Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: N7XW on September 10, 2018, 09:03:06 AM

Title: Deer and bear in the same area
Post by: N7XW on September 10, 2018, 09:03:06 AM: I spent all day yesterday scouting for modern firearm deer season (blacktails). I checked out some great areas that seemed like perfect habitat but also found a huge amount of bear sign. Should I move along and look for new areas or not worry about it? Do deer actively avoid areas used by bears? Am I wasting my time going for deer in such an area?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Deer and bear in the same area
Post by: vandeman17 on September 10, 2018, 09:06:03 AM: Was there much deer sign? I have found that for the most part, deer aren't really effected by bears too much unless there are a bunch of bears in a small area. I have plenty of trail cameras where there will be multiple bears in one set but I still get thousands of pics of deer.
Title: Re: Deer and bear in the same area
Post by: N7XW on September 10, 2018, 09:10:32 AM: There was deer sign. Somewhat light though. But it could have been because I didn't spend a lot of time with boots on the ground. I was more interested in covering as much ground as I could driving and identifying areas that looked good for deer hunting on this particular scouting trip. But every area I found had bear sign. :dunno:
Title: Re: Deer and bear in the same area
Post by: vandeman17 on September 10, 2018, 09:21:56 AM: Quote from: N7XW on September 10, 2018, 09:10:32 AM
There was deer sign. Somewhat light though. But it could have been because I didn't spend a lot of time with boots on the ground. I was more interested in covering as much ground as I could driving and identifying areas that looked good for deer hunting on this particular scouting trip. But every area I found had bear sign. :dunno:

Sadly that is the trend in a lot of areas in this state. Lack of decent predator management has brought us to this point...
Title: Re: Deer and bear in the same area
Post by: KFhunter on September 10, 2018, 09:22:39 AM: They'll blow out with a cougar, but with bear they seem to keep a smaller bubble of avoidance.

As for bears there seems to be some areas where they're more predatory than in other areas, in one area I've got doe's with fawns and bears all over. Some old orchards the bears and deer feed on the same apples, the deer get there first and move off when the bear come in.
Title: Re: Deer and bear in the same area
Post by: N7XW on September 10, 2018, 09:31:48 AM: Quote from: KFhunter on September 10, 2018, 09:22:39 AM
They'll blow out with a cougar, but with bear they seem to keep a smaller bubble of avoidance.

As for bears there seems to be some areas where they're more predatory than in other areas, in one area I've got doe's with fawns and bears all over. Some old orchards the bears and deer feed on the same apples, the deer get there first and move off when the bear come in.

Interesting. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.
Title: Re: Deer and bear in the same area
Post by: cbond3318 on September 10, 2018, 09:57:38 AM: I have observed 2 doe with 2 fawns each bedding and feeding within a 200 yard radius of a Black Bears nightly feeding grounds. Deer fed out and Bear moved through within 15 minutes of each other. Night after Night. :twocents:
Title: Re: Deer and bear in the same area
Post by: N7XW on September 10, 2018, 10:20:14 AM: Quote from: cbond3318 on September 10, 2018, 09:57:38 AM
I have observed 2 doe with 2 fawns each bedding and feeding within a 200 yard radius of a Black Bears nightly feeding grounds. Deer fed out and Bear moved through within 15 minutes of each other. Night after Night. :twocents:
Good to know, thanks.
Title: Re: Deer and bear in the same area
Post by: BigBerthaB on September 15, 2018, 07:32:08 PM: this year I have seem two bear separately in both cases there were a doe and a fawn within 50 yards of the bear. The deer knew the bear was there I'm not sure if the bear knew the deer were there or not. The deer where casually feeding. I see five to six bear a year. I was always curious about this. So I was totally surprised this year and convinced they live together and somewhat mingle together.
Title: Re: Deer and bear in the same area
Post by: builtfordtough on September 15, 2018, 08:07:34 PM: Where I hunt mulies there are bears everywhere. Back in 2016 opening morning rifle we spotted a black bear above us. Raining pretty hard and I told my buddy let's move on, not gonna be a deer around here for a while. He disagreed and wanted to head straight up and check a spot that looked good. Not 200 yards from where the bear had crossed there was a nice 4pt feeding. I was dumbfounded and we ended up packing meat out that morning.
Title: Re: Deer and bear in the same area
Post by: Twispriver on September 15, 2018, 10:45:19 PM: I've got trail cam pics this year of deer and bear eating under the same apple tree on the same day so I guess the deer are at least tolerant of bears in the area
Title: Re: Deer and bear in the same area
Post by: N7XW on September 16, 2018, 08:58:59 AM: Thanks for the replies guys :tup: