Berries

[KopperBuck]

It's all about the berries! I have seen bear chit during elk season that is nothing but rose hips, and seen a lot of seeds in other piles, so there's not denying that.

Fact is though, I've never purposefully gone after a bear, nor have I purposefully looked for berries. I've been in them, but not with the intention of taking note where and what kind.

I'm hunting the eastside - what types of habitat should I be looking for? I'm sure the south ripens before the north, and with this year's weather it's not going to be a bumper crop, but are there more likely places to find them? Draws, out in the open, pine/aspen/, etc? Particular berry that produces better?

And what kind of strategy to hunting berry stands? Sit on one, move from stand to stand? Just interested, but my main hope was to narrow down my search. Hoping I have better luck than when I've tried looking for shrooms. 

[saylean]

Never hunted the eastside specifically for bear. But I have hunted western wa alot for them. I would use the same tactics I use over here.

Find the food they are after (rosehips, berries), with little human activity during the morning or evenings and watch/call.

Brushy gullies, cooler (in temp) areas, dark timber, berry choked draws, creek bottoms, etc. Hit those places in the late afternoon till dark or early morning. Watch/listen to the draws. If you want to try something different, grab a predator call and call into the draws to see what breaks loose.

Good luck. Lots of info on bears in this bear thread. Read through some of the success stories, etc. Then get out after them.