Best state for a color phase bear

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Lowg08

Lowg08

WKR
Joined
Aug 31, 2019
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2,231
Awesome thank you I will keep that in mine. I’m just trying to plan ahead a bit.
 

NEWAoutdoors

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 28, 2020
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127
Lots of color phase bear in Washington. Probably close to half i see are not black. Usually see 20-30 bear a year
 
Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
671
Location
NE MO
From what I've observed over the years in color phase, I'd consider these states in this order;
NM
AZ
CO
CA
UT
WA
ID
 

Britt-dog

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 19, 2016
Messages
241
Location
Cheney WA
I’ve shot eleven bears in Idaho, five black and six ranging from very blonde to dark chocolate. I would say close to fifty percent are color phase in the areas I hunt. Similar numbers in eastern WA and western MT.
 
Joined
May 2, 2016
Messages
631
Location
Reno, NV
I'd say Nevada, but good luck getting a tag.

Hunting all color phase bears in California. There's a lower density, but the more arid east slope and crest of the sierras holds a lot of color phase bears. The only black one I've seen in recent years was at a garbage can in the Tahoe basin.
 
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Messages
5,241
Location
oregon coast
I’ve killed several black bears. I’ve always wanted to take a color phase (cinnamon bear). What is the best state to accomplish that in. It looks as if Colorado offers a good chance
NE Oregon has probably 60-70% color phase bears, and it's freaking awesome country to hunt (wenaha in particular)
 

Rangerpants

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 9, 2020
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142
Location
Really Northern California
Only place I have much experience with bears in is California, and I am 2 for 3 being cinnamon bears. The B zones have piles of them and a good percentage are color phase. Highest numbers I am aware of are in Mendocino National Forest and taking out bears is key to helping the deer herd improve there!
 
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Lowg08

Lowg08

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Aug 31, 2019
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2,231
All great info. I’m hoping to do a combo elk for my boy and bear for me in the near future
 
Joined
Feb 11, 2020
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23
Location
Littleton, CO
In all my years living in CO, I've never seen an actual black bear... Every bear I've seen has been color phase. This was during my archery-3rd season rifle hunts
 
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Lowg08

Lowg08

WKR
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Aug 31, 2019
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2,231
Looks like California seems to be the a color phase hot spot
 
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