Bear scouting

B

Brennan

New member
I live in NW Washington, and I am wondering, whne Can i start scouting for bear? The season starts in august, I only have about three weeks to hunt before I have to go to college. So i want to do as much scouting as possible, but I don't want to waste my time.
 
Brenan,

I have alway's felt that the end of April was the magik date for scouting black bear. Then come the end of July I will put out game trackers and scent caps to get a real good idea of where they are hangin out.

This works for me in MN, I'm sure Washington shouldn't be to much different. Good luck, and have fun.

Let us know how you do.
Ryan
 
Brennan, I wouldn't start scouting until a few weeks before you can hunt. Bears change food sources as the spring and summer goes by. They will follow the greenup line in the spring taking them higher in elevation to the newest freshest grass and other plants they eat. As the berries ripen at lower elevations they will drop back down to start eating them. Then following the ripening berries back up in elevation. They will travel a good distance to find what they need to eat.

If you can locate some good berry patches or abandoned orchards in the early fall these are bear magnets and they will come from miles around to get the fruit. Find the food and you will find the bears.
 
Lonny's right on, they are not likely to be in the same spot at the end of April as they will in Aug. Even during the season from Aug to Nov they change areas sometimes very quickly. I fyou want to scout, if the snow is gone go look at the old berry patches, find likely avenues of approach or old activity and look for stands in those areas. Good luck. Fred
 
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