New to Bear hunting, and doing it on Ft. Lewis this year. (Active Duty USAF)

[willesee]

Hey everyone, as the topic says Im new to bear hunting, but am planning on starting with the season this August on Ft. Lewis (JBLM) since Im stationed there. Any tips or other military members who plan on hunting the area and need some company give me a shout! It looks like my biggest issue will be finding hunting buddies to go with, because I dont like to go out by myself due to safety. Also any tips on blinds vs. stands would be appreciated because I have a good blind but am thinking of getting a stand if it makes that much of a difference. Thanks!

[Machias]

Howdee and thanks for your service.  I would recommend getting a call or two from Bearmanric and Rainshadow and try predator calling one in.  Do a search on here, several good threads on how to do it.  You won't need a stand or a blind for that.  Most bear hunting is done from the ground and quite a bit of area needs to be covered usually, so stands and blinds just get in the way.  Good luck!

[h20hunter]

Welcome. Probably my first suggestion would be to keep in mind some regs that may be different from wherever you are used to. Number one is no bait. That would include scents, food stuffs, or any artificial product. Pretty much anything you can think of. Find some berries and other natural food source they are feeding on and just sit on it. Eventually, the bear will show. You can of course keep your eyes out for scat and tree peels.

[one-eyed Ross]

The last bear I saw on Ft. Lewis was back around '91 or so.  Out the range road towards 507, I think it is....

There are bear on Ft. Lewis....find the berries, find the bear.  Oh...also try out the tank trail by Cat Lake (at least that is what they used to call it)....

[Eyes of Death]

I am new to the area as well. I have had alot of success hunting whitetail in Ga but never hunted bear. I have my tags and I will go out with you on Aug 1 to see if we can kill anything. Hit me back.

[archerTim]

I will be doing some bear hunting on ft. lewis as well. It will be my first time hunting the base. I'd be happy to hook up and go hunting with you. I'm used to hunting in PA, but a black bear is a black bear. I'm available to hunt weekends and some evenings after work. I work on mcchord, so I'm real close by. Let me know.
Tim

[KenPCPilot]

YOU MIGHT CHECK WITH THE FISH AND WILDLIFE FOLKS ON POST.  MY FATHER WAS A DOD WORKER FOR 30+ YEARS AND WORKED WITH THEM DOING FOREST FIRE FIGHTING AND STREAM REPAIR NEARLY EVERY SUMMER.  THEY ALWAYS HAD A GOOD READ ON GAME REPORTS AS THEY HAD A LOT OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THE FIELD AND DOING STUDIES.  THERE ARE DEFINIATLEY BEARS THERE NEAR THE NISQUALLY RIVER AND MUCK CREEK.  SAW MY FIRST BEAR TREE MARKING ON A OLD CEDAR SCRATCH MARKS ABOUT 7 FEET UP ONE TIME.  I LIVE IN LACEY AND WAS DRIVING OUT TO YELM IN JUNE AND SAW A SMALLER BEAR RUN ACROSS THE HIGHWAY JUST BEFORE SOUTHWORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEAR THE NISQUALLY INDIAN RESERVATION.  MY NEIGHBOR IS A DRIVER FOR THE RED WIND CASINO AND SAW ONE ? THE SAME BEAR TWO WEEKS LATER ABOUT A MILE FROM WHERE I SAW MINE.  HE HOWEVER STATES HIS WAS A LARGE ADULT BEAR.  A LITTLE HARDER SINCE YOU CAN ONLY USE SHOTGUNS AND ARCHERY HUNTING ON POST BUT IF YOU HUNT THE NISQUALLY RIVER AREA AND ALL THE BERRIES RIPE I THINK YOU MIGHT INCREASE YOU LUCK.  GOOD LUCK

[Wildsau]

Is there any other way to hunt for bear, or other Big Game, than with a bow?    You don't have to walk so far to get to your kill, and that means less distance to drag it.

[Tacomahunter]

You can meet up with me and my buddie next time we go out bear hunting. we saw 2 bears this year on JBLM (close to roy). We will be bow hunting fyi. Ill send you a message when that time comes around. Good luck, hope to see you out there.
Nate

[wraithen]

PM me when you plan to go out. The good news is the base is FULL of bear. Guy got mauled in the woods next to the prison last year walking his dog. The issue is going to be weapon selection. Unfortunately scouting is another issue. It's hard to get centerfire rifle areas predictably sometimes and they generally don't have much in the way of options once most of the deer hunters are done. I've got a few calls and will be growing my lanyard out this year. PM me if you need some company. I don't like the idea of hunting alone when the "prey" can kill me either. 

[Wildsau]

I live in Federal Way and will, also, being out for bear with my bow.  If y'all don't mind, I'd, also like to hook up with you.  I agree there is safety in numbers and more especially if what you are hunting has the capabillity of making hamburger out of you in less time than it takes to say it.

Please, keep me in mind and PM me if you would like some company in scouting/preparing.  I am new to Ft Lewis and access, as a retiree, is no problem.

[tommyhydro]

i would definitely go with you if only the USAF would give me orders out there:(, been stuck @ McGuire for 10 years and trying to get to McChord ever since i got here. Good luck to you

[AKBowman]

I live in Federal Way and will, also, being out for bear with my bow.  If y'all don't mind, I'd, also like to hook up with you.  I agree there is safety in numbers and more especially if what you are hunting has the capabillity of making hamburger out of you in less time than it takes to say it.

Please, keep me in mind and PM me if you would like some company in scouting/preparing.  I am new to Ft Lewis and access, as a retiree, is no problem.

You guys are a bunch of babies!! Trying to kill a bear with a bow with more than one person is 4X harder than by yourself. You have much greater chance of getting struck by lightning than being mauled by a black bear.

[AKBowman]

Just flippin' you guys crap by the way, close quarters with jaws and teeth will get anyone puckered up!

[Wildsau]

Not only is there safety in numbers AKBowman, but it makes packing out much easier.  You do the math; one hunter carring out a 300 lb bore or 4 nunters carring out that same bore.  It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist.