bear Hunting Question

[Chromaflage]

My wife really wants me to try to get a bear this year - she wants a rug. So....

Every deer season, for about the last five years, we have been seeing more bear sign in our deer hunting area in the Trask unit. But we have never seen a bear up there. In fact, I've seen a bear in the wild only once - digging in a dumpster in a camp ground. :shocked: So, where would one look to find them during deer season? We have been in that area all times of the day....still, nada.

Secondly, I notice that there might be opportunity for spring bear - I assume when they emerge from their winter sleep. when is the best time to go - spring or fall?

Is there info on bear populations in different areas in Oregon? I've never targeted these guys before, so I know very little. Any help here would be appreciated. Feel free to send me PM.

ORS

In Alaska the hides are better in the early spring.

[SLEDDER]

Hides tend to be thicker in the spring. If you are interested in a bear hunt in Northern Idaho, let me know. The hunt would either be spot and stalk or over bait with weapon of your choice.

[ORoutdoorsman]

Orredside, you have mail.

[alwyze fishin]

sledder you going to hook him up with clint or take him with us :smile:

[Chromaflage]

Hmmm...might we be able to work something out here? :grin:

[SLEDDER]

Either one, there are enough bears to go around.

[alwyze fishin]

sledder your going to have to fire that freezer off up there cause i am out of room in my :smile:

[OwyheeKIller]

Bears are easier to find in the spring. You can find them on grassy hillsides where they will be browsing. Go real, real slow when spotting because they blend with their surrounding very well. Look for berries and water too. I've taken Idaho bears in the fall by the Salmon river (Stolle Meadows)near Cascade, as they were feeding on dead salmon carcasses, so maybe the coastal mountains are a good option.

I might be in the minority but I think fall bears have much nicer coats because they have been feeding during summer and are fatter. The spring bears have been much leaner and the fur a little brittle. Hope this helps, good luck to you.

[birdhunter]

In OR, bear densities are highest in the Coast Range, followed by the Cascades and then NE Oregon. However vegetation density also follows that order. Your best bet for a bear would not be in NW Oregon. I'd say Southern Oregon - Coast range or Cascades or NE Oregon. There are spring bear hunts for all of those areas and the tags aren't that hard to draw.

If you're just going for a hide, a late fall bear makes a really really nice hide. However fall bear hunting tends to be a little harder than spring bear hunting. If you just want a bear and some really good meat, spring bear is the way to go. Very lean, not the inches of fat to deal with, just like a deer or an elk.