Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: eastcoastguy on July 12, 2015, 07:55:24 PM

Title: ok need some advice.
Post by: eastcoastguy on July 12, 2015, 07:55:24 PM: I just recently started hunting in this state. Im really hoping to get a bear this yr. Ivenever got one before. Where do yiu guys recommend taking it to have it butchered as i don't have the knowledge or the space to do it?
Thanks
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: dreamunelk on July 12, 2015, 08:25:41 PM: Welcome to Washington.
First off don't get your hopes to high. There is only a 6.5% general season success rate here. Lots of bears just not easy to find them.
I would start calling butcher shops near your home and find one that cuts bear.
You may want to do some searches on here and Google how to cut your own. Not that difficult and very rewarding.
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: Bean Counter on July 12, 2015, 08:29:04 PM: :yeah:
I've seen a half a dozen mountain lions in the field, but not once a wild black bear :yike:
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: eastcoastguy on July 12, 2015, 08:33:13 PM: I've seen it done and would do as much as i can. My only problem is space. Cant do it at my house. I'm from Maine so im used to putting in the time without reward.... Unfortunately. . But can't get one sitting at home. Thanks for the advice . I've seen sign. But the guy i go with. ....lets just say more driving then hunting
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: saylean on July 13, 2015, 09:57:43 AM: You're in Everett, I use a company called:

TNT Custom Wild Game

1151 SW Camano Dr, Camano Island, WA 98282
(360) 387-2683

A bit of a drive but a great guy, IMHO. Best of luck hunting in WA, we welcome any Maine bear hunters. :tup:
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: eastcoastguy on July 13, 2015, 08:26:54 PM: I'm in monroe now but I'll drive wherever as long as its worth it. Thanks for the recommendation.
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: tgomez on July 14, 2015, 08:01:57 AM: Quote from: Bean Counter on July 12, 2015, 08:29:04 PM
:yeah:
I've seen a half a dozen mountain lions in the field, but not once a wild black bear :yike:
Ive seen over 50 Bears in the wild, but have never seen a cougar once.
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: WSU on July 14, 2015, 08:09:50 AM: If you are in Monroe, you have A LOT of bears close by. Start scouting now and find big berry patches. In August, big patches of black berries can be great. You don't necessarily need to be way back in the sticks. I killed a bear within about a half mile of HW 2 close to where you are. Find the food, find the bears.
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: dune on July 14, 2015, 08:40:30 AM: If you kill one look me up I can help you cut it up I have a grinder. I have been cutting meat for as long I can remember
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: eastcoastguy on July 14, 2015, 07:02:58 PM: Awesome. Im headed out scouting this weekend. I have a few places i want to check. Dune..i get one I'll take you up on that offer.my freezers small so you will have to hold some in your freezer. ;)
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: magnanimous_j on July 14, 2015, 07:08:32 PM: Quote from: eastcoastguy on July 13, 2015, 08:26:54 PM
I'm in monroe now but I'll drive wherever as long as its worth it. Thanks for the recommendation.

I'd try around the Skykomish. I've fished out there a few times and seen tons of skeletonized steelhead and huge blackberry bushes. Felt like I was loitering in a bear buffet.
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: grundy53 on July 14, 2015, 08:33:56 PM: Quote from: dreamunelk on July 12, 2015, 08:25:41 PM
Welcome to Washington.
First off don't get your hopes to high. There is only a 6.5% general season success rate here. Lots of bears just not easy to find them.
I would start calling butcher shops near your home and find one that cuts bear.
You may want to do some searches on here and Google how to cut your own. Not that difficult and very rewarding.
I honestly don't think killing a bear is too hard IF you actually hunt for them. I think the low harvest rate is due to every deer and elk hunter buying a bear tag "just in case they come across one". I would bet a vast majority of hunters that buy bear tags don't actually hunt bear.
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: Igor on July 14, 2015, 08:49:21 PM: Quote from: eastcoastguy on July 13, 2015, 08:26:54 PM
I'm in monroe now but I'll drive wherever as long as its worth it. Thanks for the recommendation.

PM sent.
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: kentrek on July 14, 2015, 08:54:46 PM: Quote from: Bean Counter on July 12, 2015, 08:29:04 PM
:yeah:
I've seen a half a dozen mountain lions in the field, but not once a wild black bear :yike:

That's a pretty odd ratio....I've seen around 3 cats......probably 50+Bears (don't really keep track?)
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: h2ofowlr on July 14, 2015, 08:58:26 PM: Quote from: saylean on July 13, 2015, 09:57:43 AM
You're in Everett, I use a company called:

TNT Custom Wild Game

1151 SW Camano Dr, Camano Island, WA 98282
(360) 387-2683

A bit of a drive but a great guy, IMHO. Best of luck hunting in WA, we welcome any Maine bear hunters. :tup:

This is one of the individuals I use along with Del Fox in Standwood. Their is also Slyvana Meats, but have not taken anything to them, so I don't know what they will or won't do.
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: Bean Counter on July 14, 2015, 09:11:47 PM: Quote from: kentrek on July 14, 2015, 08:54:46 PM
Quote from: Bean Counter on July 12, 2015, 08:29:04 PM
:yeah:
I've seen a half a dozen mountain lions in the field, but not once a wild black bear :yike:

That's a pretty odd ratio....I've seen around 3 cats......probably 50+Bears (don't really keep track?)

I only hunted for a few years in WA before moving away. I do most of my hunting in the deserts of Arizona which is not black bear country, but there are plenty of lions :bash:
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: eastcoastguy on July 14, 2015, 10:42:02 PM: Sweet deal. Thanks guys. A cays on the list also. We don't have those. I shot a trophy whitetail back home so now moving down the list lol.
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: bankwalker on July 15, 2015, 12:33:35 AM: I've seen 20+ cats. But I'm looking for them more so than i am deer or elk
The last 3 seasons bear hunting I've seen close to 25. I've seen very few before I started actually hunting them...and never once have I seen a bear while I was deer or elk hunting.
If I'm not looking for them specifically I just don't see them. And I assume that's the case with 90% of deer/elk hunters.
Title: Re: ok need some advice.
Post by: RadSav on July 15, 2015, 01:02:12 AM: Quote from: Bean Counter on July 14, 2015, 09:11:47 PM
I only hunted for a few years in WA before moving away. I do most of my hunting in the deserts of Arizona which is not black bear country, but there are plenty of lions :bash:

One of the biggest bear I've ever seen was between Bartlett and Horseshoe. If you know where Horseshoe ford is...right about there! Must have been eating something good over at the ranch! Not far from there I saw the smallest bobcat too. Looked full grown and smaller than a house cat. Javalina and quail central back in the early eighties too!

Crazy this first time you see a bear in the desert. They just don't seem to belong there!

Back then you completely left Scottsdale and drove a good ways through rabbit country before reaching Carefree. Carefree Airport was on the edge of civilization! You even left residential for a ways between Carefree and Cave Creek. We all knew that drive well as it was the only medical center for a LONG way if you were to get stung by a scorpion or bitten by a snake....or fell into a cholla :yike: