Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: quadrafire on December 15, 2009, 12:31:56 PM

Title: Just curious
Post by: quadrafire on December 15, 2009, 12:31:56 PM: How deep of a cave or protected area does a bear need for hibernation in the northeast part of the state? With all of the bears around, I would think there could be some competition for den sites.
Any Comments?
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: KillBilly on December 15, 2009, 12:42:13 PM: Bears do not necessarily need a cave. Any type of shelter that will shelter them can be used. They may chose a hollow tree,stump, or under several blow down trees. Anyplace that provides protection from most of the elements has and can be used.
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: robescc on December 15, 2009, 12:46:15 PM: I have found two dens in all my time hiking and hunting. Both were in the same drainage. The bears had both dug out under rotten stumps. It looked nice and dry in them. I was told that a bear will never hibernate in the same spot/den. Any truth to that?
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: quadrafire on December 15, 2009, 12:54:18 PM: Thanks guys. I hadn't thought about stumps. I figured they needed to be deeper. I guess if they get a bunch of snow over them so much the better for insulation.
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: saylean on December 15, 2009, 02:47:05 PM: Here is one I found last year...or what I thought was one...
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: rasbo on December 15, 2009, 03:23:26 PM: heres one,I didnt feel at ease taking the pic,not sure why just didnt
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: billythekidrock on December 16, 2009, 05:55:49 AM: Here is a shallow den.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2FwebIMG_4937.jpg&hash=e90d34c4ca9f0f8e37fdb61d3d326962501adaad)

And one that is open on one side and the top.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2FwebIMG_4905.jpg&hash=6421b6a8d780b0b0c1f9a09f57bef115dfaa52e0)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2FwebIMG_4910.jpg&hash=5d1cb1d3c6c2e4ea06453deb6c03dfd5711686c0)
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: 1bowhunter1 on December 16, 2009, 05:59:33 AM: BTKR What is the 3rd pic of? What unit? I will avoid that area!! Dont want to run in to that thing... :yike:
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: Kain on December 16, 2009, 10:47:31 AM: Yeah he definitely has that "Im too sexy for this den" look on his face. Imagine walking along and seeing that. Some guy in a hollowed out stump giving you that "come hither" look. :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: robb92 on December 16, 2009, 11:06:38 AM: Quote from: Kain on December 16, 2009, 10:47:31 AM
Yeah he definitely has that "Im too sexy for this den" look on his face. Imagine walking along and seeing that. Some guy in a hollowed out stump giving you that "come hither" look. :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:

LMAO!!!!!
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: billythekidrock on December 16, 2009, 05:43:46 PM: Quote from: Kain on December 16, 2009, 10:47:31 AM
Yeah he definitely has that "Im too sexy for this den" look on his face. Imagine walking along and seeing that. Some guy in a hollowed out stump giving you that "come hither" look. :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:

Don't think you can resist. It works everytime!

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2FwebIMG_4908.jpg&hash=c4a6400ce02f1b427228d0091e4719eb27190093)
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: Kain on December 16, 2009, 06:38:21 PM: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: shoot-em-dead on December 16, 2009, 06:50:02 PM: I knew something was watching me
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: runamuk on December 16, 2009, 07:02:03 PM: Quote from: rasbo on December 15, 2009, 03:23:26 PM
heres one,I didnt feel at ease taking the pic,not sure why just didnt

hell Rasbo I know of a spot that looks a lot like that and when I jumped over the log and saw it well I about jumped out of my skin, thank god it was mid summer and no one was home....

OMG BTKR that is funny....

I need to get pics of the one I stumbled across....hey Rasbo wanna come help me :chuckle: :chuckle: you can check for occupants ;)
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: Kain on December 17, 2009, 03:49:43 PM: Quote from: billythekidrock on December 16, 2009, 05:43:46 PM
Quote from: Kain on December 16, 2009, 10:47:31 AM
Yeah he definitely has that "Im too sexy for this den" look on his face. Imagine walking along and seeing that. Some guy in a hollowed out stump giving you that "come hither" look. :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:

Don't think you can resist. It works everytime!

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2FwebIMG_4908.jpg&hash=c4a6400ce02f1b427228d0091e4719eb27190093)

Hey isnt that the same guy that like to hit on mangy coyotes? :chuckle:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi406.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp150%2FNaithankain%2FIMG_4489web.jpg&hash=00213f20882182f2af104f5c1ca5a9143195f7d5)
Title: Re: Just curious
Post by: MtnMuley on December 19, 2009, 08:28:06 PM: I would say that 8" would be sufficient from what I saw today. I was coyote hunting at 900' elevation and found a bear appearing to hibernate in a hole he dug next to a pine tree. Latest bear I've seen above the ground.