recognizing bear territory?

[the1rod]

Alright guys I need a little advice, I've been bear hunting the last two days in an area that had a ton of sign and a big bear last year, but havnt found any sign at all this year. I just kinda happend to stumble upon this place, so I can't take credit for finding it. But now its time to move on and find a new area, I've been looking for places with water and berries, and I've also been watching for torn up logs, but haven't been seeing much. So what else is there to watch for in an area to tell me it might hold bears? What else are they feeding on this time of year?

[BOWHUNTER45]

All I can say is we have so much different areas to look at from eastside to westside.... as of now I would find berries or salmon 

[silverdalesauer]

You should consider coming up to the Olympic Peninsula where there's a ton of timber resources available. I went out with a buddy two days ago hunting on timber land near the Hood Canal Bridge. You can check into Olympic Resource Management in Port Gamble, WA.

They'll direct you to some great places to hunt bear. Apparently, they've shared that there's so many bears up on their land that they want them gone because they're ruining the new trees they're planting.

I was amazed by all the signs, scat, berries, clear cuts, and water sources readily available.

[MtnMuley]

Find food, find bears.

[silverdalesauer]

To answer your question - they're eating huckleberries, salmon berries, black berries, bugs (I saw a ton of old stumps ripped up 2 days ago)...

[3nails]

All I can say is we have so much different areas to look at from eastside to westside.... as of now I would find berries or salmon 

Berries are where it's at now until those nasty, stinky, slimy pinks show up in their small stream spawning beds. Then the bears, the only thing on the earth that can stomach those greasy slugs (other than some horribly misled people ) will move on to them.

[the1rod]

TThanks for the tips guys, ill see what I can find today, and the rest of the season.

[Dave B]

Try the corn fields thats how i got this one

[BOWHUNTER45]

Try the corn fields thats how i got this one

Thats crazy .... Your the first I ever heard saying he killed a bear in Washington in a corn field ... Back east its really common ... plus they kill alot of bear over 400 lbs and bigger ....Sweet ...

[3nails]

 I have heard of many killed in Sumas cornfields.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Damn it the secret is out!

Bears follow the food.. Early season, peeling trees stringing the bark, eating some of it while looking for grubs. Tearing up stumps for grubs and termites, cascara leaves, then grasses as the rains make them lucious. Flower buds, Skunk cabbage, fawns/calves then the berries ripen, Salmon berries are first. Huckleberries, then Blackberries. Still tearing into stumps and such. Bee hives. Bears near the high ridges will meander to grasses on the slopes as snows recede and Blue berries ripen, then they'll gorge themselves on berries. As it gets colder they'll be turning over rocks on the slides to get at Marmots, Pika and other rodents. Bears in the timber will take Grouse and any other meat animal they can get. Bears near farm land will gorge themselves on Corn (Pear and Apple orchards too), just as others would be in the Berry fields. (hint hint, with the late snow melt, there are very little Blue berries this year, but as this summer seems to be extended, they'll be in the blues later before it's time to den) Bears feed in garbage dumps. They feed at the mushroom plants... Remember, they're omnivores. Veggie's fruit, meat...

Reconizing bear territory...  Bears live everywhere. They adapt to habitat as the food determines the next step to take...

-Steve