When to start looking in the high country?

[Abolt338]

I know of some blueberry patches in the Lake Wenatchee high country.  When do those berries usually get ripe?  My spots require some SERIOUS hikes, and I would like to time it out as best I can.

So when do you guys head high?

RW

[shanevg]

In my experience, berries can be ripe anytime in August.  In a year with a late snow melt (like this year appears like it is going to be) it may take a lot longer.  Last year with the fairly mild summer, most blueberries in my area didn't get ripe until the last weekend in August.  But I did find one patch on opening weekend that we getting the right amount of sunlight to be ripe, and there was bear sign everywhere. 

A lot of experienced bear hunters say that when the berries are not getting ripe, it is the best hunting.  Because when you find a small, ripe patch, you will find the bears because they will congregate there.  That hasn't always been my experience.  Last year in one of my normal spots we found a couple of small, ripe berry patches in mid-August and the bears hadn't touched it yet.  So you just never know. 

I usually start checking for ripe berries in the last week in July.  July would be a very early time to find blueberries, but it is getting close to season.  If you find a ripe patch, hunt there opening day, because there is a good chance there are bears there.  I have one honey hole where I spot bear about 75% of the time I go there.  It is a good spot because it is some nice open meadows (which are relatively easy to reach) where fairly few people hike since the hike doesn't really have much of a view of anything in particular other than the meadows.  Since the trail doesn't see a lot of traffic, I think the bear like to hang around in there.  I've noticed that they start moving up into the meadows in late July-early August to look for blueberries.  Last year, I saw the same bear twice in a week come out into the meadow and walk quickly from one end to the other sniffing around and looking for berries.  When he didn't find any, he went right back to where he came from.  I think they've learned to look for berries there and they aren't very pressured so they just continue looking until they get ripe.   

Overall, I would start looking in late July if you get a chance.  If the area is pretty secluded and you know the bear feed there when the berries are ripe, there is a good chance they will also be checking out the area.  If you are lucky enough that it is one of the first patches to get ripe, then hopefully you will be able to find a bear early in the season.

[coyotemadness]

Well I wasnt going to go into that much detail, so yeah, what he said.

[Abolt338]

Anyone familiar with the area I'm talking about?

RW

[Snowman]

I hunt the west side of where your talking about. Shanevg pretty much said what anyone else will tell you. In your area if the snow pack ain't gone by the end of may, your going to be looking at a late start for berries. I'd look at the berries in late july and see what stage they are in. 

[Abolt338]

So here's the problem fellas...  I don't get back to WA until mid-August, and then I only have two weeks to bag a couple bruins.  I have some normal spots, but they're getting more and more pressure every year and becoming a little harder to hunt because of it.  I was thinking of these high-country hikes because most people won't put in the effort to get up there...

Maybe I'll just take a chance and head up there on a random day when I get back.

RW

[shanevg]

I would say hike up there and check it out at least once.  Hopefully the berries will be getting ripe.  If not, it is possible that you are in a remote enough area where bears feel comfortable to like you, check if the berries are ripe.  Best of luck to you!

[Snowman]

I've found where I go now, that no one will go there, because it is a hike. All my old areas have to much pressure, so I found the futher out I go the more I see. My boy and me seen 9 bears on one hillside, didn't get one but kepted going back up and seen bears every time. Give a shout when you get back and can tell ya by then what stage the berries are in. Good Luck

[Abolt338]

I've found where I go now, that no one will go there, because it is a hike. All my old areas have to much pressure, so I found the futher out I go the more I see. My boy and me seen 9 bears on one hillside, didn't get one but kepted going back up and seen bears every time. Give a shout when you get back and can tell ya by then what stage the berries are in. Good Luck

Appreciate it...

RW