Bear Peeling Pic

Limbhanger · 04-02-2006, 08:32 PM

This is my first year Bear hunting and while talking to one of the Biologists he mentioned how some bears are "peelers". They strip or peel the bark off of fir trees to get to the cambium layer underneath, this ends up killing the tree. While out yesterday I took a picture of one that got it pretty good. You can see how the bark has been peeled upward and the tree chewed on. I thought it would be interesting for those that didnt know bears did this and what it looks like.

lentz · 04-02-2006, 08:38 PM

Very large elk scrape!!! HA HA

gottafish · 04-02-2006, 08:49 PM

Cool pic

oregonoutdoors · 04-02-2006, 08:55 PM

Thanks for the pic and tip. I have seen that before, but probally wouldn't think to look for it while bear hunting.

baltz526 · 04-02-2006, 09:00 PM

i would guess a small bear

pnwcoast · 04-02-2006, 09:30 PM

Can you say "thats one reason why the managers don't like vegetarians".
Great pic.
Shows you where the "rubber meets the road". That tree will most probably die.

Opportunist · 04-02-2006, 10:12 PM

You'll find areas where there are canyon's where 1 out out of 10 trees are girded and dead or dying. Then the next canyon over they are not touched. It also seems to corelate to areas with what alot of guys call 'sweet' ground, areas where replanted firs didn't take and there are bald grassy spots. These areas are always good spring and fall.

riverswild · 04-03-2006, 05:42 PM

Some areas on the Coast you will find 8 out of 10 trees peeled.

When you find a few fresh (still wet and white) you should try calling with a predator call.

I try to locate areas that are hit early, mark them on my GPS and then check them every couple days. If I find more peels then I hunt that area a little harder.