collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: New to bear hunting  (Read 6425 times)

Offline ZaneHunts

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2021
  • Posts: 206
  • Location: Mason county
  • Groups: NWTF, NAFA, WFA, RMEF, HOWL
New to bear hunting
« on: July 20, 2025, 05:35:10 PM »
Hey fellow hunters!
This is my first year really going after bear and I'm not real sure where to start. I would like to hunt the west side in the Olympic NF but would be willing to travel to the Cascades if prospects are better.

I'm not asking for anyone's hunting spots, just need help figuring out how to find promising areas worth my time. I know bears like berry patches but how do I find good berries? Does e scouting with onX help?
Any help getting me pointed in the right direction would be greatly appreciated!


Offline JDArms1240

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2019
  • Posts: 271
  • Location: From ID, stuck in WA

Offline ZaneHunts

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2021
  • Posts: 206
  • Location: Mason county
  • Groups: NWTF, NAFA, WFA, RMEF, HOWL
Re: New to bear hunting
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2025, 10:04:43 PM »
Awesome, I'll look at that. Thanks John!

Offline JimmyHoffa

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 14580
  • Location: 150 Years Too Late
Re: New to bear hunting
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2025, 10:39:22 PM »
For westside of OP, there's likely to be a number of types of berries at once.  And then the difference between one drainage and the next, north facing vs south and the same type could be ripe a month apart.  The berries I find the most, fresh sign is usually thimbleberry.  But it usually isn't from the biggest bears.  Biggest bear poops seem to be by salal or cascara ( from what I find).
Likely to have thimbleberry, blackberry, cascara cherries, choke cherries, salal, huckleberries, salmonberry, raspberry and elderberry all in Aug and September.  If it's really hot I don't see the bears much during the middle of the day.  Usually see them before 9 and after 4, but occasionally see one in the road at noon.
I see most early season looking down in clear-cuts that have buffers for streams at the bottom.  I don't see lots of berries down there, other than salmonberry by the water and scattered huckleberries in the buffer.  So, probably headed high in the cut to the big patches.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

2026 turkey season! by Pegasus
[Today at 07:58:59 AM]


Mushroom ID Thread by LDennis24
[Today at 07:58:40 AM]


Attention Sportsmen and Women: Presence needed at April WDFW Commission meeting by TriggerMike
[Today at 07:51:12 AM]


Best Turkey Recipes by erronulvin
[Today at 07:49:22 AM]


Any fans of the 35 Rem, 358 Win, 35 Whelen, 9.3x62, or 45-70? by The Big Game Hunter
[Today at 06:00:15 AM]


Bear ID certification by Scruffy
[Yesterday at 11:37:29 PM]


Old account recovery by Rainier10
[Yesterday at 10:33:54 PM]


6.5 PRC advice by Bob33
[Yesterday at 09:18:49 PM]


European skull personalized wall state mounts by fire*guy
[Yesterday at 06:20:17 PM]


Turkey Fan/beard Plaques by fire*guy
[Yesterday at 06:11:49 PM]


You Bear Slayers by Kingofthemountain83
[Yesterday at 04:23:17 PM]


Discretion !!! by Kingofthemountain83
[Yesterday at 11:19:59 AM]


WA wolf population increases 17%. by Ironhead
[Yesterday at 10:59:07 AM]


Choose Wisely by b23
[Yesterday at 09:59:56 AM]


Turkey 26' by Ridgeratt
[Yesterday at 09:36:57 AM]


Laser engraving service in western washington by JDHasty
[Yesterday at 07:40:32 AM]


My Daughters first Turkey. by rosscrazyelk
[Yesterday at 07:18:09 AM]


How to edit title by wadu1
[Yesterday at 06:48:41 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2026, SimplePortal