Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: syoungs on July 12, 2015, 11:46:34 AM

Title: how will the heat and drought affect bears come september?
Post by: syoungs on July 12, 2015, 11:46:34 AM: So this was to be the year I took bear hunting seriously, I have plans to head to 49deg north, for 5-6 days.
Now im wondering how the heat and drought are going to affect the bear hunting come September time, it seems the berries are coming on much sooner then years past, and may be gone before the first weeks of September, but maybe im totally off base.

what is your guys thoughts on it?
Title: Re: how will the heat and drought affect bears come september?
Post by: MtnMuley on July 12, 2015, 12:01:25 PM: I expect bears here in the north central part of the state to be a month ahead come September. :twocents:
Title: Re: how will the heat and drought affect bears come september?
Post by: syoungs on July 12, 2015, 12:03:56 PM: sorry, Im not sure what that will mean for hunting for sure. do you mean they will be back in the dark timber and off of the berry patches?
Title: Re: how will the heat and drought affect bears come september?
Post by: Jharristealth on July 12, 2015, 12:04:51 PM: Went out this morning to do some scouting only to find a lot of the great bear hunting areas near me closed due to fire danger. I imagine these areas will be closed through the end of August unless there is Significant weather change. I fear by the time these areas open back up the berries will be done. Berries are definantly much earlier then years past.
Title: Re: how will the heat and drought affect bears come september?
Post by: syoungs on July 12, 2015, 12:11:05 PM: that's what im afraid of, I might just scrap the bear hunt and go to the coast for some fishing or something this year, not to mention, if it stays unseasonably hot, itll be a cluster getting a bear out, and dealing with yellow jackets.
Title: Re: how will the heat and drought affect bears come september?
Post by: MtnMuley on July 12, 2015, 12:36:24 PM: What I'm saying I "think" will happen is the bears will be in the early October stage as far as feeding patterns go. I wouldn't expect any berries in any mid to low elevations here, as they're prime right now in those elevations. Not a great crop overall this year either. Expected with a dry winter and spring and these super warm temps.
Title: Re: how will the heat and drought affect bears come september?
Post by: jasnt on July 12, 2015, 01:04:53 PM: Hawthorn Berries are mostly still green. Personally I'll be focused on those and rose hips. Some of the worst years I've seen them on pine cones by early to mid October. Been looking forward to September since September 8th last year :chuckle:
Title: Re: how will the heat and drought affect bears come september?
Post by: CAMPMEAT on July 12, 2015, 02:00:57 PM: I've seen bears when it's 90 degrees out wondering around on logging roads. Bears need to eat and drink, so it might be harder to find one, unless they're going between cover, food and water. Maybe calling might help too.

There isn't any Forest Land shut down here. Inland Empire Paper has shut down everything.