what's your favorite way to hunt bears?

[hedgesjp]

What is your favorite way to hunt fall bears.   I'm going to be hunting near Mount Adams during archery elk season.   Is calling, spot and stalk, or something else more successful than another.   And if one of us in camp is successful on an elk is it legal to huntover the gut pile?   And finally is hunting with scent illegal, I have found nothing that says that it would be but I dont feel like messing up my hunt this fall over something so stupid?

[Machias]

Well my favorite ways are baiting and hounds over in Idaho   But I see your talking about here.  I love calling bears, very exciting and if done in the right place at the right time it is very productive.  I believe it is illegal to hunt over the gut pile, but don't quote me.  Scents have been discussed a bunch and I believe the concensus was it is illegal, becuase it is a substance and that is where they will get you.  However, suppose your hunting with deer scents and kill a bear, could you/would you be charged??  Who knows in this fine state.  Clear as mud huh!

[CP]

Those are good questions and I don’t have a definitive answer but RCW 77.15.245 reads in part:

“     (d) As used in this subsection, "bait" means a substance placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting black bears to an area where one or more persons hunt or intend to hunt them.”

By that definition I’d say that hunting over a gut pile = illegal

but spraying yourself and your clothes with an order masking mist of salmon blood, maybe, maybe not.

[shanevg]

I called F&G about the scent question this year and they said that any scents used for the express purpose of killing a bear is illegal.  They also mentioned that if you are baiting another big game animal with scents and a bear comes in that you could be written a ticket for baiting bear.  As far as gut piles go, I think that is a tricky question.  The law does seem to imply that it is illegal.  But if you were still hunting a clearcut where you gutted your elk the previous day, I don't see how it is against the law to shoot a bear that you happen to see.   

[cohoho]

Or become a scooby snack, really someone would spray their selves with salmon blood, wow, love to see that, at least from a distance.  I'm all about calling, sitting and waiting with masking scents but spraying with an attractant like that??    That's a recipe for disaster waiting to happen...

My favorite way is on a spring bait station in AK or; spot and stalk in the fall when they have their berry high going......

[shanevg]

Oh yeah, forgot to add my favorite way to hunt bears!  I love hunting in the fall when the blueberries are ripe!  That way you get to spend some time in some of the most beautiful country in the world and the bear are easy to spot and tend to stick around one general place for long periods of time.  I have been able to see 4 bears in my spotting scope at one time in places.  I know my (future) father-in-law saw 13 bears the day he shot his.  He said it was a bit spooky walking past all those bears with a big load of meat on his pack.   

[HarborHunter3]

Favorite. Well not sure. Once I kill one I'll let you know; but I'd say up in the high country over blueberries. I've always gone too early though. I love the Olympics. 

As for the gutpile issue. If I were written a ticket I would see them in court. That's too subjective. It wasn't placed there it was left there and is natural to the forest. At least that's what I would argue.

Don't ask, don't tell for stuff like that.

As long as you A. Don't get caught with the gut pile or scent red handed and B. don't get reported by someone. The game department really doesn't care. 

[KillBilly]

Here's my favorite way. I'll usually sit on my favorite stump morning and evening for at least one and a half days. When I get disgusted I take my partner with me, put him on my stump and I sit on a different one. Pretty much guaranteed within an hour he will kill a bear off my stump. Works almost everytime....

[saylean]

I recently (last year) got into predator calling, and it is a favorite of mine. Not sure how many bears I have called in (one for sure), but it sure keeps you on your toes. I do like just wandering trails in late summer looking for berries and bear though.

Any hunting is good hunting to me.

[billythekidrock]

And if one of us in camp is successful on an elk is it legal to huntover the gut pile?   And finally is hunting with scent illegal,

Both are against the law.

[Abolt338]

Most successful, probably glassing thick drainages...

However, I enjoy walking up narrow canyons and still hunting for bears.  There's nothing like taking a black bear at 25 feet with a pistol .

RW

[Bearhunter]

Calling with a bow in hand at less than 10yards, thats my favorite talk about a natural rush

[archery288]

spot and stalk in the high country with a bow!!! thats good stuff!!

[coyotemadness]

Spot and stalk. Occasional blind calling.

[hedgesjp]

Thanks for all the tips.   This is my first bear hunt so believe me I appreciate the tips.   I like the idea of calling and spot and stalk.   What do you think is a good time / place to call for a bear.   I've talked to people that use rabbit in distress calls do they work well or what calls do you prefer.