when is too early

[rebal69972]

i was wondering when it would time to start scouting for fall bear? i went up around bonnie lake this past weekend and eather there still in hibernation or theres no bears or i have no idea what I'm doing witch is a very good possibility.This fall will be my second season. I try to get most of my info around the camp fire but most folks i ran into this year wanted to talk about elk and deer not bear. any help or knowledge would be greatly appreciated

[h20hunter]

I plan to start scouting prior to opening for spring bear. If I don't get drawn then maybe I can help steer somebody in the right direction and then begin  hunting for myself in the fall. NEVER to early to get out and learn some area. Just stay out of closed areas as you probably read on another post.

[JackOfAllTrades]

You're a bit too early to see any bears/sign but yes, learning an area early is smart. Blackbears don't 'hibernate' per'se... But they do take extended sleep sessions and only come out to feed for a short time if at all.

First week of March or when you've got day time temps at least in the high 40's. Even then, bears in the early spring are still pretty reclusive. April, when the blooms start.. Skunk cabbage, Cascara buds and tender leaves then into spring look for fawn kills, bladed grasses, trees with bark peals. But come late summer they'll have turned to different foods like ripening huckle, blue, salmon, and blackberries. Grubs and termites in stumps and rotton wood through summer. Any and all of the above through summer into fall. As the snows melt, you'll find tracks. Track them back to dens and bedding areas.

-Steve

[rebal69972]

thank you guys. i will keep putting miles in and looking. can i ask 1 more question, where do you find huckle berrys?

[JackOfAllTrades]

I have found huckleberries from a thousand feet all the way up to five thousand.  You can't just look at Google maps and say where hucks will be.  Creek drainages, but not too cold, and not down by the creek. Shaded canopy, but not so dense that no sun gets in. You'll find them in open timber more than you would in dense rain forest. Where you find Salmon berries, you'll often find hucks in the area, but not co-mingled.

-Steve

[dreamunelk]

Here on the OP I would normally say just before the salmon berries bloom and things are full on when they do.  This I learned from elder natives, old timers and Ralph Flower books and a little experience.  However, things are weird write now with the goofy weather.  So if you have time put boots to ground and start scouting.  Take a hard look at any place that looks like it may have groceries this spring and mark it with your GPS.  When you start seeing activity you will have a good idea on where to concentrate your scouting efforts. 

[alecvg]

I usually don't start until June, or maybe late may.

[billythekidrock]

I would agree with the above, but add that it depends on your location. Obviously it will be a little later up high and a little earlier at sealevel.

I plan on setting some cameras up in mid March, but don't plan on seeing much sign until mid April.
Then again, with all the warm temps and new growth (barring a deep freeze) I may start a little earlier.

[jackmaster]

you can find huckleberys where ever there are old stupms ,shade and water, if you dont mind a little bit of a drive from easter weekend on you can go up into the hills above camp cyspus out by randle i promise you find some old clearcuts that you can walk to or hell even just drive around and you will see bears and the color phases up there are awesome