Post by: afaa on April 18, 2014, 08:11:55 PM
Post by: afaa on April 18, 2014, 09:53:20 PM
Post by: NW-GSP on April 18, 2014, 10:18:57 PM
The thing they don't tell you is that they run dogs to hunt the bears in there.
Post by: bobcat on April 18, 2014, 10:21:24 PM
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Post by: Boss .300 winmag on April 18, 2014, 10:30:03 PM
Here is a thread about that unit spring bear permits.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,120603.25.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,120603.25.html)
Post by: pd on April 18, 2014, 10:41:30 PM
I'm a noob at hunting. Got drawn for Copalis. Just came back from a 2 day trip in there. Lots of thick woods. Didn't find any good stake out places. My impression is that this is like trying to find needles in a hay stack. I need some encouragement to continue. Went with tje little lady. She's brainwashing me with the pessimism. :dunno:
OK, I am up to your challenge---you need positive encouragement, right?
1. Your tag is good until May 31st (if memory serves correctly). Don't think you have to fill it in the first week. You can't hunt every day or even every weekend. Make a commitment to yourself to hunt the whole period. In other words, give it your best. (You bought the access permit, you owe it to yourself to make the best effort. You WILL become a better hunter for this.)
2. Now that your better half knows how difficult this unit is, let her stay home next time. The Copalis unit is said to be the most difficult spring bear unit, this is no place for casual observers.
3. I, too, strongly considered this unit, but applied for other areas because of the thick brush. Now that you have the tag, you will have to do 2 things. #1 is find open areas--this can be done by talking to locals if you cannot find advice here. #2 is calling in the bear---this can be done by using manual mouth calls, or by using electronic calls, your choice. Stalk hunting sounds really hard there.
4. During the week (whenever you can't hunt), go through the archives of this site. Use the search function on the bear hunting section, and read every post with "copalis" listed as the search criteria.
At the end of this 6-week period, IF you bust your rear-end, you will become a much better hunter. Good luck.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on April 18, 2014, 10:49:23 PM
Post by: RadSav on April 18, 2014, 11:30:21 PM
Post by: afaa on April 20, 2014, 12:01:03 PM
I'm going to do a ton of research and asking for as much tips as possible before the next outing. I'm thinking toward the end of May for the next trip. The lil lady agree to tag along as long as we'll be staying at a hotel/motel nearby at night. We were roughing it in a tent in the woods with down pouring rain :yike:. That was pretty much the deal killer for her. :dunno:
I do have a Primos Frantic fawn. I'm looking for an affordable electric caller in the sub $100 range. If you have a recommendations on which one to get that would be helpful. I'm thinking of this particular one: ICOtec Call of the Wild GC300 (http://www.amazon.com/ICOtec-Call-Wild-GC300-Electronic/dp/B00844Q3XC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398019891&sr=8-1&keywords=electronic+Game+Call)
I'm determined to bag a bear. I can envision the moment I sight the bear in my scope. I feel the adrenaline rushing just by thinking about it. :)
Post by: RadSav on April 20, 2014, 02:21:33 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on April 20, 2014, 02:33:40 PM
I have seen bear in there in the spring, but I see more sign in the fall. I drew this permit two years in a row and if it were free access I still would not apply again.
I suggest calling in areas with feeding activity or peels. There are lots of roads and when the bear are active you should find some sign on or along the roads.
The unit is mostly flat and it is extremely wet, even when it's not raining. I would scout the edges of the creeks and swamps. I would not waste my time with then clear cuts until mid May, unless there are pockets of grass and new growth.
Look for peels and focus on the area of fresh peels.
Pay attention to peels and
Post by: afaa on April 21, 2014, 09:25:51 PM
There is a reason that there are 100 permits for Copalis, and it is not because there are a lot of bear.
I have seen bear in there in the spring, but I see more sign in the fall. I drew this permit two years in a row and if it were free access I still would not apply again.
I suggest calling in areas with feeding activity or peels. There are lots of roads and when the bear are active you should find some sign on or along the roads.
The unit is mostly flat and it is extremely wet, even when it's not raining. I would scout the edges of the creeks and swamps. I would not waste my time with then clear cuts until mid May, unless there are pockets of grass and new growth.
Look for peels and focus on the area of fresh peels.
Pay attention to peels and
Thanks. I'll try that next time. I also got some tips from Eli on this board of where to start.
Post by: oldschooltrucks on April 23, 2014, 12:12:02 PM
Post by: bobcat on April 23, 2014, 12:30:58 PM
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Post by: oldschooltrucks on April 24, 2014, 12:16:38 PM
Post by: afaa on May 09, 2014, 09:09:29 PM
Drove out to Ocean Shores. Sitting at the restaurant now drinking cocktails to make up.
Post by: pd on May 09, 2014, 10:44:27 PM
Went in again today. Took the 6000 rd iff Kirkpatrick. Haf the e-caller going all day alternating between fawn distress and coyote pyp distress. No luck. Nothing. I was hoping for at least a coyote to fire a round but nope.
Drove out to Ocean Shores. Sitting at the restaurant now drinking cocktails to make up.
Keep the cocktail count low, and get out there again. This is how you become a better hunter. (Copalis is tough. Good luck!!)
Post by: mrgoodwrench on May 10, 2014, 12:36:17 PM
Hunt the open swamps, grassy roads, anything along the REZ boundary, and the north end of the property. We usually see more bears later in may, and I think the tag is good until June 15th? It used to be anyway.
FYI, we have not hunted bears with hounds in a few years. Adjacent landowners still do, but we do not.
Post by: afaa on May 10, 2014, 01:32:06 PM
Post by: notellumcreek on May 10, 2014, 01:36:35 PM
Sitting out here off of rd 6011. No rain yet. Good thing there's strong cell signal here to keep me entertained.
Anyone else out there hunting? Planning on heading up the last 2 weekends of the season for sure, plus a couple extra days during the week.
Post by: jackmaster on May 10, 2014, 02:16:19 PM
Post by: sled on May 10, 2014, 03:07:54 PM
The absolute best way to hunt bear in the brush is walk the roads, especially roads that are gated that cant be drivin down, you gotta walk slow and hunt with your ears, if the wind is in your face, you will be fine, bear cant see that well , they can hear pretty good but their sense of smell is everything. Evenings and early mornings are best, especially the evening from like 5pm on... you gotta walk slow and open your ears, you will hear them before you see them most of the time, they love to rip into stumps and peel trees, it is actually pretty friggin loud when they are ripping into stuff, again you still hunt with your ears when huntn bearExactly How I Have Been Hunting.
Post by: afaa on May 13, 2014, 05:06:53 PM
Post by: sled on May 13, 2014, 08:02:55 PM
Thanks for the tip. I'll try that next time. Saw a couple guys there on my way out. Seemed like hardcore hunters. One of which I recognize the van from last trip. Talked to another hunter who said he lived in the area and been out there like 30 times. This is very discouraging. I'm starting to think there's not many bears here.I've Been In My Areas 30 Times Also. I Know There Are Bears, It's Just A Matter Of Right Place At The Right Time. Good Luck.
Post by: RadSav on May 13, 2014, 08:45:25 PM
His partner feeling very embarrassed says, "Let's at least give it one evening and see what this is all about." Huffing and puffing the expert tells him to go ahead, but he's not getting out of the truck as it's just a waste of time.
In this area I had four swamps we would call at on our way to the bait sites (of course this was back in the days we could actually bait). The first swamp held three bear...that we saw! And the new hunter made an impressive 200 yard offhand shot on a 350# boar with his .270 Ruger 77 and the 130 grain Core-Lokt dropped him in his tracks!
Took about two hours to get the bear out of the swamp and onto the Argo for the 1/4 mile ride out to the truck. The whole time the expert was telling the newbie how lucky he was, how it was a miracle the 130 grain bullet killed that bear and that it weighed at least 500#. When we got to the Bumble Bee plant and had the bear weighed and field dressed the accurate weight was 348# and the tissue damage from the Core-Lokt was extensive and penetration was deep! Later that evening after plenty of winged warriors the expert mentioned the family had only taken three elk in 20 years there too :chuckle:
Sometimes just being in the presence of bear is not enough for success. Takes a while to learn how they move, what and where they eat, and how they use the terrain. I expect the rut to be early this year making encounters more frequent as time goes on. They should start responding to calls better as the season goes on as well. Just keep after it and taking good notes! Shouldn't be much longer and you will notice where they are and where they aren't. Then you can invest time doing the most important thing in bear hunting...hunting where the bear are with a positive attitude ;)
Post by: liljozie495 on May 21, 2014, 10:23:54 AM
Post by: RadSav on May 21, 2014, 05:59:45 PM
^ hey RadSav... How about the gps cords to that spot :chuckle:
Not sure what that spot looks like these days. Been 20 years since I've been there. But if you plan on hunting the Oregon coast I'd be glad to send you some of my old spots to check out. Best spot was always the back parking lot of the old Taft Highschool - honestly!!
Post by: MisplacedAlaskan on May 28, 2014, 05:42:52 PM
Any luck in Copalis?
Post by: notellumcreek on June 06, 2014, 02:52:51 PM
Post by: liljozie495 on June 08, 2014, 09:14:39 AM
Post by: Rooster1981 on June 08, 2014, 09:32:34 AM
Post by: billythekidrock on June 08, 2014, 10:09:30 AM
Post by: liljozie495 on June 09, 2014, 05:31:49 PM
Post by: liljozie495 on June 09, 2014, 05:34:03 PM
Post by: bobcat on June 09, 2014, 05:40:01 PM
Post by: RadSav on June 09, 2014, 05:51:53 PM
Post by: liljozie495 on June 09, 2014, 07:00:30 PM