Post by: Rickyrebar on May 14, 2012, 04:49:10 AM
I've been beating the bush over there for the past month. Heard that someone took a yearling on opening day.
I heard a guy take a shot at a cinnamon last Sunday, not sure if he got it, the only glimpse I got of it was after the shot just a flash of fur hauling the mail from open ground to tree cover...
Post by: woodman on May 14, 2012, 04:58:03 AM
Post by: grundy53 on May 14, 2012, 05:34:23 AM
Post by: 75johndeere on May 14, 2012, 06:15:44 AM
Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2
Post by: rasbo on May 14, 2012, 06:28:06 AM
Post by: RockChuck on May 14, 2012, 09:36:20 AM
Post by: Rickyrebar on May 14, 2012, 08:32:09 PM
I am shocked to hear one 1 game card filled out, in a month, that is a surprise.
Post by: Branden on May 14, 2012, 08:40:33 PM
Post by: Rickyrebar on May 20, 2012, 06:09:45 PM
A month of beating the bush and another weekend with no action in Kapowsin, for me that is.
Took rasbo's advise and went deep... nothing moving in the dark timber.
Did happen see a cinnamon's ass diving into the brush as I rounded a corner about a mile from the log in booth.
Anybody have any encouraging feed back for this bear-less area?
Post by: fillthefreezer on May 20, 2012, 07:30:26 PM
Post by: woodman on May 20, 2012, 07:36:19 PM
spent a lot of time in there this week and not much to show but 2 sheds.
Scott, are you seeing any sign? I have seen a lot of sign showing up the last few days in different areas.
Post by: fillthefreezer on May 20, 2012, 07:50:33 PM
Post by: woodman on May 20, 2012, 07:56:12 PM
like I've said before, i don't think I'm very good at judging the stump and log sign but i haven't seen any girdling or scat. i was up kinda high near some beaver ponds, I've heard the like beaver. i was in an area 20' from the reprod in the taller, older timber and sat about an hr. wind was right so then called into the reprod for 45min or so. after that i still hunted the next 4 hr down into a drainage into the wind edging the area full of all the last years girdles. after that i slowly cruised some hidden grassy roads on foot til dark making my way back towards where id parked.
I have not seen peels yet but expect to any day. The sign that I have been seeing show up is huge scat piles. These are ares that I have not seen any until this week. You can not miss it if you are by it. I am sure that they are moving around a lot more now. I have pics of 6 different bears just this weekend in different areas. All at the elevation that I was telling you about.
Post by: fillthefreezer on May 20, 2012, 07:59:31 PM
Post by: grundy53 on May 21, 2012, 03:14:16 PM
Post by: CementFinisher on May 21, 2012, 03:20:23 PM
Post by: woodman on May 21, 2012, 03:30:28 PM
seen one in person while hiking and have 10 8 different bears coming into cams. they are moving you just have to get away from the roads. they are eating grass off skid roads and hitting the skunk cabbage still. Ive only seen one peel from this year. good luck guys, wish i had a tag
I have about the exact same report that you have. I just changed my cameras over to video and it is working great. Have you tried that with any success?
Post by: CementFinisher on May 21, 2012, 05:03:16 PM
Post by: CAMPMEAT on May 21, 2012, 05:29:57 PM
Post by: Rickyrebar on May 21, 2012, 06:20:24 PM
Get a predator call, hint, hint.Got one... some. Just ain't got no idea how to use it / them. Hint hint?
Post by: cem3434 on May 21, 2012, 06:28:42 PM
Get a predator call, hint, hint.Got one... some. Just ain't got no idea how to use them.
Get in a place where you are pretty concealed, but can see around you because you dont want a hungry bear to know you are there before you know that he is there. Play the wind, control your scent and did I mention play the wind! The key is you want to try and sound like something that is dying. Call at each stand for about an hour or until your about to pass out from being light headed and cant hear anymore. :chuckle:
If that dont get them coming in, then more to a new area and try it again. Remember, there are a few kitty cats in that area that may come looking for a meal too, so be ready! I was calling in there about 3 weeks ago and called in a coyote, but he circled down wind and caught my scent. Good luck and stay alert! :tup:
Post by: Rickyrebar on May 21, 2012, 06:41:35 PM
I have fiddle farted around with one a time or two, with no success other than the "light headedness"... never seen it done, but shall give it another whirl. Thanks for the tip!Get a predator call, hint, hint.Got one... some. Just ain't got no idea how to use them.
Get in a place where you are pretty concealed, but can see around you because you dont want a hungry bear to know you are there before you know that he is there. Play the wind, control your scent and did I mention play the wind! The key is you want to try and sound like something that is dying. Call at each stand for about an hour or until your about to pass out from being light headed and cant hear anymore. :chuckle:
If that dont get them coming in, then more to a new area and try it again. Remember, there are a few kitty cats in that area that may come looking for a meal too, so be ready! I was calling in there about 3 weeks ago and called in a coyote, but he circled down wind and caught my scent. Good luck and stay alert! :tup:
Post by: 75johndeere on May 21, 2012, 08:52:52 PM
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Post by: tallnskinny on May 21, 2012, 10:06:44 PM
[/quote]
Why didn't you shoot the 'yote?
Post by: Swatson on May 22, 2012, 01:12:57 PM
If that dont get them coming in, then more to a new area and try it again. Remember, there are a few kitty cats in that area that may come looking for a meal too, so be ready! I was calling in there about 3 weeks ago and called in a coyote, but he circled down wind and caught my scent. Good luck and stay alert! :tup:
Why didn't you shoot the 'yote?
[/quote]
Probably because he's hunting bear! Like shootin a grouse while your on a deer stand. Why would you let the thunderstick boom and ruin your bear hunt for a coyote?
Post by: deleted BGS on May 22, 2012, 01:42:07 PM
Post by: rasbo on May 22, 2012, 01:57:38 PM
Post by: Rickyrebar on May 22, 2012, 08:30:26 PM
the bears are there,they are coming into feeders,so they are out and about..beware of all the game cams.You dont wanna poke one close to one that has feed out and get caught.ridges and steep drainages..
Post by: grundy53 on May 22, 2012, 09:39:21 PM
Post by: Rickyrebar on May 23, 2012, 06:40:33 PM
How does the crappy weather impact the critters? Will they lay low with heavy rain, then possibly be more active once it straightens out?
Did a bunch of calling today. No bears. I did call in a big ole yote. So atleast there is one less fawn killer running around. Found a chewed up blacktail shed too.
Post by: rasbo on May 23, 2012, 07:48:19 PM
Excuse my ignorance, but what is all of the mention of the "game cameras" & "feed"?If you come across a game cam there is a good chance there is feed there..If there is and you dump a bear one could have some explaining to do.. :tup:the bears are there,they are coming into feeders,so they are out and about..beware of all the game cams.You dont wanna poke one close to one that has feed out and get caught.ridges and steep drainages..
Post by: RockChuck on May 24, 2012, 07:55:57 AM
Post by: Swatson on May 24, 2012, 08:04:01 AM
Post by: funkster on May 24, 2012, 08:20:04 AM
Post by: rasbo on May 24, 2012, 08:33:07 AM
This kind of brings up the question, if it is truly a damage hunt, how come the wdfw does not work in conjunction with the tree farms to allow the option of baiting to the spring bear hunters that so choose? I have heard that the tree farms used to set out baits and then take them down before the season and give locations to spring bear hunters.they did,left the barrels just no feed,
Post by: Swatson on May 24, 2012, 08:34:08 AM
Post by: rasbo on May 24, 2012, 08:38:14 AM
Good question! They allow the hounds to come in and help out, why not bait????or if they kept barrels in the areas with the most girdling with feed in them.I found a steep drainage they just dumped all the old barrels down into...
Post by: Rickyrebar on May 24, 2012, 08:07:25 PM
Post by: Rickyrebar on May 28, 2012, 06:32:03 AM
Post by: cem3434 on May 28, 2012, 08:38:09 AM
I did see a lot of deer and elk, including a couple of nice bulls in one of the swampy areas that I was hunting. Good luck to everyone else and hopefully some bears start hitting the dirt in Kapowsin.
Post by: Rickyrebar on May 28, 2012, 07:53:47 PM
My first go at "spring bear" not what I was expecting. I guess the bright side of it all was I got to explore some new territory, been getting Kapowsin Passes for several years spent a lot of time in Buckley & Etonville, never in Kapowsin. Lots of deer & Elk in there, no bear. My time spent in the other 2 places produced 10 times more bear sightings in a fraction of the time I've spent beating the bush in Kapowsin. I'm really scratching my head on this one... I've never been out spring bear hunting... is this typical? I see by the responses in this post, everyone is having the same luck, sounds like the "Monroe" spring tag is the one to draw.
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 01, 2012, 07:32:11 AM
anyone seeing fresh sign on the south side?
Post by: Rickyrebar on June 02, 2012, 08:20:14 PM
any heard of any bears in there hitting the dirt?I passed today, looks like a better day tomorrow, weather wise that is. Have not seen any activity, fresh sign, etc.
anyone seeing fresh sign on the south side?
Anyone have any luck recently?
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 02, 2012, 09:03:01 PM
i saw handful of deer, a NICE bull, and a cougar. barely in the truck heading down after calling and walking in the dark and fog to the truck. got me a little rattled to say the least..
Post by: hunterrcc on June 03, 2012, 01:43:46 AM
Post by: Rickyrebar on June 03, 2012, 08:51:20 PM
Cousin shot one today in there. He texted me a photo this afternoon.POST THE PIC DUDE!
As unproductive as Kapowsin has been, your cousin should be nominated as official ambassador of Hancock Forest Management, 2012! Just think of all of the trees he saved!
Where was he hunting north or south end? Clear cut or deep dark, thick stuff?
Another "zippo" for me in my travels... but it ain't over yet.
Congrats to the cuz, that great to hear!!
Post by: hunterrcc on June 03, 2012, 10:24:00 PM
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 04, 2012, 07:12:22 AM
Post by: CementFinisher on June 04, 2012, 07:41:01 AM
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 04, 2012, 08:09:40 AM
Post by: funkster on June 04, 2012, 06:32:47 PM
Post by: Rickyrebar on June 04, 2012, 08:02:38 PM
My dad made his first trip out on sunday. Saw a bear and lots of fresh sign. A buddy saw 2 bears last week, looks like they are moving pretty good now. Now is the time to go get em'Hoo Haa!
Might have to take some time off from work with that type of news. Finally!
Post by: funkster on June 04, 2012, 10:10:07 PM
My dad made his first trip out on sunday. Saw a bear and lots of fresh sign. A buddy saw 2 bears last week, looks like they are moving pretty good now. Now is the time to go get em'Hoo Haa!
Might have to take some time off from work with that type of news. Finally!
Don't give up now,the later in the season the better. Look for south/southwest facing steep drainages with reprod to older timbers.
Post by: tallnskinny on June 05, 2012, 03:10:17 PM
In all my time in there this year, I've only seen one fresh peel and that was 2 weeks ago. I've seen 2 piles of fresh scat on that trip, but that's all.
Good luck to my fellow tag-holders. I hope to see more successful reports from team 2012-Kapowsin getting posted soon!
Post by: grundy53 on June 05, 2012, 03:55:23 PM
Post by: Rickyrebar on June 05, 2012, 08:20:19 PM
I will be in there tomorrow and thursday.Good luck, Keep everyone posted!
Post by: Jeremy S on June 06, 2012, 05:54:20 AM
Post by: nailbender on June 06, 2012, 09:32:27 PM
Post by: tallnskinny on June 07, 2012, 11:21:47 AM
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 09, 2012, 04:49:22 PM
really want to get my first bear this year but its like I'm missing something or doing something wrong. i don't know. :bash:
Post by: cem3434 on June 09, 2012, 04:57:48 PM
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 09, 2012, 05:17:20 PM
Post by: grundy53 on June 09, 2012, 07:15:19 PM
i keep hearing people are seeing bears and sign everywhere, why not this guy? :dunno:
I never saw one either and I usually always see bears. It was a crappy spring though. It litterally rained every day that I went out. At least a little. :chuckle:. Oh well I still had a great time.
Post by: cem3434 on June 09, 2012, 07:32:57 PM
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 09, 2012, 09:30:22 PM
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 09, 2012, 09:32:08 PM
Post by: rasbo on June 10, 2012, 03:45:16 AM
Post by: funkster on June 10, 2012, 10:16:03 AM
wish I had a tag in there
Do you ever put in for the spring tag? Seems like a pretty easy tag to pull, I pulled last year with 2 points and my dad pulled this year with 3 points.
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 10, 2012, 09:09:01 PM
Post by: CementFinisher on June 10, 2012, 09:16:25 PM
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 11, 2012, 09:12:15 PM
Post by: cem3434 on June 11, 2012, 09:41:07 PM
Post by: hardknox870 on June 12, 2012, 11:57:35 AM
Post by: Swatson on June 12, 2012, 03:40:42 PM
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 12, 2012, 04:00:12 PM
Post by: Rickyrebar on June 12, 2012, 06:56:38 PM
Got one Sunday. Nice Cinnamon colored about 4.5 ft.SWEET!What time did you lay him down to rest? Morning, evening, late, early? Just curious.
Post by: RockChuck on June 12, 2012, 07:33:13 PM
Post by: nailbender on June 13, 2012, 07:09:13 AM
Post by: cem3434 on June 13, 2012, 07:27:42 AM
As of sunday, I had heard there had only been 5 taken out of 150 tags. what is that 3% success rate? wow...
If you look at past seasons harvest information, I would guess thats not to far off the average number of bears harvested in the spring.
Post by: Rickyrebar on June 13, 2012, 09:16:44 PM
As of sunday, I had heard there had only been 5 taken out of 150 tags. what is that 3% success rate? wow...3% huh... well I am determined to bump that up a fraction of a point. Going to do a nooner tomorrow at work try and catch the evening bite. Then bug out completely on Friday, last day, time to getter dun! The weather forecast says... bear down.
Post by: hardknox870 on June 14, 2012, 08:53:46 AM
Post by: hardknox870 on June 14, 2012, 09:01:12 AM
Post by: Swatson on June 14, 2012, 09:20:17 AM
Post by: cem3434 on June 14, 2012, 08:42:09 PM
Post by: Rickyrebar on June 14, 2012, 11:21:35 PM
Got it just after noon. Didn't see anything in the upper elevations. If you are heading out in the next 2 days, I would stay low. Saw more sign..."Low" it is.
Nice color... congrats!
Was out from 2:00 till darkthirty tonight... Nadda. Tomorrow is the day.
Post by: woodman on June 15, 2012, 06:28:40 AM
good night tonight! saw a bear briefly, no less than a dozen fresh peels. 4 bulls, 2 of which stood around and posed at 30-40 yards. couple cows. half dozen deer. yep, good night. ill be heading back to those peels and where i saw that bear tomorrow but ill be on foot instead of still in the truck :chuckle:
You know right where that bear is now. I hope that you nail it today, best of luck!
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 15, 2012, 07:34:31 AM
Post by: woodman on June 15, 2012, 07:39:17 AM
people cruisin that road in the truck have rolled through 2 different times now when i thought i had a pretty good set goin. :bash: found 6 piles yesterday on that main rd and that first spur rd along the edges so hopefully i can catch him feedin this afternoon
Scott, don't give up on that bear! You saw how the animals showed up right after we went through there the other night. Those woods are always moving. Just try to put yourself in a good position. I am really wanting you to nail that bear and you have just as good a chance as anyone else. Actually you have a better chance because you have seen it and saw the direction it goes for cover.
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 15, 2012, 07:45:12 AM
Post by: Huntboy on June 15, 2012, 08:20:53 AM
Post by: hardknox870 on June 15, 2012, 11:33:57 AM
Post by: nailbender on June 15, 2012, 11:37:12 AM
Post by: Rickyrebar on June 17, 2012, 06:08:46 AM
I saw the same thing Ive seen all season long... nothing.
I see other peoples posts here about seeing fresh signs, peels, scat piles etc. (in the last couple weeks), was curious where that might have been?
The way I see it, calling the Kapowsin spring hunt a "deprivation" hunt is a bit of a laugh. The only "bear problem" I can see they have, is the lack of bears, spring bears that is. I've had members post "there are lots of bears in there"... can't argue with those that know other wise, but damn... I don't see any evidence of that. I see more bears during the general bear season near my home.
This was my 1st crack at the spring bear tag, my take away is its not what I expected. That said I did come away with some positives, it was great to get out and explore some new areas. Saw tons of deer & elk. So if it were a spring deer & elk "scouting tag" it would have been great.
Congratulations to those who hammered a beast great way to start off the 2012 season!
The End...
Post by: funkster on June 18, 2012, 08:38:52 AM
I saw the same thing Ive seen all season long... nothing.
I am no bear expert but I think spring bear has a lot to do with weather. Last year was my first spring bear hunt ever and my first time in the kapowsin block. It took me a lot of time to learn bear habitat, once I did, I was on fresh peels,scat and final a bear.
This year my Dad was pulled for the Kapowsin and was only able to get out 4 times. With what I learned from last season, I was able to point him in the right direction and he was on fresh sign and saw two bears out of the four times he went. He almost connected on the second to last day. He had a bear at 40 yards and just as he raised his riffle the bear bolted off up the hill. This spring was warm and it seemed the bears where moving around more than the previous year. If the tag went to the end of June, I think more bears would hit the ground, the action was just starting to heat up.
I feel the hunt is a fun hunt! For me it is only 40 mins from my door to a nice chunk of land that holds a lot of animals and not a lot of yahoo's. I wanted to buy a year pass this year but did not, I really want to hunt elk in there so I think I will buy a year pass next year. Where else can you have a pretty good chance of getting a 300 plus class bull for $350? Throw in deer, bear and fire wood and it seems like a no brainier.
Post by: rasbo on June 18, 2012, 09:07:34 AM
Post by: Rickyrebar on June 18, 2012, 07:55:25 PM
now that all the bears have been killed in kapowsin,please don't waste any time on purchasing a spring permit next year,I really want a chance at not getting a bear in there next year... 8)"...don't waste any time on purchasing a spring permit next year..." I can't promise that rasbo. I've got the bug and there no way in hell I can ever pass on any opportunity to be in the woods looking for something in season to kill!
Post by: fillthefreezer on June 18, 2012, 08:46:07 PM
a sincere thanks to all those who helped teach me and point me in the right directions, you know who you are :tup:
only 56 days til it opens in there again :drool:
Post by: SemperFidelis97 on June 19, 2012, 04:46:16 PM
Post by: rasbo on June 19, 2012, 05:16:13 PM
I didn't have much luck up there this year, but I also didn't put in the time I think that was necessary to really deserve a chance. I have hunted the area for better than a decade, but most of the bears I have seen were in central. I think the tag was well worth it for all the early season scouting I got in it gave me a chance to check out areas I typically wouldn't have bothered with in years past.putting in the time is key right there.there is a ridge up there that always produces a bear if you park your butt and watch the trail..here is one of three taken off the same trail in the spring and summer...Epq21 shot this one, a nice boar.another one I called in ,and one with scotty gott that showed me the trail,who has passed now God bless him for the fever he turned me onto
Post by: SemperFidelis97 on June 20, 2012, 04:56:15 PM
Post by: rasbo on June 30, 2012, 03:44:21 PM
Post by: woodman on June 30, 2012, 04:53:29 PM
Post by: rasbo on June 30, 2012, 06:19:57 PM
Post by: woodman on June 30, 2012, 07:24:38 PM
looks like 2 tracks there,about 5 inch track...which is sweet
Nope, one track. The picture does it no justice, but it clearly was one track. I have a pic of it with the tape measure laying on it. Will try to post it up later.
Post by: Mudman on June 30, 2012, 07:33:50 PM
Is that five toes Im counting? :chuckle:looks like 2 tracks there,about 5 inch track...which is sweet
Nope, one track. The picture does it no justice, but it clearly was one track. I have a pic of it with the tape measure laying on it. Will try to post it up later.
Post by: amazing122009 on June 30, 2012, 07:45:45 PM
according to " Black Bears - A Technical and Hunting Guidebook by Bob McGuire "......this is correct.
Post by: rasbo on June 30, 2012, 08:35:03 PM
Post by: woodman on June 30, 2012, 08:49:17 PM
i see a new track on an old track,7 to 8 toes,lol while hes eating run up and measure him :yike: just tap on the inside of his front leg he will lift it just like a horse...it a proven medical fact....those binos are just under 6inches...if they are what I think they are
Jim, you can tear it down any way you want, I will leave it as I posted it.
Thanks
Post by: Mudman on June 30, 2012, 09:26:02 PM
Post by: rasbo on June 30, 2012, 09:31:14 PM
Post by: buckhorn2 on June 30, 2012, 10:13:08 PM
Post by: link on July 01, 2012, 04:12:16 PM
How many toes do the bears you shoot have? :chuckle:Is that five toes Im counting? :chuckle:looks like 2 tracks there,about 5 inch track...which is sweet
Nope, one track. The picture does it no justice, but it clearly was one track. I have a pic of it with the tape measure laying on it. Will try to post it up later.