looking for a place to start

[rebal69972]

hello guys. i know this time of year there are hundreds of post from people looking for help. this one is kinda the same but different at the same time. my 12 y/o wants to go bear hunting this year and i have no idea where to start looking.  i have my spot already but its archery only.  i went to a few spots last year that i was told there where bear but i only saw a few sows and cubs and i was wondering if anyone could point me in a direction like all the rest I'm not looking for a honey hole just a very general area i really like to do my own scouting and i want him to learn the same thing.

[JimmyHoffa]

Is there an area of the state you have in mind?

[RadSav]

Is there an area of the state you have in mind?

[bankwalker]

i know ill be spending most of august up high in unit 460 or 335 around snoqualmie pass. been seeing tons of good sign and a few big bear this year scouting.

[RadSav]

Head north not south from I-90.  I find the population density is much better and the berry patches are more open. PCT either way off Stevens Pass good place to start as well.  My best bears are from that general area.

[bankwalker]

the general areas i have been scouting has been along the PCT aswell. just north of i90.

[rebal69972]

i was looking for within a couple hours of lakewood. i have scouted mossyrock and winston. a few deer and elk but no bear, same thing up on mud mountain dam road. i was thinking about going up around highway 18 but have no idea where any hunting areas are. and after spending all season last year looking and only finding a few sows with cubs, i have to admit i have no idea what I'm doing

[ErikN]

Unless its highly residential, I don't believe there are any archey only bear areas.

[bankwalker]

highway 18 is good, but it gets hit hard with limited walk in spots. i did see a bear both times i hunted in last year.

you could check the greenwater area off highway 410. i know it use to be good. but i havent really been in there much over the years. i actually planned on scouting that this weekend. i think its probably better for bear then anything else these days. havent really heard any good reports for deer or elk in that area for a few years now.

[rebal69972]

Unless its highly residential, I don't believe there are any archey only bear areas.

I'm hunting on base and they have some strange rules to go on with the strange laws WA has 

[3nails]

 Wow, scouting now? The areas I hunt are still completely buried in snow. The bears won't even start to show up high around here until mid August. Maybe it's different up here but scouting for bears would be like scouting for cereal at the supermarket. They'll always be in the same place. Nothing easier (besides the pack out) than killing a bear. If it's your son doing the shooting, Rebal, and you don't mind traveling to Whatcom Co. let me know and I'll pm you a great area.

[CAMPMEAT]

How about Green Mtn out of Darrington. I hunted up there years ago with hounds ( not mine ) and was told by the dog owner it was a very good area for bears. I myself, would get as far away from the 1-5 Seattle crowd as I could. I stopped hunting that area 20 years ago because of that. Cle Elum area is only 1.25 hours away, still close to Seattle, but more relaxed I think.

[rebal69972]

i dont know where whatcom co is but i dont mind driving for him. he is going to be the one shooting i would like for him to do this kind of on his own. i started scouting in early feb i found some old sign but havent found anything new. i also have a few bears on my trail cams i just cant take him in there

[rebal69972]

where and what is pct?

[h20hunter]

pct = pacific coast trail

I'm glad to see some good info and offer of assistance. This is the kind of thread I keep my eye out for and wish I could help more. The fella is just trying to get his boy on game. Good luck to you and I hope you have a good hunt. I'd like to help but my bears are busy eating my apples and beating the hell out of my cam. Sounds like you have a good handle on the areas you need to be hunting. I hope things work out and look forward to the pics.