I hunted a mountain that in many of the past years has offered me multiple choices on bears and more blue grouse then I could count. I hiked in with a friend, who is obviously bad luck, and after the 3k foot climb in 4 miles we were at my favorite vantage point. there was not a sign of a bear on the way up, nor a single grouse....both of which I usually see tons of. I figureed they must be in the remote basin that I have never in 12 years seen a soul in.....nothing. in all I saw not a sign of a bear or a blue....which was baffleing because I was litterally blue from all the huckleberries I waded through. twas odd to not see a few bears just plain ol' chowing down on the hucks.
you NE guys who have unzipped a bear lately, did we have a diet shift this year? I know the low land berries are nada, but the 5-7k berries are kicking butt. oh well, was a good reminder of how good I sleep after sucking wind all day....lol.