Saw first bear!!!

[funkster]

I know this isn't that great of news for most of you hunter's but I got to see my first black bear yesterday!!! I have been bow hunting for 3 years and have been in the woods almost all my life but never saw a bear until yesterday. I was in the woods outside of enumclaw on a sunday drive and there on the side of the road was my first black bear sighting. It looked to be about 300 to 350 lbs very black with a tan snout(sp?). I also got to see 4 deer and got within 15 yrd from a buck with little nubs. I had a fun little sunday cruise and thought I would share.

[billythekidrock]

Congrats!
As you see more bears you will probably realize that the first one was actually only 200 lbs LOL  Just kidding....

[funkster]

ha ha ha... that was a good one!! I have been doing alot of research on bear sizes and how to judge them. I got to look at him for a good few minutes and I think I'am pretty close. I wish I would have taken along the camera but didn't really think I was gonna see anything. Come August I'am very stoked about going bear hunting and hoping to get some action with calling.

Are you having any success with your spring bear tag??

[Machias]

Hey I was driving through Enumclaw yesterday as well, leaving the WA SAR conference.  Any chance you where there as well?

[billythekidrock]

No luck yet. Saw a cub the other day and we had a bear stand up then leave when calling. I didn't see it, but my buddy did. He just couldn't get a shot.

Where are you planning on hunting come August?

[boneaddict]

I had almost written a response congratulating you on your first bear sighting, then letting you know that it was probably more like 150, that a 300-350 pound bear in Washington is almost a once in a lifetime thing.  I then erased it not wanting to be smug.  Next time, take the camera so we can believe you.    Thats awesome you got to see one, they are amazing creatures.  I've seen probably well over a thousand, and they are still exciting to see.   

[funkster]

Hey I was driving through Enumclaw yesterday as well, leaving the WA SAR conference.  Any chance you where there as well?

No,I wasn't there!! I took the 3D deer target out to the woods to get some real life hunting practice in.

Billy, I have not made up my mind yet but I was thinking down around Mt.Adams to start. I deer hunt in the Sherman so maybe I will check out huckleberry. Any suggestions??

boneaddict, I'am a joker and can take a joke so feel free. My hunting crew are always making fun of each other. One of are crew members brought back to camp a grouse the size of a sparrow(no joke) and now he's owns the nickname "trisket grouse" because the whole bird fit on a trisket cracker!!

I took my first deer to the butcher fully field dressed and he ask how many lbs do you think this deer is?? I said right around 90lbs and he put it on the scale it was 88lbs. I know to take away 100lbs off of your first thought..I call it taking off the  "hunting goggles"

[Ray]

I have not seen any bear or bear sign this year. Great to hear they are out all over the place. I'll be out this weekend having a look where I would like to get one this season.

[billythekidrock]

I am not familiar with the east side bears, but I do know that the sherman unit has some good ones.

[PolarBear]

101 unit has some real brutes!  If you take a drive through the rez after the berries have come on, Hwy 21 will be covered with bear crap from 10 mile to Keller.

[boneaddict]

PB is right.  They are about like groundhogs over there.  I went out hiking 3 days in a row in a different area each time and saw 5 each day not counting cubs.

[funkster]

Well that is great news! I was hoping to fill the tag before sept.  My dad has 9  Elk points so we are hoping to draw a toutle bull permit. If we get pulled we will stay until we get one or the season ends. If not, I will be heading up to Sherman(I have been watching this nice 5x5 mulie and I know where he lives) and try out some bear hunting while I'am there.

[boneaddict]

Only issue is the heat and bees, finding a bear shouldn't be a problem.  Getting him out before he rots or you are stung to death is the problem.

[funkster]

I really want to take one with my bow!! What type of weapons are you all using to hunt bears with??

Btw, I just ran into this article. This is right by my friends house.

"A 415-pound male black bear trapped earlier this month after rummaging through garbage cans in a Black Diamond neighborhood is an unusually large example of a problem that is becoming all too common, say Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologists."

[high country]

101 unit has some real brutes!  If you take a drive through the rez after the berries have come on, Hwy 21 will be covered with bear crap from 10 mile to Keller.

I have killed a few in sherman that are respectable.

fwiw I am 6'0" and 230lbs......this is a #300ish bear.

[funkster]

That is a nice bear,Congrats!! That is very hard to see the weight of that bear because it is hanging and you can't really see the head or were the ears sit on the head. The bear I saw was just as dark and just as fuzzy and its belly was really close to the ground. Do you have any more pics??

[high country]

That is a nice bear,Congrats!! That is very hard to see the weight of that bear because it is hanging and you can't really see the head or were the ears sit on the head. The bear I saw was just as dark and just as fuzzy and its belly was really close to the ground. Do you have any more pics??

I posted a few in the eastern wa spring bear thread.

thanks.

[funkster]

Cool, I will go over and check them out. Bear hunting is new to me and it is really cool learning all the little tricks of the trade. If anybody has anymore info on bear hunting that they would like to share I will always have a ear open. Are you gonna make a rug with that nice coat??

[billythekidrock]

Funk - here is some more bear info -
http://www.hunting-washington.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=45

[funkster]

Billy,thanks for the good reads! It sounds like you all had a fun filled hunt.