Bear rookie

[Grizzly95]

What are the basics I need to know? I am gonna try to hunt from a tree stand tomorrow for a bear that has been very frequent through the area. He has been a pain in the arse for the locals for a couple years. I know it is kind of cheating when they pretty much tell me the pattern and trails he takes, but I have been on a streak of bad luck and I will take a gimme. I am a complete newbie at the bears. I will take any advise that someone can offer calls, scent killer, color of underwear even (no moleskin).

[Grizzly95]

Not looking for a place, I have an area I will go; just do's and don'ts

[markts]

Nothing is a gemme in bear hunting- I have killed a few bears over the years but am no expert. Get a call from Bearmanric Talk to BTKR- some of the experts will be along to help Good luck to you

[Machias]

Their eyesight is poor, but it doesn't mean they are blind.  Their hearing is exceptional unless they are busy doing something and then it's just really good.  But it's the nose you have to defeat!!  They can tell what flavor of lifesaver you have in your pocket from the next zipcode.  And even bears coming to a bait are not a gimmie.  They're patterns can change on a whim.  Good luck, most of the time they just suddenly appear in front of you, usually not much warning.

[Gutpile]

Their eyesight is poor, but it doesn't mean they are blind.  

The last two bears I've shot I've been able to close the distance considerably for a better shot. Last year I was wearing jeans and a white T. this year red hat and shirt with a denim jacket. Just wait till they look down or away and get closer. This year I was just blatant about it, I wasn't that close but I was right in the open walking through a clear cut towards him. So yeah there eyesight is not the best. You'd never do that with a deer or a coyote.

[snocobearhunter]

first of all look for *censored*, second find the food source right now all a bear is thinkin about is fillin his belly so if you target the food source where there is sign your gonna have a decent chance if you put the time in, a call is not a bad idea either but the one thing that is most important is goin alot of guys say they are gonna bear hunt and go maybe twice the whole season i scout from early march and stop chasin em in november i go almost every evening after work and every weekend it takes time to get good at killin bears but it is by far my favorite hunting overall goodluck

[shedcrazy]

Im with snoco, find the *censored*, they are definately putting the feed bag on right now. Once you find an area you just have to have time and patience, it will produce. It is the longest most exciting season that we have!!

[Grizzly95]

How does the rain / wet weather affect bears moving around? Do they hold up or do they not care?

[snocobearhunter]

it kinda just depends i've shot them in the poorin rain and on 98 degree sun shiny days

[Grizzly95]

Went to the spot that we thought we had one figured out, nope! Last year my cousin had been dumping the grain for the deer and a bear always followed him. Quit the grain a year ago and the bear sign is still there, but now he must be taking different routes around. I think this weekend I am going to try to find somebody that wants to go up out of Newport area and put on some miles. I WANT A BEAR!

[brew]

I love me some bear hunting....nothing gets the heart pounding like seeing black fur moving around....patience must you have my young jedi....set up in a place with fresh sign and a food source and rewarded you shall be...spent 5 evenings in the same area recently before i was able to connect.

[Coasthunterjay]

be patient..bears are roamers...kind of just moazy around with no pace and no plan for the day except for food...

Make sure you use a low scent soap, bears noses now! and bears arent completely blind....i have never had any of those chances happen to me, as far as what ive seen, bears catch onto movement very quickly! so having you in a tree stand might spook him because he probably smelt you and walk around you and you never knew it...

But eventually if you stick it out he will see you as no threat and come in and BOOM! Youll get him...

bears like to use the same trails..they are kind of well...basically they do one thing and stick to it...because thats what they know best....

and if your buddie has anough info to tell yah what you told us...then ide get in a stand and sit....otherwise if its scratchy info..ide look for better well used trails....set off about 10-15 yrds...look for markings, pawing sites(tore up roots or bases of old trees)...looks for tore leaves that the bear might be feeding on, if its wet look for tore up skunk cabbage as a sign that hes been feeding there also...Berries...Look for food...He is gonna be were the foods at...!

Good luck man, and hopefully something one of us says will help yah out! AJ

[Grizzly95]

I know he is still in the area, he is still busting into barns to get at the grain barrels according to the neighbors. We have him on camera, well from last year. My cousin and his wife had twins last september that were almost 4 months early so he has had no free time to set up the cam this year. The pics are on here somewhere.

[Grizzly95]

How about the cut and wrap? Do you do your own of have it done? I have always done my own deer and elk.  I f I do happen to get one is there anyone local that might be able to help me or walk me through it?

[NWBREW]

I would think if you cut and wrap your own deer it shouldn't be a problem with the bear. I tend to do more sausage's, burger and salami's with the bear. For that I take it to a butcher. Good luck to ya.

OH, One question for you.  How can a person with the name Grizzly95 be a rookie at bear hunting?  

[Grizzly95]

It was mine and my wife's mascot in high school, and we went to different schools half way across the state!

[one-eyed Ross]

One of you must be from Hoquiam...

[quadrafire]

Another Rookie bear question.
I found a tree last weekend that had the bark scraped on the sides, with one small peel from about 4 feet up to the ground about 2 inches wide, it was left laying at the bottom, and a large (old) pile of scat at the base.
Is this a marking/territorial tree?? black or griz?
This was in the NE corner

[Grizzly95]

One of you must be from Hoquiam...

Nope.....I am from Sunnyside and she is from Newport.