Post by: Molon5labe on March 11, 2016, 10:19:17 AM
Besides asking for do's and don'ts and general info on this year's spring bear hunt, I'm curious to see if there are any experienced bear hunters who might be willing to help me out with this tag. I definitely do not want to waste it. Thanks!
Eta, I should also note that I'm looking for a partner to do other hunting with as well. I intend on doing the high buck hunt this fall and would really like to find some one who is willing and able to partner up with
Post by: h20hunter on March 11, 2016, 10:24:24 AM
Post by: gallion_t on March 11, 2016, 10:29:28 AM
Last year was my first year really hunting bears and I was unable to seal the deal. Its a real tough hunt. A couple of the properties have bait locations right along roads that they don't want you hunting near so be mindful of where those are located.
Post by: TheSkyBuster on March 11, 2016, 10:36:21 AM
Post by: Molon5labe on March 11, 2016, 10:52:44 AM
We ate getting together at Skookum Brewery tomorrow night....6 pm....come on up and let's talk bears.
Awesome! I won't be able to stay long but I'll be there and hopefully be able to exchange numbers with someone. Thanks!
Post by: Molon5labe on March 11, 2016, 10:53:45 AM
What cartridge are you shooting? 150s should be fine for bear. Get out and do some coyote calling in the unit as the season approaches and keep your eyes open for bear sign.
Whoops, forgot to put that, 30-06
Post by: Buckmark on March 11, 2016, 10:56:59 AM
Oh boy that is way too small for bears, 300rum at the minimum...What cartridge are you shooting? 150s should be fine for bear. Get out and do some coyote calling in the unit as the season approaches and keep your eyes open for bear sign.
Whoops, forgot to put that, 30-06
Post by: h20hunter on March 11, 2016, 11:00:19 AM
Post by: Carl on March 11, 2016, 01:53:44 PM
:brew:
Post by: h20hunter on March 11, 2016, 01:58:32 PM
Post by: D-Rock425 on March 11, 2016, 02:00:23 PM
Post by: ridgefire on March 11, 2016, 08:04:12 PM
Post by: h20hunter on March 11, 2016, 08:12:08 PM
Post by: Jharristealth on March 11, 2016, 08:16:09 PM
Lots of bears up off kellogg lake road out of Startup.
They all moved out last year after the fire danger closure, a real bummer....
Post by: h20hunter on March 11, 2016, 08:18:02 PM
Post by: Molon5labe on March 12, 2016, 06:06:24 PM
Post by: RudyP on March 12, 2016, 11:05:14 PM
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Post by: NW-GSP on March 13, 2016, 06:09:14 AM
Lots of bears up off kellogg lake road out of Startup.
Nope only nudists
Post by: TheSkyBuster on March 13, 2016, 06:16:49 AM
Lots of bears up off kellogg lake road out of Startup.
Nope only nudists
I think Ridge fire might have meant: Lots of bares ???
Post by: iflyils on March 13, 2016, 07:36:56 AM
Post by: Carl on March 13, 2016, 11:30:15 AM
Post by: lokidog on March 13, 2016, 02:23:56 PM
What cartridge are you shooting? 150s should be fine for bear. Get out and do some coyote calling in the unit as the season approaches and keep your eyes open for bear sign.
If you are behind the gates during bear season, they don't want you shooting coyotes. I got scolded for that. Stupid, but the way it is I guess.... FYI If you walk in, I think you are fine whacking the coyotes. :dunno:
Post by: cem3434 on March 13, 2016, 04:01:15 PM
Oh boy that is way too small for bears, 300rum at the minimum...What cartridge are you shooting? 150s should be fine for bear. Get out and do some coyote calling in the unit as the season approaches and keep your eyes open for bear sign.
Whoops, forgot to put that, 30-06
I hope Buckmark is joking because that is the worst advice I think someone could give you. Your 30-06 with a 150 grain bullet is more than capable of killing any animal in this state. Shot placement is the key, so please don't listen to advice that suggests that you should get a larger caliber versus focusing on shot placement. It has been my experience that many hunters compensate with larger or magnum calibers when they don't spend the time shooting to focus on accuracy. :twocents:
Post by: X-Force on March 13, 2016, 04:35:26 PM
Post by: dune on March 14, 2016, 06:48:25 AM
Post by: Eric M on March 14, 2016, 05:36:51 PM
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Post by: Molon5labe on March 15, 2016, 05:10:43 AM
Let us know how it goes
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Will do!
Post by: saylean on March 17, 2016, 08:40:23 AM
One of my best tips...
leave time to swing by the Alpine Drive In just outside of sultan for a burger and shake after a hard day chasin Yogi. Gotta keep up your strength.
Post by: sled on March 20, 2016, 10:16:37 PM
Best advise I have is hunt as much as possible. When you find sign check the areas often to find where it is an active area. When you find somewhere with new sign in the area every time you go back concentrate on those spots. Grass along roads early then peels the second half of the season.
my spring bears belly was full of bark and cambium. I caught him in the salmon berry bushes digging in the dirt on the side of a road near an area where new peels were showing every other day.
Also be prepared to take a second shot if possible when it goes down. They are damn tough animals. I lost one that haunts me still because I possibly could have gotten a second shot off but didn't. Not proud of that at all. Horrible feeling.
Let me know if you want help on some areas to check out. Note in the second pic the light spots on the bear. They are mosquitos! Bring a thermacell and repellant. I had both and it was still miserable gutting and loading him up!
Post by: kevinlisa06 on March 21, 2016, 09:30:06 PM
Post by: Ripper on March 22, 2016, 10:07:53 AM
Post by: Turner89 on April 12, 2016, 10:40:58 PM
Post by: Molon5labe on April 13, 2016, 05:15:30 AM
Post by: luvmystang67 on April 15, 2016, 08:10:17 AM
PM Incoming
Post by: bowtechian on April 16, 2016, 08:32:29 PM
Did I miss the meet at the brewery. Darn!! I would have gone!Damn a North end get together, missed that one....bummer
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Post by: DaveMonti on April 16, 2016, 09:57:20 PM
Post by: iflyils on April 18, 2016, 07:57:32 PM
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Post by: h20hunter on April 18, 2016, 08:46:31 PM
Post by: RudyP on April 19, 2016, 12:02:08 AM
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Post by: sled on April 20, 2016, 10:36:57 PM
Post by: Molon5labe on April 23, 2016, 10:49:42 AM
Post by: 7mmfan on April 23, 2016, 11:09:55 AM
Post by: grundy53 on April 23, 2016, 11:20:53 AM
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Post by: Molon5labe on April 23, 2016, 11:53:58 AM
Let us be the judge of that! Pics! And congrats, not a super easy tag to fill, especially this early in the hunt.
Honestly, I'm kind of embarrassed to post pics. With 4 inches of fur on the back, and 4 inches of fur on the belly, and 4 more inches of fur on the sides, bear size it very deceiving. Initially I didn't take the shot. Then she went off into the woods a little bit. Then I talked myself into feeling alright taking a smaller bear considering all the other things I have going on during this hunt, and the "oh, what if i don't find another one" was playing in my head. When she came back I procrastinated a few more minutes before taking her and when I walked up to her I was quite disappointed. I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I can't help but think I really should have stuck to my first gut reaction which was to let this one go. No doubt she'll be fine eating and her fur will look good on my wall, or whatever I do with it.
Post by: JakeLand on April 23, 2016, 12:00:01 PM
Post some pics so we can enjoy!!!
Post by: sled on April 23, 2016, 12:22:50 PM
Post by: h20hunter on April 23, 2016, 12:47:51 PM
Post by: Molon5labe on April 23, 2016, 06:08:40 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on April 23, 2016, 06:14:16 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on April 23, 2016, 06:55:17 PM
Post by: D-Rock425 on April 23, 2016, 07:07:08 PM
Post by: jrebel on April 23, 2016, 07:18:03 PM
Post by: sled on April 23, 2016, 09:42:06 PM
Post by: h20hunter on April 23, 2016, 09:54:19 PM
Post by: lokidog on April 23, 2016, 10:06:34 PM
Post by: Eric M on April 23, 2016, 11:53:10 PM
Post by: TheSkyBuster on April 24, 2016, 05:48:13 AM
Nothing wrong with that! :tup:
Post by: Wingin it on April 24, 2016, 08:03:17 AM
Post by: arees on April 24, 2016, 08:33:27 AM
Post by: Timberstalker on April 24, 2016, 09:32:23 AM
Nice work filling your tag.
Post by: dscubame on April 24, 2016, 03:25:31 PM
Congratulations on the bear. I definitely shot my Monroe bear based on the thought process of "its a bear, its standing broadside, its in range, boom, I wonder how big it is."
That's a great statement that many can relate with. :tup:
Post by: X-Force on April 24, 2016, 03:35:46 PM
Post by: JeffRaines on April 24, 2016, 06:55:24 PM
Honestly, I'm kind of embarrassed to post pics. With 4 inches of fur on the back, and 4 inches of fur on the belly, and 4 more inches of fur on the sides, bear size it very deceiving. Initially I didn't take the shot. Then she went off into the woods a little bit. Then I talked myself into feeling alright taking a smaller bear considering all the other things I have going on during this hunt, and the "oh, what if i don't find another one" was playing in my head. When she came back I procrastinated a few more minutes before taking her and when I walked up to her I was quite disappointed. I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I can't help but think I really should have stuck to my first gut reaction which was to let this one go. No doubt she'll be fine eating and her fur will look good on my wall, or whatever I do with it.
I fell into the same line of thinking last deer season. It was my first season hunting deer, and the first two weeks I had a couple of 100% shots on younger deer. One being a yearling, and the other a fawn(Which I don't regret at all). I remember thinking "Man, theres no way I can take this deer. Its too young. I'll just pass on this one and I've seen so many, getting another shot will be easy!" Needless to say I was empty handed at the end of the season, and I kept thinking back to that yearling I passed up.
Moral of the story - and I think this especially applies to people who are new to hunting - if its legal, safe, and ethical, take the shot. Don't pass up an animal you would shoot on the last day of the season.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv172%2Fthe_iodine%2FIMG_20160423_172557_zps1zyfodoo.jpg&hash=7b7055c898711798c453e75f40b409a489709a37)
Nice bear, and congrats! I hope i'm as fortunate as you this fall!
Post by: RudyP on April 24, 2016, 09:36:13 PM
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Post by: luvmystang67 on April 25, 2016, 09:36:43 AM
DRock has shot a few bears and I have shot a few that he claimed :chuckle:, but he would shoot this in a heartbeat. I think its because he feels powerful being able to pack it out all by himself.
But seriously nice work. Buy another tag and whack one in the late summer/fall. :tup:
Post by: gallion_t on April 25, 2016, 03:13:35 PM