Spring Bear Hunters-Any Results??

[Sideswipe]

You'd think that being lucky enough to be one of the 20 in the North Skagit hunt would mean lucky enough to at least see a bear.  Scouted twice as far as my legs would pedal my bike up the Hamilton mainline.  Got a thrill dodging log trucks, saw some grouse.  I thought the Nooksak elk herd was almost endangered....sign all over the place!  Spent today out there-this time w/a DNR gate key my Jeep & I was pack'in.  When I got up high some of the snow drifts were up to my windows at roadside.  No tracks, skat, or peeled trees (new or old) yet.  Biggest challenge is trying to read the DNR map-better than sitting at home though.  I think the bears forgot to set their alarms.  OK-now I'd like to hear from you guys.

[RubblesPH]

Spent the better part of Monday, all of Tuesday and half of Wednesday up turkey hunting in the Blues.  Covered a lot of ground between the 4-wheeler and glassing -saw one bear down real low behind a ranchers house.  Seems pretty late this year, but we were still getting snow during the hunt and the weather forecast is calling for more snow for the next several days.     

[jackelope]

sounds like great turkey hunting weather. did you manage any birds?
i'm headed over tomorrow. i don't care about the weather, it'll be good just to get out of dodge for the weekend.

[RubblesPH]

Ya, one of the guys took a jake and the other one took a nice gobbler. Unfortunately I lost my first bird this year.  Had two shots in him -one on the ground and one flying.  He set his wings and glided over the hill side.  Searched for him forever and never did find him - pretty bummed - hate to lose a wounded animal....really nice yard bird. 

[Rhinoron247]

We spent the last 6 days in the Lick.  We drove to the end of every road until the snow stopped us. We hiked another 2 - 6 miles each day with not so much as a fresh Bear sign.  The snow is gone on most of the south slopes but the green up is still a few weeks off. (Sooner if the weather would hold).  It was 85 Sunday and it snowed Tuesday night.   I'm sure there are some bears out and about, but no sign of them in areas we have always seen them.  Was very strange.

Were gonna hold out for another week or two then hit it hard with the horses.

There were Turkeys every where, even had then in camp one evening.   

Would love to hear what others have seem or not seen?

[BLUEBULLS]

with gas at 3... or 4.. ahh, whatever it is today, I'd probably wait until the last week of may or so. actually, i'd probably be up there everyday if i had the tag but being realistic the last week will be the best by far. I walked 18 miles of the Tucannon unit last saturday and no bear sign. RhinoRon247, I'm heading back up tonight so i'll give you a snow report when i get back.

[Skyvalhunter]

Did anyone draw that Monroe bear permit. I put in but no luck on drawing. Keith

[Timberstalker]

Rhino if your wanting good bears up in the Lick, follow the elk stay up high and get on the onions.  took a 6'5"  jet blonde out of there in 2005 on the spring hunt.  You got a chance to filter through a lot of bears take your time size em up.  Good luck!

[Rhinoron247]

10-4 on that.  I did find a group of 200 + Elk up in the Blue Grass / Wheat flats but did not think to hang.  They were bedded out in the open and just outside the boundary.  Shot some video and left them alone.     

I took a great cinnamon in 03 and the gal took a big black in the 04.  Until this weekend we haven't been back.

Thank you so much for the tips any help is greatly appreciated.

[Rhinoron247]

with gas at 3... or 4.. ahh, whatever it is today, I'd probably wait until the last week of may or so. actually, i'd probably be up there everyday if i had the tag but being realistic the last week will be the best by far. I walked 18 miles of the Tucannon unit last saturday and no bear sign. RhinoRon247, I'm heading back up tonight so i'll give you a snow report when i get back.

Thanks for info, got your vm when I got home.  I know it will be better later but it is hard to stay away.  We are going try and save some dough on fuel and wait till the first week in May to go back.  We talked to a few locals and got permission to hunt some posted areas.  They saw bears last fall while wood cutting so I hope they will be in the area.

Let me know what you see when your up there. 

Thanks

[Bearhunter]

Been up scouting in the skagit once and a buddy once.  Its pretty scarce up there right now.  Not much for sign or peeled trees.  The grass is a couple weeks out like stated and its snowing up there right now.  Im looking to capitalize Mid May hopefully.  The map does suck, and whats even worse is where theres supposed to be DNR locks theres not, so you cant even access some of the damage areas.  One of my go to spots for later in the season the road is washed out up the 200, and I sure they wont be fixing it any time soon.  Give it a couple weeks and theyll be around!

[billythekidrock]

You won't start seeing many peeled trees for at least a few more weeks, if not a month. When you notice the fir trees have bright green tips (fresh growth) is about the time you should notice peels.

I have not been out, haven't even picked up my access permit. May try to hook up and call for someone hunting the CF unit.

[bearmanric]

seen a dandy brown bear wed. of course i was turkey hunting in colville. he kept standing up and shaking 10 foot pine tree's. not sure why. i might head to copalis around wed. Rick

[Ghost Hunter]

Thinking about a day trip to CF Sunday, scout and calling.  Next weekend, we're gonna plan on a 3 day weekend.  Hoping for some better weather    BTKR, let me know what your plans are, might could use a veteran caller    

[Shannon]

I am trying to figure out the politics behind Sierra wanting a depradation hunt on there property but not allowing access to there property. Go figure! Success will be pretty low if you can't access most of there property. I wasted $100 bucks in gas and my access was less than 40% on gates I was suppose to be able to get in. I don't understand it. If you do have the DNR key be careful on being locked in behind Sierra Gates that were open when you went through but got locked after the loggers left and the key that was suppose to open that gate does not. I have found even the DNR gates have a 1-1 lock that I did not get a key to on a fair amount of them. I will quit complaining because I am happy to be hunting but I can't figure why I don't have the Sierra key and they won't give it out. It will definitely concentrate our efforts. Good luck to everyone with the tag. Side swipe- I think I met you when we were picking up our keys. I talked to you for a bit and you mentioned you had been riding your bike in. It's a small world.
Shannon