Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: flinger on July 16, 2010, 06:36:48 PM

Title: Bear dens
Post by: flinger on July 16, 2010, 06:36:48 PM: looking for some knowledge
was wondering if any body knows if a bear tends to return to the same den year to year and try to keep and defend the same territory or do they wake up or whatever and move on to new areas
Title: Re: Bear dens
Post by: ML_Hunter on July 17, 2010, 12:17:53 AM: They will follow the food. If a food source runs dry in one area they will travel else wear to find more food. If there is a lot of food and many other critters in the area they'll stay...for a wile at least.
Title: Re: Bear dens
Post by: boneaddict on July 17, 2010, 08:05:09 AM: I have never found the same bear in the same den year after year.
Title: Re: Bear dens
Post by: tony04 on July 17, 2010, 01:51:31 PM: hell ive never even found a bear den. where do they usually den up?
Title: Re: Bear dens
Post by: Idabooner on July 17, 2010, 03:54:52 PM: I found one at the bottom of a rock slide where big rocks had come together and left a hole back under, I could crawl in and turn around but not a lot of room. It was used two years, then not a couple then once more, then not used for the next few years that I checked it. That was on the middle fork of lightning Creek.
I found another one in Alberta that was dug in under the roots of a big tree, the guide said it was black bear. Interestingly a grizzly killed and eat part of a black bear not far from there the day after I found that den.
Title: Re: Bear dens
Post by: littletoes on July 18, 2010, 09:10:17 AM: I've found a few here and. Didn't know where to look for 'em, just kinda stumbled upon them. Last year found a brand new one while elk hunting. A brushy slope, hidden from view in a tight little canyon.

My oldest son climbed in there, about 3 feet, said it looked like it hooked around the roots of a tree, I told him to not go in any further...it looked to be a very fresh dig, which made me worry, as you can imagine.
Title: Re: Bear dens
Post by: BLUEBULLS on July 19, 2010, 06:47:29 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on July 17, 2010, 08:05:09 AM
I have never found the same bear in the same den year after year.

I have, it seems at least fairly common in the blues.
Title: Re: Bear dens
Post by: MtnMuley on July 19, 2010, 07:56:57 AM: I agree on following the food, but I know of two dens that have had the same bear in them. One for 3 years and the other for 2. These dens are at low elevations. Maybe resident orchard bears.