Do bears hoard berries?

[Platensek-po]

So this last weekend I came upon a berry patch that had a sow with 2 cubs. My question is if it’s worth it to watch that patch to see if a boar shows up or will that sow and cubs be all that comes through there? I don’t want to waste my time watching a berry patch that will only be visited by a sow and cubs. But if other bears are likely to come through I’m happy to hang out. Thanks!

[pianoman9701]

Bears eat berries. If there's a boar around and your wind is right, he'll be there sometime.

[ghosthunter]

In my experience, I say no.

I am a sitter, on the day I killed my spring bears few years back. I watched four different bears go through a 100 yard wet area. Now couldn’t tell sex and saw no cubs. But four bears before I shot one.

And my buddy shot a large boar in the same patch two weeks earlier.
I think if a sow feels threatened she will give it up to protect cubs. But depending on the size of the patch I would not be surprised if both sex’s were using it.

It’s the same as baits in my opinion. Multiple bears could come in.

[Karl Blanchard]

I'm so far from a bear expert it's not even funny but in my limited experience it seems that if the food is plentiful,  they are very tolerant of each other. My sons bear from Saturday night was one of 4 adult bears feeding within feet of each other.

Last year there were like 6 bears in and out of the opening where I shot my boar.  One thing we've kind of noticed about this area is that although there's tons of bears every year, we don't see sows and cubs there. Likely due to the danger associated with that high of a concentration of adult bears?

[Buckjunkie]

Like Karl, I am no Bear expert, but they are fun to watch and it gives you a reason to get outdoors.

In my limited experience, sows will stay away from boars if they have cubs. Boars will try to kill the cubs. That said, the bears you are seeing is due to a food source. This time of year bears are feeding non-stop preparing for hibernation. Eventually a boar will find that spot and probably run sows with cubs off.

If you don’t find what you are looking for, my best advice is to find a North facing ridge in the 3,000’ - 5,000’ elevation range with huckleberries. There will likely be lots of torn up stumps and logs. A bear is bound to show up soon.

[hunter399]

Any place your seeing bears is a spot to watch.

[Elkpiss]

Does a Bear $hit in the woods?

[jrebel]

How big is the berry patch??  If it's a large enough berry patch, you could have multiple bears feeding in it at the same time.  I would say if you have ripe berries in a big enough patch.....you will find a bore in it sooner than later.  If you look on google maps or google earth....is there a larger berry patch close by?  If so, maybe check that out as well as the sow with cubs will try and avoid a large boar at all cost.  We don't have a lot of berry patches where we bear hunt, but the sows with small cubs will not be in the wild plums when they are ripe.  They will be in smaller more isolated plum trees or choke cherry patches as to avoid the larger bears. 

I'm no expert...but that is what I have noticed. 

[hunter399]

I would say keep an eye out.
At least you found some berry's.
Pretty dried up where I'm at.
Some boar made those babies.
He is most likely around somewhere.

[MADMAX]

Does a Bear $hit in the woods?

Not a polar bear

[Platensek-po]

Thanks for the reply’s guys! I guess I was more concerned that maybe if she was around with her cubs it meant that a boar wasn’t likely to be around cause she would be avoiding them. It’s a fairly decent sized patch it’s just on the backside of a hill. So I can’t see en until I’m on top of em. Gunna hang out there this upcoming weekend and see what comes through.

[jrebel]

Thanks for the reply’s guys! I guess I was more concerned that maybe if she was around with her cubs it meant that a boar wasn’t likely to be around cause she would be avoiding them. It’s a fairly decent sized patch it’s just on the backside of a hill. So I can’t see en until I’m on top of em. Gunna hang out there this upcoming weekend and see what comes through.

See if you can get high ground to look into the berry patch.  Once you spot a bear, move in closer for the kill.  A lot of people want to sit in close and then you limit the amount of hillside you can really see.  Pick an adjacent ridge or higher peak and use your glass to find a bear.....then play the want and make a stalk. 

[hunter399]

Thanks for the reply’s guys! I guess I was more concerned that maybe if she was around with her cubs it meant that a boar wasn’t likely to be around cause she would be avoiding them. It’s a fairly decent sized patch it’s just on the backside of a hill. So I can’t see en until I’m on top of em. Gunna hang out there this upcoming weekend and see what comes through.

From what I've seen it's the other way around.
All bears will use the same food source.
If a boar shows up the moma and babies will leave.

Maybe she is avoiding a boar. But I don't think so.
Moma and babies just go about there business till it's time to leave.

What I think your hoping for is they are just taking turns.
Which is usually what happens.
So if you see her leave,stick around a little while. Maybe he will show up.

I think your in a better spot than me.
All animals share resources at one time or another.
He is around,just gotta catch him there.