New bear hunter here, a bit lost.

[reagansquad]

Hey guys, I'm going bear hunting in 2 months for the first time. I'm not an experienced hunter (went a few times as a kid), but am very experienced in in the outdoors. Here are a bunch of random newb questions:

-Should I just dress it in the field, or should I dress it and skin it?
-What's the best way to get one of these things out? Packboard?
-Is there a good wild game butcher in the Lynnwood area?
-Is there anything I should know about hunting blackbear that maybe I haven't thought of?
-If I need to leave the thing and go get help carrying it, how long do I have to let it sit before it spoils? Any tricks to keep bugs and critters away from my kill?
-Any tips for actually finding a bear? I started scouting last weekend...

[Machias]

Welcome!

Alot depends on the size and how far in you are on how you handle it once you get one down.  I have gutted them and carried them out on my back, i.e. fireman carry, remember to put some orange on your bear!!  I have skinned them and packed them out in pieces, just depends on alot of things.  I like to get the hide off pretty quick to avoid slipage.  Can't help you on the butcher question.  Not sure about the knowledge thing, but I have been chasing them a long time and learn new stuff all the time.  This is a great place to learn!  Find the food and you will find the bear!

[h20hunter]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm....tempting.......very tempting.

1. Field dress
2. Best way is however you can quickly
3. No
4. Yes
5. As soon as possible. Pee on it....not really....well, maybe
6. Keep scouting


Look in the bear section.............this is a write up on bear hunting for newbies. Read it, then read it again.

Lasty............stay out of the C-Post area........I've already called dibs.

[Ripper]

welcome to the site.  There is a lot of good info on here, read everything you can. Good luck out there. As the season get's closer there are plenty of people on here who who will help you out. Members get together and hunt all the time. Just do not hire C-post guide service. Those guy's are crooked as hell!   

[h20hunter]

Crooked as hell....yep...roger that. They eat all the donuts and there is nothing left for bait.

[reagansquad]

Crooked as hell....yep...roger that. They eat all the donuts and there is nothing left for bait.

There's donuts? Where do I sign up? 

[h20hunter]

Sign up at the C-Post check in station. Can't miss it when you go up there. I'm usually in the shack by the gate. Gate is pretty much always up 'cause I don't give hoot who goes in and hunts and carrys on. If it is your first time I'd be happy to set you up with a donut. I pick them up at the AM PM on the way in in the morning. We also sell you basics......barrells, chain, dog food, industrial sweetener, honey pots, and spotlights.

[DoubleJ]

What's the current C-post price on bacon grease.  Trying to decide if I should make a batch myself or if it's just easier/cheaper to pick some up from you guys when I get there.  Last year I had to make my own since your supplier had a shortage and the price jumped through the roof.

[Ripper]

Hey H2O, you know what make your operation a little easier, build a Crispy Cream on the property. Then you can just extend the conveyer out to the barrels. No more carrying a heavy pack out there. Then you can just pluck a doughnut anytime you want! Damn I'm a genius! I should have sold that idea instead of giving it away.

[h20hunter]

Good questions and suggestions.........regarding the bacon grease....still at $1.25 per liter or straight across swap for beer...PBR of course.

Regarding the on site Crispy Creme.........to many hipsters would venture up from Seattle. No season yet on hipsters so trying to keep them out.

[rasbo]

in the warm weather get the bear out by the quickest means possible.Find the food they are eating,be it berries,grubs grass,ants...find those areas poop will be aound,still hunt or sit on them...

[Machias]

still hunt or sit on them...

Or predator call. 

[rasbo]

still hunt or sit on them...

Or predator call. 

didnt want  to suggest that to a newbie I have several people that wont go with me when calling anymore,,little to intense for them here on the wet side...

[reagansquad]

still hunt or sit on them...

Or predator call. 

didnt want  to suggest that to a newbie I have several people that wont go with me when calling anymore,,little to intense for them here on the wet side...

Yeah in all seriousness... Pretending to be bear food is probably the last thing in the world I'm interested in doing. 

Thanks for the advice guys, keep it coming.

Any good suggestions for getting the bear out if you're a couple miles in on foot? I'm thinking about keeping a frame bag in the truck and just going down to get it...

[reagansquad]

Sign up at the C-Post check in station. Can't miss it when you go up there. I'm usually in the shack by the gate. Gate is pretty much always up 'cause I don't give hoot who goes in and hunts and carrys on. If it is your first time I'd be happy to set you up with a donut. I pick them up at the AM PM on the way in in the morning. We also sell you basics......barrells, chain, dog food, industrial sweetener, honey pots, and spotlights.

So uh... Where is it? 

[rasbo]

still hunt or sit on them...

Or predator call. 

didnt want  to suggest that to a newbie I have several people that wont go with me when calling anymore,,little to intense for them here on the wet side...

cart if ya have one,or bone it out

Yeah in all seriousness... Pretending to be bear food is probably the last thing in the world I'm interested in doing. 

Thanks for the advice guys, keep it coming.

Any good suggestions for getting the bear out if you're a couple miles in on foot? I'm thinking about keeping a frame bag in the truck and just going down to get it...

[Ripper]

I've had to pack a couple out some deep nasty canyons before. Now I always carry a 600' spool of rope, a pulley, a 10'section of chain and a come along. I've been able to pull one out with my truck with that stuff. Other than that, always carry some game bags, a good selection of sharp knives, a sharpener, and I love my Gerber butchering hatchet. It's sharp enough to shave with. Make sure your pack frame fits good before you pack out an animal. I suggest getting a 50-80 lb bag of concrete, strap it on your pack and take a walk with it. Make sure that thing is properly adjusted and fits comfortably. You don't want to find out in the field that it sucks to wear.

[ICEMAN]

If the OP is serious about bear hunting, please be absolutely sure you are viewing a bear and not a brush picker or hiker or anything else not a bear... Please!

Also, please be sure you are not targetting a mama bear with cubs.

[DoubleJ]

I've had to pack a couple out some deep nasty canyons before. Now I always carry a 600' spool of rope, a pulley, a 10'section of chain and a come along. I've been able to pull one out with my truck with that stuff. Other than that, always carry some game bags, a good selection of sharp knives, a sharpener, and I love my Gerber butchering hatchet. It's sharp enough to shave with. Make sure your pack frame fits good before you pack out an animal. I suggest getting a 50-80 lb bag of concrete, strap it on your pack and take a walk with it. Make sure that thing is properly adjusted and fits comfortably. You don't want to find out in the field that it sucks to wear.

I have 1200' of 1000lb braided rope just for this.  Jack the back of the truck up on the drive wheel side, loop the rope around the axel a couple of times, put the truck in drive and it'll winch out whatever animal you have down.  Make sure you chock the other 3 wheels though, front and back just to be sure.

[h20hunter]

Reagan............C-Post is a real area indeed....kind of like pointing somebody to the Snohomish river for humpy fishing....

Mainly it is something we joke about with newbies.

Some very good advice so far. I was serious about the westside bear hunting thread.....top of the bear section...can't miss it.

Like most have said.........find the food and the sign and you will find bears. They are very much creatures of habit. Look for crossings to and from areas and across old logging roads BEHIND gates. They make little bear tunnels that are different from deer paths. Check the droppings for signs of what they are eating.

Also many good points about getting the bear up and out of wherever he goes down. Take a buddy along. It is more fun, and extra pair of eyes never hurt, and an extra pair of hands go along way. Even a smaller bear....125 lb'er or so is a lot to deal with.

Think before you shoot. Is it a boar? Will I be able to get to him? Can I make the shot and make it count? How much light do I have left? That kind of stuff.

[D-Rock425]

The first bear is the hardest one to get it seems.  I've been able to shoot a few the last 4 years and it seems like the first bear I shot was the hardest one to get.  Once you break the ice the others seem to just want to get shot.  I've had them run across the road and just stand and look at me even ran one up a tree once.  Yes I am that intimidating.

[Machias]

I would still always carry a predator call.  Lots of times you cannot close the distance or you see a bear go into cover, predator call can save the day, it is an excellent tool to have in the bag.  Good luck!!

[reagansquad]

Reagan............C-Post is a real area indeed....kind of like pointing somebody to the Snohomish river for humpy fishing....

Mainly it is something we joke about with newbies.

Some very good advice so far. I was serious about the westside bear hunting thread.....top of the bear section...can't miss it.

Like most have said.........find the food and the sign and you will find bears. They are very much creatures of habit. Look for crossings to and from areas and across old logging roads BEHIND gates. They make little bear tunnels that are different from deer paths. Check the droppings for signs of what they are eating.

Also many good points about getting the bear up and out of wherever he goes down. Take a buddy along. It is more fun, and extra pair of eyes never hurt, and an extra pair of hands go along way. Even a smaller bear....125 lb'er or so is a lot to deal with.

Think before you shoot. Is it a boar? Will I be able to get to him? Can I make the shot and make it count? How much light do I have left? That kind of stuff.

Thought that might be the case.

Thanks for the tips man. I plan on being as careful as possible with shot selection. Goal #1 is to sneak around the woods in camouflage. Goal #2 is to see some animals. Goal #3 is to shoot said animals. If I just achieve #1 and #2, it's a success.

Where do I find a butcher and a taxidermist? Preferably in the northern half of the great Seattle metroplex...

[h20hunter]

Search the forum for the topic....a ton of discussion. I've used Del Fox and Sylvana Meats...both a bit north of you though.

[reagansquad]

Search the forum for the topic....a ton of discussion. I've used Del Fox and Sylvana Meats...both a bit north of you though.

Thanks for the tips. That's a little too far north for me, but I'll go hunting for that thread.

[Cascader74]

Not north of Seattle but Lind's Meats in Kent does game animals, they're a family run business.