I dont get it!

[sled]

  I have no idea what im doing wrong but when I read in some of these threads that some people are seeing 2 to 5 bears a day, or night it really makes me wonder what I am doing wrong.  I spend alot of time hunting, around food, in clearcuts, and walking roads and I have not seen much.  only three bears in the whole spring season, and heard one last night about 15 feet away but no shot.  Im definately doing somthing wrong.

[sebek556]

are you checking your wind and thermals?

[zackmioli]

i still havent seen a bear in the woods when ive been hunting or hiking ever. so you are doing better than me.

[h20hunter]

Nope, just keep putting in your time. That is my motto since I'm in the same boat.

[NW-GSP]

I'm having the same problem but I have not even heard them.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Some will never see a bear in wild but if your hunting where bear actually live or are feeding your chances increase dramatically ... Depends where you are hunting ..if your hunting down in the low lands you need to find blackberries - fruit trees - salmon .. Hunting up high is alot different than hunting down low .. when the blueberries are rip its like taking candy from a kid ...another thing I have learned is once you find a bear up high and feeding in one particular spot it usually produces time and time again ....just got to get out and hunt to find these areas....hunting up high is the coolest way to take bears  nothen cooler than sitting on a ridge glassing and all the sudden one pops out of know where....I just love it and the last few years I have just sat there watching them instead of killing them .....but I may need to make some summer sausage so I may take one out this year ....Seems like the older I get I really do not care about killing anything just being outdoors and doing what I love to do is good enough ...and never in my life would I have ever thought I would not want to go and just kill stuff .... and do not get me wrong I am not quiting by any means , just my desire to kill is not like it was back in my younger days ...just more respect for the animals 

[saylean]

Dont give up, first thing. Secondly, for me (and a few others Ive spoke with) once you see one, you start to see them more and more.

Just keep on hitting those loggin road berry patches. Glass into them from a vantage point. You might only see a little bit of brush moving (like when a bird flitters off)...just keep glassing, then you might see a paw come up out of the brush and grab berries, or get a better glimpse of the bear. Then you can call or put a stalk on it. Bears are really low to the ground (much lower than you might think if you havent really seen them).

You'll get it. Keep pluggin away. It will be easier as summer keeps on comming.

[DoubleJ]

Dont give up, first thing. Secondly, for me (and a few others Ive spoke with) once you see one, you start to see them more and more.

Just keep on hitting those loggin road berry patches. Glass into them from a vantage point. You might only see a little bit of brush moving (like when a bird flitters off)...just keep glassing, then you might see a paw come up out of the brush and grab berries, or get a better glimpse of the bear. Then you can call or put a stalk on it. Bears are really low to the ground (much lower than you might think if you havent really seen them).

You'll get it. Keep pluggin away. It will be easier as summer keeps on comming.

Just make sure it's not a Guatamalan brush picker that you're seeing before you shoot

[asl20bball]

Some will never see a bear in wild but if your hunting where bear actually live or are feeding your chances increase dramatically ... Depends where you are hunting ..if your hunting down in the low lands you need to find blackberries - fruit trees - salmon .. Hunting up high is alot different than hunting down low .. when the blueberries are rip its like taking candy from a kid ...another thing I have learned is once you find a bear up high and feeding in one particular spot it usually produces time and time again ....just got to get out and hunt to find these areas....hunting up high is the coolest way to take bears  nothen cooler than sitting on a ridge glassing and all the sudden one pops out of know where....I just love it and the last few years I have just sat there watching them instead of killing them .....but I may need to make some summer sausage so I may take one out this year ....Seems like the older I get I really do not care about killing anything just being outdoors and doing what I love to do is good enough ...and never in my life would I have ever thought I would not want to go and just kill stuff .... and do not get me wrong I am not quiting by any means , just my desire to kill is not like it was back in my younger days ...just more respect for the animals 

You have more respect for the animals now so you don't kill them?
I don't mean to come down on you but it is that kinda of sentiment that gives us hunters a bad rap. Harvesting animals is not a lack of respect towards the animal, in fact I believe it is 180 degrees the opposite. It is a great privielge to be able to hunt and we should all do it out of the utmost respect for the animal. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you...  ? Sounds like maybe you mean you choose not to harvest now that your're not as young???

[Bscman]

Read, Read, and Read in the off season...and scout scout scout pre/during season.

Seeing some sign is good, seeing a LOT of sign is better.
Hunting an area that only has a bear or two frequenting can make things challenging and it becomes a waiting game with a lot of chance involved.

IF there's much pressure on the area, count on them being mostly nocturnal...I have areas with tons of bear sign, but the only bears that get "seen" are on camera between 1am and 4am. If there is a lot of vehicle traffic, or hunters, or hikers...you have to hunt smart because the animals become pretty keen on avoiding people.
Ya really can't "truck hunt" like so many people like to do around here.

The types of guys that get into bear regularly are a cross between experienced, and lucky...but if you can find the food, you'll find the bear. You'll find the same area will hold bear year after year when the food is there...so then it just becomes a game of timing. When it's gone, the bear are gone...figure out what they moved on to and try again.
With patience, practice, and experience you'll get to the point where you're one step ahead.

The first few years I really tried bear hunting, I was lucky to see 2 or 3 a year...and rarely in a place I could get a shot off....then you come on here and see all the photos and rugs. It's not coincidence that some guys see all the bear, and some guys dont...it's experience.

Getting frustrated and struggling is half the fun, in my opinion. It makes the payoff that much greater.

[dreamunelk]

Sounds to me like you are on the right track.  Just keep at it and keep thinking.  It will happen.