Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: wabearhunter on August 16, 2010, 09:16:30 AM

Title: grizzlies
Post by: wabearhunter on August 16, 2010, 09:16:30 AM: are there grizzlies in washington?
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: Lowedog on August 16, 2010, 09:22:02 AM: Probably.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: MikeWalking on August 16, 2010, 09:23:47 AM: They have been seen by people that know very well what they're looking at, including a couple I know. WDFW and such don't seem to like to talk about it though...
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on August 16, 2010, 09:37:58 AM: The Selkirk Mountain range Grizzly recovery unit exists. That's in NE Washington. There was a confirmed sighting in the Big Meadow Lake area years ago. I was recently told of a young Griz sighting in the western Alta unit. The sigting is unconfirmed by WDFW but the report witnesses are said to be quite credible. There have been at least three confirmed sightings in the Western most Chewuck unit in the last few years, along with Pasayten Wilderness and eastern reaches of the Ross lake recreation area in years gone by. I have seen what I will call Grizzlies on two occasions in the southern Pasayten area.

Are there Grizzlies in Washington? Nope! And there aren't any Wolves either!

-Steve
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: Ridgerunner on August 16, 2010, 09:40:45 AM: yes
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: boneaddict on August 16, 2010, 09:47:39 AM: YES
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: Machias on August 16, 2010, 09:52:33 AM: There absolutely is Grizzly bears in WA, there are confirmed sightings, recent photos (posted on this site), video footage, and other hard physical evidence. Yes
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: quadrafire on August 16, 2010, 09:56:58 AM: Wasn't there a incident of a grizz kill by a couple of hunters in the selkirks a few yrs back? I heard they had showed it around, thinking it was a black. When someone noted it was a grizzley they took it a buried it. Tipster turned them in and they were prosecuted??? At least that was what I heard.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: CMG on August 16, 2010, 09:58:25 AM: Quote
Very small populations inhabit the North Cascades of Washington, the Selkirks of Washington and Idaho, and the Cabinet-Yaaks of Idaho and Montana.

Quoted from the WSU "Grizzlies study" WSU is the only university using live grizzlies for their studies.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: h20hunter on August 16, 2010, 10:09:40 AM: I think the bear even had an ear tag. Buried the hide but got busted and in some serious trouble.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: Gobble on August 16, 2010, 10:15:41 AM: Yes,
I found sign (bear crap) up Storey Cr in the Teanaway back in the early 90's that was documented by the WDFW
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: wabearhunter on August 16, 2010, 10:18:33 AM: good deal! maybe if the population increases we can start hunting em'! i think my 45lb bow wouldn't work to good on a griz though :chuckle:
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: boneaddict on August 16, 2010, 10:25:08 AM: Probably won't increase much. Not the food sources around that really fire them up and fuel their bellys. ITs tough meeking a living out in that NE corner.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: snocobearhunter on August 16, 2010, 10:27:21 AM: i don't think you'll see a grizz season in our lifetime in washington theres only about 200 state wide but if you become a resident in montana they had a kill season with a 25 bear quota a few years back or save your nickles and go hunt B.C. they got the biggest population of grizz and they're more affordable to hunt than in alaska
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: NWBREW on August 16, 2010, 10:30:35 AM: Quote from: Gobble on August 16, 2010, 10:15:41 AM
Yes,
I found sign (bear crap) up Storey Cr in the Teanaway back in the early 90's that was documented by the WDFW

They can tell the difference between black bear poop and grizz poop? They must really know there crap.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: NWWABOWHNTR on August 16, 2010, 10:33:30 AM: yep its the scat that smells like pepper spray and has lots of little bells in it.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: boneaddict on August 16, 2010, 10:43:56 AM: Quote
They must really know there crap.

Thats coffee out the nose right there.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: jstone on August 16, 2010, 10:48:56 AM: My family and 3 other families spent the night in stehikin 2 weeks ago saw a young(Female) Ranger give a presentation on bears. Grizzly and Black, She said that there are 20 collared grizzlies that hang out between Hwy. 20 and Canada?? I dont know why they wouldnt cross that Highway. I am sure there could be more thats all they will admit.??
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on August 16, 2010, 10:50:18 AM: Quote
Thats coffee out the nose right there.

Yuk! :chuckle:

-Steve
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: boneaddict on August 16, 2010, 10:50:59 AM: That road doesn't mean much to them. ;)
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: jstone on August 16, 2010, 10:52:03 AM: Ya when she said that i just smurked and shook my head.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: snocobearhunter on August 16, 2010, 10:55:10 AM: thats just the collared ones i know they have a release site on the south side of the south skagit hwy
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: nocklehead on August 16, 2010, 02:36:19 PM: Page 61 of the regs sure makes me think we have grizzlies.....KNOW YOURE BEARS! lol
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: boneaddict on August 16, 2010, 02:52:23 PM: and the fact they post those signs at the trailhead in the sawtooth might indicate, Why yes they do cross the road.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: Gobble on August 16, 2010, 02:55:23 PM: Quote from: NWBREW on August 16, 2010, 10:30:35 AM
Quote from: Gobble on August 16, 2010, 10:15:41 AM
Yes,
I found sign (bear crap) up Storey Cr in the Teanaway back in the early 90's that was documented by the WDFW

They can tell the difference between black bear poop and grizz poop? They must really know there crap.
:chuckle: They did a DNA test on the scat and Hair. The crap was the size of a coke can and everywhere, way bigger than most blackies. He had been there for awhile from the piles , I was carrying a .50 cal ML when I came across all the piles, I was cow calling at the time before I stumbled upon it :yike:
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: Bscman on August 16, 2010, 04:40:14 PM: There are pics (a few years old) at the Darrington Ranger Station of one walking down a dirt road.

I also know two credible witnesses claiming to have seen one (two separate instances) way back in the sticks not far from Rockport. As well as I know them, I don't doubt it one bit.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: Gutpile on August 16, 2010, 05:00:25 PM: Didn't a couple of kids get nabbed for killing a grizzly because they thought it was a blackie? It was only a year or two ago. I'd say thats a pretty good indication that there are, or there was at least one in Washington. :dunno:
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: bigtex on August 17, 2010, 09:49:01 AM: Quote from: Gutpile on August 16, 2010, 05:00:25 PM
Didn't a couple of kids get nabbed for killing a grizzly because they thought it was a blackie? It was only a year or two ago. I'd say thats a pretty good indication that there are, or there was at least one in Washington. :dunno:

Thats already been answered in this post...
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: Tony 270 on August 17, 2010, 09:51:22 AM: Never have seen one myself. Wouldn't mind if it stayed that way.

Couple buddies hunted outside of Cody, WY a few years back. Was a light dusting of snow and they were hiking around looking for mulies. Circled around after a while and came back across their tracks to find grizz tracks following theirs. They looked around, didn't see it, but certainly wanted to get out of that area and quick.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: uplandhunter870 on August 17, 2010, 10:07:55 AM: ive seen photos of a grizzly that the guy that took them claimed was up blewitt pass, he wouldnt give any specifics. dont really know why as we dont have a season on grizzlies here im not sure if i believe him he was way to skidish when we were talking about the photos.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: MikeWalking on August 17, 2010, 10:14:14 AM: Quote
Never have seen one myself. Wouldn't mind if it stayed that way.

Couple buddies hunted outside of Cody, WY a few years back. Was a light dusting of snow and they were hiking around looking for mulies. Circled around after a while and came back across their tracks to find grizz tracks following theirs. They looked around, didn't see it, but certainly wanted to get out of that area and quick.

I've read accounts of wounded grizzlies doing that. Read one guides account of how they tracked one wounded bear so far they just had to go back to base camp, threatening weather etc...they came back the next day to where they had stopped and picked up the trail. That Bear had gone another 40 yards and pulled a fish hook-J they found where it had been laying in wait just up a 15 foot slope, a few yards into the brush over the clearing they tracked it into. If they had gone much farther the night before they wouldn't have had a chance...I feel pretty lucky to have seen the 7 I have in the Brooks, some from only 50 yards. And I'll always laugh about the one that caught me peeing and ran off like a crazed race horse..
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: Gutpile on August 17, 2010, 12:19:45 PM: Quote from: bigtex on August 17, 2010, 09:49:01 AM
Quote from: Gutpile on August 16, 2010, 05:00:25 PM
Didn't a couple of kids get nabbed for killing a grizzly because they thought it was a blackie? It was only a year or two ago. I'd say thats a pretty good indication that there are, or there was at least one in Washington. :dunno:

Thats already been answered in this post...

Really? Guess I missed that. I'll be more thorough next time. :hello:
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: coachcw on August 17, 2010, 12:39:17 PM: Three years ago in the selkirks I had a grizz take an elk from me on a archery hunt . five miles in by myself . i felt like I wasn't the top of the food chain. I will never go back in there without a can of spray.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: quadrafire on August 17, 2010, 01:05:50 PM: I know a guy that saw a sow and 2 cubs (griz) on the Little Pend Orielle wildlife area near colville 2 yrs ago, during archery deer.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: seth30 on August 17, 2010, 04:34:39 PM: Quote from: Bscman on August 16, 2010, 04:40:14 PM
There are pics (a few years old) at the Darrington Ranger Station of one walking down a dirt road.

I also know two credible witnesses claiming to have seen one (two separate instances) way back in the sticks not far from Rockport. As well as I know them, I don't doubt it one bit.

They have signs up on sauk about grizz, wonder how many are out there.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: Hangfire on August 17, 2010, 11:13:01 PM: I don't know where it comes from that F&W will not admit there are grizzlies in Washington. I have had them tell me about them and where. One place in the NE corner they said they had numerous radio collar signals. The bears do drift back and forth between Idaho and Canada along the border, but I have been told there are resident bears. The number isn't great but they are out there.

In the late 90's a young grizzly was videoed just north of Deer Park. Rumor has it that it was poached. There are always many more rumors than facts.It is no fun saying I saw a large Black bear, always more exciting to say it might have been a grizzly. The next person says it was a grizzly.
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: boneaddict on August 18, 2010, 08:36:46 AM: THey deserve respect, and they get it. :)
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: high country on August 18, 2010, 08:52:27 AM: go hang out between muskegon lake and phoebe's.

I have seen some in there, nothing big.....5.6-6ft, but undeniably grizz
Title: Re: grizzlies
Post by: boneaddict on August 18, 2010, 09:00:27 AM: THat indeed is a great place to find one.