Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: Goshawk on January 29, 2019, 07:48:12 PM

Title: Hey Yogie, Time to wake up yet?
Post by: Goshawk on January 29, 2019, 07:48:12 PM: So, when do the bears start moving around in the western washington area?
I've yet to see anything at the game trail cams besides the worlds fattest raccoons!
Title: Re: Hey Yogie, Time to wake up yet?
Post by: crowinghen on February 05, 2019, 08:21:38 AM: We saw a bear Christmas Eve in a clear cut sunning itself.
Title: Re: Hey Yogie, Time to wake up yet?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on February 05, 2019, 11:39:58 AM: They can't afford to hibernate these days wolves will go in there their dens when they are sleeping and kill them
Title: Re: Hey Yogie, Time to wake up yet?
Post by: jackelope on February 05, 2019, 11:52:44 AM: They never stop moving around.
Title: Re: Hey Yogie, Time to wake up yet?
Post by: PastorJoel on February 07, 2019, 07:47:59 PM: A week ago I found fresh bear scat and a small blacktail carcass. Kitsap County.
Title: Re: Hey Yogie, Time to wake up yet?
Post by: Jonathan_S on February 08, 2019, 07:40:42 AM: Usually see a few on trail cam around April 1st. I'm sure they're up and about earlier but I think movement in places with "real winter" is late March-early April
Title: Re: Hey Yogie, Time to wake up yet?
Post by: Alchase on February 08, 2019, 10:09:48 AM: Quote from: jackelope on February 05, 2019, 11:52:44 AM
They never stop moving around.

:yeah:

In western Washington, they do not hibernate like in colder climates. Sows with cubs will stay denned longer.
They may snooze a few days at a time, then up and looking for food, rinse repeat. Coastal bears do not hibernate at all, and remain active all winter.
Title: Re: Hey Yogie, Time to wake up yet?
Post by: n_mathews13 on February 09, 2019, 06:30:17 AM: I guarantee you they are hunkered down right now though
Title: Re: Hey Yogie, Time to wake up yet?
Post by: Goshawk on February 14, 2019, 04:47:09 PM: My last bear photos were in the end of November. Since then I'm zero for three so I was wondering if they took a long nap, or if my neighbor gave them a dirt nap.

Hope they make. I gave said neighbor a pass a couple years ago for spotlighting a clear cut since he was only trying to find his two hounds. Claimed he was 'coon hunting. I though his 300win mag an odd 'coon round but it was season and I know he does own hounds. His dogs had been making a habit of running my calves until I hauled them off to the animal shelter THREE TIMES!

Since then more than one of his neighbors have complained about seeing him out a night with a suppressed rifle and spotlight. Should have made the arrest and let him sweat it out for a few days.
Title: Re: Hey Yogie, Time to wake up yet?
Post by: The scout on February 14, 2019, 04:56:57 PM: Before this big snow I was out checking cameras and kicked a bear out of its den. I had walked near it and saw a few beds that had broken off huck branches in them for padding. Then kicked the animal and looped around and looked back and there was about a 3’ hole dug into the hillside. This was in the mason unit. I have never seen a den like that on the westside. Usually they make big bird nest beds with lots of huck in the bottom of them.
Title: Re: Hey Yogie, Time to wake up yet?
Post by: crowinghen on February 22, 2019, 08:10:38 AM: Quote from: The scout on February 14, 2019, 04:56:57 PM
Before this big snow I was out checking cameras and kicked a bear out of its den. I had walked near it and saw a few beds that had broken off huck branches in them for padding. Then kicked the animal and looped around and looked back and there was about a 3’ hole dug into the hillside. This was in the mason unit. I have never seen a den like that on the westside. Usually they make big bird nest beds with lots of huck in the bottom of them.

Interesting!
So many bear out that way!