West of cascades elevation

[J-Bone]

I want to hunt around 4k in August in GMU 460. I realize more bears will be lower in the clearcuts and early berries, but I just don’t find that terrain enjoyable to stare at so prefer to be higher.

 Curious what people think in terms of bear populations up high in August and how these elevations in August will impact my chances comparatively to lower elevations.

[Skyvalhunter]

If its a good berry year like its headed so far and the cooler temps and rain are predicted high elevation should be a great place to be.

[freshgrease]

There will be less bears for sure but you should hunt how you enjoy! If being up in the higher elevation areas is what makes you happy, do that!

[7mmfan]

I find bears every year on or before the opener up in the alpine. There is plenty for them to eat other than berries up there.

[trophyhunt]

Sure hope the berries keep getting some moisture, last years lack of berries made it a desert for us up high last year.   

[baker5150]

Last year aside, we've successfully taken bears almost every year above tree line.
Our trips last year were fruitless (pun intended).
We prefer the terrain as well.  We pack in and stay mobile. 

As long as there are berries there will be bears. 

[logola512c]

Are you talking inside or outside of the campbell global timber property in 460?  Inside, I've seen (and shot) way more bears down lower., especially in August.  Outside of the tree farm in 460 I'm not sure.   A lot (if not all) of the salmon berries and raspberries have already come and gone in the tree farm.  Trailing blackberries in the clear cuts were also early and drying up.  Could be an interesting year for bears...

[bkaech]

I feel like bears tend to constantly move during the summer/fall and only stay in an area when they find food there that lasts. That is why good berry crops hold bears. But if there is not a ubiquitous food source elsewhere there will always be bears moving into and out of most every elevation.

[addicted1]

I understand the issue, but it doesn’t really matter. Find lots of desirable food and you’ll find bears. I personally would just got to the closest spot to my house that has bears and hunt there.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Find some south facing slopes that has lots of grass, they’ll be some eating it.

[geauxtigers]

Has anyone been up hiking the west side slopes recently?  How are berry patches looking?  Seemed like we might have a better year with the wet late spring but I’m worried this heatwave the past couple weeks has dried everything out too much.

I drew a white river (653) archery elk tag for September.  I know the unit well, family has a cabin in it, I called for a buddy in September 2016, and I’ve spent a ton of time around Crystal mountain and hiking/foraging over the years.  Not looking for any “secret spots.” 

But I’d love to take my son up scouting and bear hunting in August.  Any info to share on berry elevations or crops from anyone out in the field the next few weeks would be much appreciated.

[ganghis]

I was up a couple weeks ago and it looked like a great crop of new berries still in infancy but haven't been back since. Usually someone starts a berry thread on here, but in the mean time (or in addition), I'll often go to WTA trip reports and enter in "blueberries" in the filtering section to see how things are doing in the general areas and elevations I plan on hunting.