Venturing after Bear

Jeremy · 02-18-2007, 08:49 AM

Drew a spring bear tag this year but dont know much about bear hunting. From what i have read on here sounds like its mostly a spot and stock show. I have a couple places in mind to go scout out before the season opens. Other than getting lucky and actually spotting a bear when i am scouting any other things to know before i get out in the woods? Plan on finding a couple of good clear cuts that have good new growth in them..other than that??? When do those guys start waking up from there winter knap.

riverswild · 02-18-2007, 12:42 PM

New growth around roads, slides and chutes.
Young timber in damage areas.
Predator call.
Do lots of homework.

Hunt'nFish · 02-21-2007, 03:43 PM

What unit? that would help us.....

Mike P. · 02-21-2007, 04:05 PM

The big boars should be out over near the coast at the beginning of the SW season. The sows & cubs take a little longer to venture out. Maybe Santiam (our resident bear expert) could give you more details.

Jeremy · 02-22-2007, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

What unit? that would help us.....

Alsea/Stott Mountain unit

Hunt'nFish · 02-22-2007, 10:41 AM

Ah westside. Can't help ya then. Not a westside bear expert and I'm sure they behave differantly than they do the eastside.
Yeah, PM Santiam338. He IS as westside expert.

Abalone · 02-22-2007, 01:38 PM

Here's a tip.

Last season I had a conversation with a forest manager on the coast. We were talking about Bears. He told me that his company hires a helicopter to fly over the forest looking for tree damage. They could tell from the air which areas the bears were working because they like to peel the bark off of trees, which causes the trees to turn a specific color of brown. Of course he was willing to point me to the areas that were effected but I don't hunt bear. At least I didn't used to.... I have a tag this year.

You may want to try contacting timber companies the see if they will point you in the right direction.

They are lots of specific signs of bear activity in an area. Wether or not it will lead you to a kill is another thing.......

Santiam338 · 02-22-2007, 06:45 PM

Westside bear expert huh??? I don't know about that,but I see one every now and then..

Jeremy, I dont hunt Alsea so I can't help you with that...I hunt the Siuslaw and that is only the next unit down though...LOL

First off,hunt close to the coast the first couple weekends...I can see the ocean from my early season spot...I don't hunt the national forest..For the most part it is grown up and grown over...I prefer private timber land....They have a mixture of timber,reprod and units of varying ages that game like...

In my unit,the timber companies are easy to get along with...Some require walk in permits and some don't...No matter who's timber companies land I am on,I be sure to know what their policies are and follow them...

Not sure about what timber companies are in the Alsea or their policies..

In the spring bears feed on grass....Hunt bears the same as you would hunt elk...Get to where you can see and start looking..I like to walk the tops of ridge roads looking for bear sign along the roadside....Bear are eating grass and often times the best grass is the roadside grass...You start seeing sign you are in a good spot...Hopefully, where you are seeing sign you have good visibility...5 pm till dark is the hot time,but all times is good...

Find some bear sign and just hang out...They ALWAYS show up...

I am sure once bear season gets here there will be bear threads galore...Keep us posted..

Luck