Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: Cervid on October 17, 2017, 09:56:03 AM

Title: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: Cervid on October 17, 2017, 09:56:03 AM: There probably aren't many berries left in the mountains, so what are the bears up to this time of year? Still up high? Moving down low? In their dens? What do I need to know to be successful?
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 17, 2017, 10:08:32 AM: They eat the water half frozen berries in up high still, plus look for sunny side hills with grass. My first bear was in a foot of snow eating those berries, my sons in same spot was eating grass. Both really late October bears above 5500’.
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: kselkhunter on October 17, 2017, 10:25:51 AM: I followed fresh bear tracks in the snow this past Saturday morning up above 5500ft elevation hoping to catch up with him. Followed the trail off the north face of the ridge until it was no longer safe for me to continue down the steep slope in the snow (I stupidly forgot my snowshoes).....snow got up to my knees once above about 5000ft. Was interesting to watch his tracks follow some rabbit tracks around, then tear up a log and get an old yellow jacket nest, and dig a few other spots. His belly dragged in any drift deeper than 8". Was a good educational experience for me, being new to bear hunting. Hoping to get back on his trail the next few weekends, with proper gear this time.

They're still active up high.
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: Cervid on October 17, 2017, 03:39:26 PM: Thanks guys that gives me hope. Gonna be out this weekend most likely off I90 somewhere. Hope I can connect with either a bear or blacktail. Cougar or coyote would be nice too.
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: tgomez on October 18, 2017, 08:55:39 PM: It's not over till it's over, and it's over November 2nd at last shooting light! BEST OF LUCK!
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: Turner89 on October 18, 2017, 09:06:48 PM: I shot my first bear November 5th 200ft elevation
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 19, 2017, 06:50:21 AM: Quote from: tgomez on October 18, 2017, 08:55:39 PM
It's not over till it's over, and it's over November 2nd at last shooting light! BEST OF LUCK!

On the east side. ;)
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: snowshoes22 on October 19, 2017, 07:13:16 AM: My bro in law shot one on the west side several years ago in November at elk camp. We found 12 different bear tracks that year in the snow.
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: Cervid on October 19, 2017, 11:59:04 AM: Quote from: snowshoes22 on October 19, 2017, 07:13:16 AM
My bro in law shot one on the west side several years ago in November at elk camp. We found 12 different bear tracks that year in the snow.

Wow! What GMU? I'll most likely be in 460.
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: Cervid on October 19, 2017, 12:00:03 PM: Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on October 19, 2017, 06:50:21 AM
Quote from: tgomez on October 18, 2017, 08:55:39 PM
It's not over till it's over, and it's over November 2nd at last shooting light! BEST OF LUCK!

On the east side. ;)

I was confused for a second. It's the 15th on the westside right?
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: Antlershed on October 19, 2017, 12:31:57 PM: Quote from: Cervid on October 19, 2017, 12:00:03 PM
Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on October 19, 2017, 06:50:21 AM
Quote from: tgomez on October 18, 2017, 08:55:39 PM
It's not over till it's over, and it's over November 2nd at last shooting light! BEST OF LUCK!

On the east side. ;)

I was confused for a second. It's the 15th on the westside right?
The whole state is November 15th. No idea where the 2nd came from. :dunno:

My buddy shot a nice color phase with an ear tag in it today on the eastside. He’d been seeing lots of tracks.
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: tlbradford on October 19, 2017, 01:10:23 PM: On the east side the last plants that I see get hit in the year are the elderberries. It seems like they specifically save them for October.
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: brew on October 19, 2017, 08:13:21 PM: saw one today right at 6 coming out from deer hunting....took me a few seconds to actually register what was actually going on...mind set for looking for grey/brown and you see a large black furry thing...nice sized bear walking across the road in front of us at around 200 yards. went in after him but it was really thick so no luck...will continue to monitor that area
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: tgomez on October 22, 2017, 03:47:53 PM: Sorry everyone I thought I read November 2nd earlier this year and it is November 15th, my apologies.
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: JimmyHoffa on October 22, 2017, 03:51:25 PM: some of the berries are just now coming in, plus the silvers are starting to come to spawn too.
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: Candcrods on October 29, 2017, 04:29:18 PM: Got mine in patchy snow thus weekend eating frozen berries at 4600

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Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: yakimanoob on October 30, 2017, 10:41:19 PM: There are still tons of rose-hips and snowberry around at the lower elevations in Yakima County, and I've got active bears on my game came from the weekend.

We've still got time left! :)
Title: Re: Is it too late in the season?
Post by: saylean on November 02, 2017, 06:35:13 PM: I have found bears right up until the last weekend. Its not over, its just getting a bit harder. Don't give up. I plan on going out the last few days of season for kicks.