Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: JimmyHoffa on March 17, 2015, 05:13:43 PM

Title: What's on Yogi's Menu
Post by: JimmyHoffa on March 17, 2015, 05:13:43 PM: Dang, Bear Fever is setting in early this year. I was going through some old bear stuff and trying to update some things. I have a chart for what I seem to find bears eating during the year. This is for coastal bears, so berry timing might be a little different and might not have foods that eastsiders see. Also, generally between elevations below 3500 ft.

Wondering if I missed many major foods?
Title: Re: What's on Yogi's Menu
Post by: saylean on March 17, 2015, 05:19:43 PM: Hikers and little dogs... :tup: :chuckle:
Title: Re: What's on Yogi's Menu
Post by: Chesapeake on March 18, 2015, 04:15:11 PM: I don't see "Trash cans" or "honey bee hives" on there anywhere. Probably fall right in the area of "Hikers and little dogs", but they do seem to like the bee's late summer more than other times. Bet they can smell the honey.
Title: Re: What's on Yogi's Menu
Post by: ICEMAN on March 18, 2015, 04:24:37 PM: Nice chart. A great project.

Wildlife may want you to add bird feeders and trash cans....
Title: Re: What's on Yogi's Menu
Post by: -Trap_addicT- on March 18, 2015, 05:54:10 PM: That is a great chart. Cool idea!

A chart based strictly off my experience..
Title: Re: What's on Yogi's Menu
Post by: Okanagan on March 18, 2015, 06:32:07 PM: Great chart!

FWIW I'd add flipping rocks for bugs in late April and May, with ants and pulling bark from down logs after such bugs strong in the spring also. You can hear them, but it is a much quieter activity than I realized from looking at where they have worked a stump or log, or flipped rocks on a hillside. They pick at bark and rotten wood with claw tips and lick escaping bugs rather than bash it.

Re dandelions: I've seen more bears in dandelion patches in spring than later in the year.

In later summer up high they really go after a large pulpy-stalked big leaved plant near timberline that I recognize but don't have a clue as to its name. Have watched black bears lie down amid those plants, eat all within reach, sigh and then roll over to reach more without getting to their feet to take a step.
Title: Re: What's on Yogi's Menu
Post by: sled on March 18, 2015, 07:04:25 PM: I don't know a lot about bears, but after my second spring season last year I'd say the grass is the first thing they start feeding on. That said I'd start the grass April 1. :twocents:
Title: Re: What's on Yogi's Menu
Post by: nalley112 on March 18, 2015, 09:08:47 PM: Quote from: Chesapeake on March 18, 2015, 04:15:11 PM
I don't see "Trash cans" or "honey bee hives" on there anywhere. Probably fall right in the area of "Hikers and little dogs", but they do seem to like the bee's late summer more than other times. Bet they can smell the honey.

late july and all of august and some into september bears love the bees!! My uncle owns a bee farm here in the yakima valley.. that is when the bears will hit the "supers"(boxes on top of the hives that stores the honey)
bear fences get put up every year and still they get into the hives!!
Title: Re: What's on Yogi's Menu
Post by: jasonl84 on March 22, 2015, 10:24:10 PM: :yeah:
Title: Re: What's on Yogi's Menu
Post by: jasnt on March 22, 2015, 10:41:30 PM: In eastern Washington during September they are hitting the hawthorns pretty good. October they are switching to wild rose hips and Oregon grapes