Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: DoubleJ on September 23, 2010, 01:16:44 PM
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Where do you go to find the bears? As I understand, (First year bear hunting) the bears are gorging on berries right now. When the berries dry up or rot in the next couple of weeks, and the weather turns colder in October, I'd assume the bears will start to find winter shelter. Do you have to rut them out or will they continue to roam? If they're out and about, what part of the forest are they in?
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For the relative lowland bears, Find berries! Once they realize that the huks, salmon, and blues are gone, they'll go back to blackberries. -and there are still some out there. Cascara and grasses. They'll start eating grouse and other vermin/rodents. So, adjacent to those blueberry meadows where there are rock falls, they'll be turning rocks looking for Pika's and Marmots and such. I saw big bear scat last week with feather, berry seeds, grass and fur. Didn't smell like pepper so I don't suspect he found a Las Vegas show girl out in the woods. This year was a great year for grasses and skunk cabbage. I've seen a lot of torn up stumps where they were looking for bugs/ants/termites. Find an area that has all of this and I'd be surprised if bears aren't there. I saw a dandy blackie in the Pasayten last week at about 7,200'. He was munching grass, then as he climbed, he turned rocks over. Saw good bear sign in thick woods 1,500' below that area. Some bears don't go high. Some seldom go low. It's just easier to see them when you're in the alpine. A whole lot less brush and trees in your way to see them.
-Steve
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Found berry seed filled scat the other day. Mix that with the destroyed stumps we saw and that equals a bear, right? This was north of the Skokomish river, almost to Cushman.
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Found berry seed filled scat the other day. Mix that with the destroyed stumps we saw and that equals a bear, right? This was north of the Skokomish river, almost to Cushman.
From what I understand, usually yes, but theres always the slight chance someone drenched a stump with suppliments/etc and the deer were going nuts on it. Either way, its good :)
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Yes, the berries should be around the fringes and or in the clearcuts. Focus on areas that are west or south slope as those may still have berries on the vine. -Yes, the north/eastern exposed stuff would have taken the longest time to ripen, but there's probably less of them now. Conceal yourself in blind outside the clear cut in timber cover with view around the perimeter of the clear cut/open timber that has torn up stumps. If you can, pick multiple sets that allow down wind positioning that also allow you to view the area with the sun at your back. Bears should be out feeding until the weather hits.
-Steve
