I was doing...

Michelle tried to get me to eat some of these. Mostly evergreen huck. Very sweet smelling.

Here is some info on those berries http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/nativeplants/Vaccinium_ovatum.html

Quote

You can eat the berries or let the birds and other animals forage for them, including bears. Granted, you probably do not want to attract bears to your garden.

ICEMAN · « **Reply #16 on:** March 20, 2010, 02:11:34 PM »

Yummy....

Yep, a gut full of that...makes for piles of this:

NGOWENS · « **Reply #17 on:** March 22, 2010, 11:09:44 AM »

Agreed! You all have been great with info! I am new tot he bear hunting thing, but have wanted to do it for years. Now I am gaining the know how from all your input and next is putting the boots on and getting in it this spring/summer! Can't wait and thanks for the honest info!

MtnMuley · « **Reply #18 on:** March 22, 2010, 11:34:11 AM »

I had a feeling ICEMAN would turn this post into a bunch of s*#t!

As for when to start scouting, I would start right now. Hike the areas you find and look old scat. They should be tearing up stumps as soon as they're out of hibernation looking for a wormy/larva meal. If berries are the prime food source in the area you're hunting, get out there now and find the most secluded patches and look for old sign. Just being in the area gives you a good feel for what your up against during the season. Getting a 'lay of the land' early, might help you find an easier access in or good places to set up a vantage point. This will also get those legs in shape for the upcoming season.

MikeWalking · « **Reply #19 on:** March 22, 2010, 11:45:38 AM »

!!!!! I wanna find the Bear that poops S&W's

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #20 on:** March 22, 2010, 12:01:54 PM »

Holy Krap I didn't know they could pass a whole pistol!!

ICEMAN · « **Reply #21 on:** March 22, 2010, 08:53:01 PM »

No kidding....all I found was the pistol, some chewed up boots and a hat...

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Author Topic: Thank you (Read 4531 times)

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