Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: oldschooltrucks on May 31, 2013, 12:50:11 PM
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I've been hunting the copalis unit and have recently found tons of fresh peels and scat. Half the scat is black and full or grass while the other half is reddish with seeds. I've been hunting early-mid mornings to afternoons with no luck calling. My first question is, are they still peeling trees if they are eatting berries? My other question is, are evenings the best time to hunt now? Thanks
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I haven't seen any new peels myself or heard of any. My bear was shot in the morning, Turners son whacked one late afternoon, and Turner himself popped his around six. So far grass seems to be the mainstay diet. I haven't seen any berries or other food source. My suggestion would be to hunt side roads that are grassy as well as open areas with fresh browse. Any ideas what berries they could be eating for the red/seed scat? Sounds like if you figure that out you should be on them for sure.
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You can kill bears all day. They spend a ton of time eating. I've killed them early, mid-day, and late.
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The berries are up and down both sides of the road. Not sure what kind they are. There's no thorns with them either. The peeled tree I found was half way down the road with berries and when I walked 20 yards into the woods, it's peel after peel. Probably found 10-15 fresh peels. There's a clear cut on the back side that is just ugly with no growth yet and 2 reprod areas not too far as well
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It's kind of early for berries. But, could they be salmon berries? That's about all I can think of that might be ripe already.
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Yep that's what they are. I couldn't remember the name of them
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Looks like you are on good bear sign.....just keep pushing and be ready...you never know when it is game time.
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sounds like youre in a good spot. ive seen some salmon berries starting to turn color. keep at it man! good luck!
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our salmon berries also are ripe and that's at 700 foot elevation. I believe this will be a great year for all berries :)
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Should I hang out where the road spurs then? Should I continue calling or just sit and wait?
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Please consider this with a grain of salt....I'm no expert.
I would skip the calling since it sounds like you have them on a pretty solid food source. I would hang out in the area, keep moving, find those berries, and then shoot a bear. Is a trail cam an option? Maybe you can pattern them by travel times? Just an idea. You are in the area with bears...that is clear. Now you just have to be in the same place at the same time. I don't mean that to sound to obvious but sometimes I think that is really the key. Spending enough time in the same area until you and the bear find each other. Then, please shoot it.
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I wouldn't call either, you have the spot they are hanging out, spend lots of time there, watch the wind and your scent. :tup:
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I was out there on Memorial Day in the rain and had one leave me a nice present in the middle of the road sometime within the hour I passed through and came back out. That was between 1-3 pm I think. I spent from 8am to just after 1pm today out there and had to make the 2 hour drive back to puyallup to pick up my son from daycare. I'm going to try this weekend in the afternoon/evening time. I wish I had a trail cam. That's on my Christmas list from Santa lol. Any advice is greatly appreciated. This is my first bear season so I'm still learning a lot.
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My advise to you, and all bear hunters, is find an area that has bears to and stick to it. They don't move far and you shouldn't either. There is no need to cover a bunch of ground if you found an area that bears are using. They eat a lot and will move throughout the day.
All of the bears I have killed were killed by finding the food source and sticking to it.
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I guess I forgot to mention that I have to park at a closed gate and hike in. My gps puts me at a mile from where I park to where I found the fresh signs. Makes it a lil more interesting lol
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Got a snow sled in the garage from the kids? Take it along...then if you whack one you can hoof back to the truck, get your sled, then slide him all the way out. Buddies on speed dial help a ton.
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No sled yet. My son is only 2. I do have a plan for if I get a bear but friends on speed dial is hard too since they are 2 hours out.
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No sled yet. My son is only 2. I do have a plan for if I get a bear but friends on speed dial is hard too since they are 2 hours out.
Sounds like you need better friends! :chuckle:
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Haha no kidding. From what I read on here since signing up, seems like a fairly tight knit community.
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I agree with WSU, and others. If the area is pretty flat, and you can't get elevation to look down on them..........Sit at one end of a strait stretch in the road, with the wind in your favor, and wait. It's hard to sit it out sometimes especially when just on a road with not alot of scenery.........I have trouble doing it, but if you stick to it eventually you should get a shot. You might want to pick up a cheap snow sled like h20 said.......They work great. I see bears at all times of the day, and been with guys that shot them at all times. Good Luck!
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I've been hunting the copalis unit and have recently found tons of fresh peels and scat. Half the scat is black and full or grass while the other half is reddish with seeds. I've been hunting early-mid mornings to afternoons with no luck calling. My first question is, are they still peeling trees if they are eatting berries? My other question is, are evenings the best time to hunt now? Thanks
Yes, they will still peel trees if they can not find a suitable and abundant food source.
Now is a time of transition as more food sources become available and the bears are more active. There are lots of blossoms and berries coming on including Salmon, Elder, Devils Club, Rose, Skunk Cabbage & Salal.
They will be tearing into logs and stumps looking for bugs and grubs. Amphibians and rodents are abundant and fawns/calfs are dropping.
Calling can be deadly on bears this time of year. Light fawn/calf calls scream easy meal to a hungry bear.
While generally flat, the Copalis unit has a lot of place to get an elevated vantage point. I have hunted this unit numerous times from early spring to late fall and have seen bears at all times of the day throughout the years. Bears feed when they want and you should plan on hunting all day.
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Spent the afternoon/evening in my spot yesterday and nothing. All the scat was dried up and no fresh scat. My buddy found stumps and logs torn up in one of the reprods. I'm still going to continue hitting that area for now
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Keep looking for peels. Found a patch of them in another unit....brand new.
