Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: TRD1911 on January 12, 2019, 09:34:15 PM

Title: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: TRD1911 on January 12, 2019, 09:34:15 PM: We've gotten a couple bears down now in the past few years and seen dozens on trail cameras throughout Kitsap, Mason and Olympic units but never seen a color phase bear. Each year I'm trying to up my standards in regards to the quality of animal and feel that a mature color phase would be an awesome goal. Is that a pipe dream in Western Washington?
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: X-Force on January 12, 2019, 09:39:45 PM: I’ve seen a couple in 437, 418. Nothing super blonde but red brown and brown with skunk striping. I assume closer to the coast would be harder to find color phase.
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: jpharcher on January 12, 2019, 09:41:54 PM: Seen many in 520 and 560 units
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: Alchase on January 12, 2019, 09:45:03 PM: Quote from: X-Force on January 12, 2019, 09:39:45 PM
I’ve seen a couple in 437, 418. Nothing super blonde but red brown and brown with skunk striping. I assume closer to the coast would be harder to find color phase.

I found a dead brown phase cub on the beach by Ruby Beach a few years back.
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: smithkl42 on January 12, 2019, 09:49:28 PM: I get them on my trail cameras occasionally. Haven't actually seen one IRL.

These are from the south end of 407.
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: TRD1911 on January 12, 2019, 09:56:42 PM: Pic #2....Now THAT'S what I'm talking about. Awesome photos.
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: Magnum_Willys on January 12, 2019, 09:58:03 PM: Saw a big cinnamon quite a fews years back in the Wind River area.
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: JWEBB on January 12, 2019, 09:59:32 PM: Yep! 568 multiple times
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: Bigshooter on January 12, 2019, 10:18:46 PM: I've seen 10 or 12 maybe more color phase bears on the westside. And they have been a lot of different colors. Coolest I ever saw was a light blonde with a black face. I thought it was a cow elk when I first spotted it. Another cool one was a mostly black one with red highlights. It was a big bear and I passed it up kind of regret it now.
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: TRD1911 on January 13, 2019, 08:52:29 AM: Have you guys noticed any trends in their habitat that differs from traditional colors or does it just seem to be random?
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: HighCountryHunter88 on January 13, 2019, 09:19:42 AM: Have shot two only have pics of one
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on January 13, 2019, 09:24:25 AM: Quote from: TRD1911 on January 13, 2019, 08:52:29 AM
Have you guys noticed any trends in their habitat that differs from traditional colors or does it just seem to be random?

I have one spot that I’ve seen blackies, blondes, cinnamons, chocolates, and it’s on the west side. :dunno:
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: justyhntr on January 13, 2019, 01:41:19 PM: Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on January 13, 2019, 09:24:25 AM
Quote from: TRD1911 on January 13, 2019, 08:52:29 AM
Have you guys noticed any trends in their habitat that differs from traditional colors or does it just seem to be random?

I have one spot that I’ve seen blackies, blondes, cinnamons, chocolates, and it’s on the west side. :dunno:
:yeah: 3 of the last 5 we've shot have been cinnamon, all west side. We have a big sow and cub, both cinnamon, on camera in the Mason unit from last spring.
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: banishd on January 13, 2019, 01:46:34 PM: Saw a nice one in 560 this year
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: saylean on January 23, 2019, 05:45:42 PM: Opening day last year I saw one. I have a hide from western wa that has a red strip down the center of it...theyre out there.
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: TRD1911 on January 23, 2019, 10:05:13 PM: Cant wait for spring bear. Have three points this year. Fingers crossed I'll have a bigger season to find a nice color phase. Thanks for the input folks
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: jrebel on January 23, 2019, 10:14:57 PM: 3 of the six killed in my party have been color phase. We see quite a few color phase.......we have 3 on camera on our property.
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: Pete112288 on January 23, 2019, 10:25:56 PM: I have seen 2 on camera. One was a perfect chocolate brown and another was almost black but had kind of a rusty red hue to it that was pretty cool looking. That was all in 564
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: lewy on January 24, 2019, 02:18:37 PM: Farther east you go from the coast the more color phase bears you are gunna see. For me its about 2 out of 10 on the west slope of the cascades. One year I seen 6 or 7 but I also seen about 25 bears that year.
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: WSU on January 24, 2019, 03:37:46 PM: Quote from: TRD1911 on January 13, 2019, 08:52:29 AM
Have you guys noticed any trends in their habitat that differs from traditional colors or does it just seem to be random?

I have noticed a trend. The habitat tends to be dry and east of the cascade crest.
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: acrim on January 24, 2019, 04:33:35 PM: Here are a few from last year. West side color phase are about 50% of bear in this particular area.
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: TRD1911 on January 24, 2019, 04:43:09 PM: Those are some healthy bears right there!

I should have never started this thread. The days seem to be passing slower and slower every time I see one of these trail cam pics, ha!
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: fillthefreezer on January 27, 2019, 09:20:06 PM: Kapowsin bear
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190128/6c84afa081071f9e039b451f9843541f.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190128/4566035fdb4942db0ae9f16a75a3ba77.jpg)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: 180-GRAIN on January 28, 2019, 10:26:20 AM: Killed 3 in gmu 448. Seen quite a few more as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: jackelope on February 01, 2019, 05:12:37 PM: (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190202/141d336d150352793e049fa64518fe99.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: TRD1911 on February 01, 2019, 08:26:38 PM: Man I gotta start branching out. My 5 or so go-to spots have yet to turn up one of these. Great pics guys. This is definitely one of my 2019 goals (and maybe a cat but I'm gonna stay realistic, ha!)
Title: Re: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: JWEBB on February 01, 2019, 10:13:13 PM: Quote from: jackelope on February 01, 2019, 05:12:37 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190202/141d336d150352793e049fa64518fe99.jpg)

Pretty one jackelope! Out of season?
Title: Anyone seen a color phase in Western WA?
Post by: jackelope on February 02, 2019, 06:07:20 AM: In season. Nobody with a rifle wanted to make the trip. I didn’t have a rifle. It was a long ways away. Was a bone of contention... :chuckle: