Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: ZaneHunts on July 31, 2022, 01:05:42 PM

Title: One more bear first timer
Post by: ZaneHunts on July 31, 2022, 01:05:42 PM: Hey all,
This will be my first year bear hunting and I've been doing a lot of research along with reading as much as I can on this forum.
I am wondering if anyone has any tips or guidelines I should be following.

1. Location
I'll be hunting westside Wa and mainly in GMU 651. I've located a decent wetland which I got one picture of a bear over 2 weeks of trail cams. There are also a few small ponds and several clear cuts with trailing blackberries and huckleberries and a decent amount of bear sign.

2. Gear
I've got a climber tree stand I'm planning on using to set up looking over wetlands, clearcuts, small gullys, ect.
I was planning on shooting my 270 win with a 6-24×50 Vortex scope loaded with 130 gr Hornady Whitetail Soft points. With this load I can put a sub moa groups at 100+ yds.

Are there any major flaws that I'm missing?
A few questions I have are: What type of terrain/cover/food should I be hunting? Is my rifle setup enough for an average sized bruin? Would spot and stalk be more productive than sitting is a tree stand?

Any information and criticism is greatly appreciated!
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: ZaneHunts on July 31, 2022, 01:13:11 PM: Here is the bear I got pictures of. Not a giant for sure but still a bear.
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: ZaneHunts on July 31, 2022, 01:14:59 PM: Couple more.
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: dan11011 on July 31, 2022, 02:01:16 PM: That’s a decent bear. That’s enough gun for a black bear.
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: Caveman123 on July 31, 2022, 02:05:37 PM: In my experience bear hunting thick cover you will hear a bear before you see them. I like walking though the woods with the wind in my face and stopping and listening. Bears have thick hides and sometimes won’t leave much of a blood trail. That being said my buddy dumped a stud last year with a 6.5 so if you can put the bullet in the right spot you should be fine.
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: buckfvr on July 31, 2022, 02:27:33 PM: :twocents: Too much scope for a woods gun.
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: dilleytech on July 31, 2022, 03:04:43 PM: Bears are easy to kill with any weapon. Key is shot placement. Their front legs sit further forward then a deers do in relation to there rib cage. So the vitals appear further back. Aiming 3-6” behind the front leg and slightly below mid way is best for heart/lung combo shot. That bullet is a poor choice for a shoulder/neck/ or frontal shots. So make sure to take broadside lung shots. And shoot the bear twice if it’s still on its feet. Their thick hide holds a lot of blood and their fat and guts often plug wounds so blood trailing can be tough. Specially as they tend to jump directly into the thickest cover around. In my experience they run between 20-80 yards hit in the lungs and heart. With the exception of one that thought something had bit him and rolled in place.
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: broadhead on July 31, 2022, 03:08:08 PM: That rifle and ammo can kill a bear. But I agree with above post and looking at the thickness of the brush in the photos, so this is armchair crap from me, use iron sights, red dot or less powered scope if it's thick like the photos. Bow and arrow fine too. Make sure you are practicing a lot.

Is a tree stand better than spot and stalk? Situation dictates. If there are large open spaces you can glass or otherwise observe and move around and you know the bears are in the area it's fine.

One of those bears looks pretty thick but sometimes it is hard to tell how big they are with photos like that (no reference with other objects of known size to estimate them up properly). Make sure you hit em in the vitals and they'll go down.
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: Keith494 on July 31, 2022, 03:17:53 PM: Sounds like all your missing is an open season. That setup will be more than enough for a bear, that's a pretty powerful scope for close shots, but it'll work. If there's food and sign, there's bear.

Be sure of your target and what's beyond it, especially in thick brush. Good luck!!

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: ZaneHunts on July 31, 2022, 05:14:46 PM: Thanks for the responses! I'm much more comfortable shooting the 270 after hearing you guys say it's enough. Maybe I'll use my 30-30 win with irons for hunting in the brush where I know I'll be making closer shots.
So I'll stick to broadside shots and maybe do a little more walking quietly through the woods like I usually do for blacktail.
Another thing I was wondering is if I did shoot a bear in 80° weather, about how long do I have to gut, skin, quarter it and get it on ice before I get it starts to spoil?
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: BKMFR on July 31, 2022, 06:20:49 PM: I would recommend going with a lower power scope if it's typical west coast country.... if shooting 10-50 yards 6 power will be a hindrance in most shooting situations, but you know your area, just a thought... Good Luck!!
BKMFR
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: Caveman123 on July 31, 2022, 06:56:28 PM: Quote from: ZaneHunts on July 31, 2022, 05:14:46 PM
Thanks for the responses! I'm much more comfortable shooting the 270 after hearing you guys say it's enough. Maybe I'll use my 30-30 win with irons for hunting in the brush where I know I'll be making closer shots.
So I'll stick to broadside shots and maybe do a little more walking quietly through the woods like I usually do for blacktail.
Another thing I was wondering is if I did shoot a bear in 80° weather, about how long do I have to gut, skin, quarter it and get it on ice before I get it starts to spoil?

I don’t have a specific time line but I’d do it quick. We like to hunt evenings on the hot days. They tend to die in a hole so if it’s in the shade it will buy you some time
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: ZaneHunts on July 31, 2022, 07:08:36 PM: Okay cool. So should I more focus on the clearcuts with all the berries early in the season or should I hunt more in the trees and cover during this warm weather?
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: dilleytech on August 01, 2022, 07:09:51 AM: Quote from: ZaneHunts on July 31, 2022, 05:14:46 PM
Thanks for the responses! I'm much more comfortable shooting the 270 after hearing you guys say it's enough. Maybe I'll use my 30-30 win with irons for hunting in the brush where I know I'll be making closer shots.
So I'll stick to broadside shots and maybe do a little more walking quietly through the woods like I usually do for blacktail.
Another thing I was wondering is if I did shoot a bear in 80° weather, about how long do I have to gut, skin, quarter it and get it on ice before I get it starts to spoil?

Just stay up late if you have to and get it all done that day or night and you won’t have to worry about it. The most important thing is getting the hide off of it. Don’t hang it hide on with plans to get to it tomorrow.
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: dilleytech on August 01, 2022, 07:12:16 AM: Quote from: ZaneHunts on July 31, 2022, 07:08:36 PM
Okay cool. So should I more focus on the clearcuts with all the berries early in the season or should I hunt more in the trees and cover during this warm weather?

They will be in the shade most likely so consider that. But they can be out all day all though just before dark and early morning is the best time. Carry a predator call around your neck at all times. If you jump one it’s very likely they will come back in if your start blowing on it.
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: ZaneHunts on August 01, 2022, 07:17:14 AM: Thanks dilleytech! That makes me feel much better. Especially since this morning has been pretty cool so far!
Right now I'm sitting in a tree looking over a small clearing and some older timber and have the rabbit distress in my pack.

So far all I've seen is a doe that's been glaring at me for the past 10 minutes.
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: trophyhunt on August 01, 2022, 07:40:44 AM: I’m at work… you are in a much better place than me! Good luck! Stay awake!
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: GASoline71 on August 01, 2022, 08:01:54 AM: Quote from: buckfvr on July 31, 2022, 02:27:33 PM
:twocents: Too much scope for a woods gun.

Yup... if you need a scope on the westside, a 3x9x40 will work pretty much anywhere.

Gary
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: Goshawk on August 02, 2022, 09:43:00 AM: If you're hunting the brush make sure that Hubble telescope you have on your gun won't be too much magnification. You need a wide open view for shot placement on a close moving target, not magnification. My brush bear / elk / deer rifle has a 1.5-5 VXIII on it for exactly that reason.
Best of luck!
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: longtrails on August 02, 2022, 10:52:50 PM: Sounds like you have 2 good rifle setups for hunting, one for brush and one for long range. Either one will do for blackbear. Take the one that suites your needs for the area that you will be hunting. Otherwise you may miss out on bear. I will admit though that you are over scoped for that 270 in western wa, a 3x9 or at most 4x16 will suite you just fine for most ethical hunting scenarios. I also agree with the other hunters to get it field dressed and cooling in game bags as soon as you can. Hang meat in the trees in the shade what you cant pack out. Have a cooler with dry ice, not bagged ice. Melted water ruins meat. Though if thats al you can get then keep it in the bags and keep the drain open. Best of luck to you out there!
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: ZaneHunts on August 03, 2022, 08:33:05 AM: Thanks everyone for the help!
I'll definitely be using the 30-30 with irons for all my brush/woods hunting. I don't really want to sit there and count the fleas on the bears fur :chuckle:
I just checked a few cameras and found this nice guy right near the house! He might become my next target.
Any guesses on size/weight?
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: Ridgeratt on August 03, 2022, 08:39:57 AM: Long legs and no stomach. Young bear.
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: MeepDog on August 03, 2022, 10:45:45 AM: Quote from: Ridgeratt on August 03, 2022, 08:39:57 AM
Long legs and no stomach. Young bear.
Agreed looks below 200lbs
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: Angry Perch on August 03, 2022, 11:09:15 AM: Quote from: ZaneHunts on August 03, 2022, 08:33:05 AM
Thanks everyone for the help!
I'll definitely be using the 30-30 with irons for all my brush/woods hunting. I don't really want to sit there and count the fleas on the bears fur :chuckle:
I just checked a few cameras and found this nice guy right near the house! He might become my next target.
Any guesses on size/weight?

No guess, but tell us the details when you kill him!
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: longtrails on August 04, 2022, 09:33:53 PM: Thats a young male i believe. Easy to pack out for a solo hunter, and the meat is tender. Perfect! Let us know when you harvest it. Also the area looks really familiar. If its where i think it is be weary of a large momma bear that strolls the area. Keep your head on a swivel and protection ready.
Title: Re: One more bear first timer
Post by: dilleytech on August 05, 2022, 06:46:27 AM: Quote from: ZaneHunts on August 03, 2022, 08:33:05 AM
Thanks everyone for the help!
I'll definitely be using the 30-30 with irons for all my brush/woods hunting. I don't really want to sit there and count the fleas on the bears fur :chuckle:
I just checked a few cameras and found this nice guy right near the house! He might become my next target.
Any guesses on size/weight?
175#