Black Bear Hunt in Trinity Nov-Dec 2025 / East Bay Area Men's Hunting Group

[Spence1]

I'm going to the lower Trinity again this coming weekend (Nov 2-5) to try and fill my bear tag. I went mid September to an area near Ripstein Campsite. The rangers in Weaverville said the place is overrun at times with bear. Met a crew that bagged a big one on the day of rifle opener. I bumped a big one in a creek the next day. I'm going up solo this Sunday from San Leandro and coming back on Wednesday a.m.

If I don't fill the tag, I will likely go back up early Dec, approx Dec 1-4. If anyone wants to talk shop about either trip, let me know. We could jump on a call or Zoom (or have a beer) and strategize. Sure would be nice to have more people to pal up with, particularly for big game. Glassing alone is less fun...My main hunting buddies right now are with new borns, busy with overly demanding jobs, or too busy with ducks (which I love but don't want to focus on until it gets colder). Most people don't hunt bears so I really want to meet more folks that do.

If none of those dates work for anyone, I'd be pumped just to meet other folks who like to hunt bear (any game actually) from the Bay Area east to Nevada and north to the Oregon border. Lots of space and game out there, sure would be nice to have more hunting partners to explore and learn with. Fatherhood and work has me and so many of us isolated.

I'd even be down to start/host a men's group for hunters in the Bay Area that meets up every couple months in the East Bay. Anyone?

 

[persianrug]

Is there country low enough where they won't be hibernating?

 

[Spence1]

Yes, it's all 2000-4000 feet where I'm going. Lots of berry bushies and acorns. Pretty heavy timber but I'm exploring the east fork this go around that has back packer trails up to where the dudes got one last month.

 

[geenhead93]

I just got back from an unsuccessful weekend trip farther south in the Shasta-Trinity NF and would love to talk CA bear hunting. I'm in the same boat as you, most of the friends and family I hunt with have little interest in bears for some reason or are busy with family and whatnot so I've been mostly solo in my pursuit thus far. I'll send you a PM.

 

[Yoteassasin]

Oak scrub and burns . Stay in em
The rain will make most roads pretty sloppy this time of year.

 

[Spence1]

I was unsuccessful. Which burns have you seen them in Yote? Any recommendations for the December trip? I was just in some small/older ones near East Fork Lakes this weekend, didn't see squat excepta couple gaunt does.

 

[Braaap]

Did you see any bears or fresh sign?

Talking with one guide and another experienced bear hunter in NorCal the consensus has been don’t even bother hunting them in Nov and Dec. Both also said the worse the weather is the less chance of seeing a bear. I’m not trying to discourage you, just relaying information from some recent conversations.

 

[Braaap]

That looks like two deer tracks next to each other.

 

[Spence1]

Oof, you might be right, I'm embarassed..

 

[Braaap]

You might try calling and speaking to a biologist. I did a couple years ago when I was thinking of buying a bear tag and the biologist I spoke with was super helpful. I didn’t end up buying a bear tag that year because they are expensive for non residents but I probably will next season.

 

[persianrug]

Found bears in B1 the last week of deer season, but couldn't get a decent shot opertunity. Heard them knocking down and tearing apart rotted timber in large creek beds between 2,000' and 4,000'. Looks like this area isn't frequented by people.

Found:
scattered berries and rose hips near the same creeks
still soft poop that was a mix of seeds and insects
beds 1/4 to 1/2 mile up steeeep timber in small sunny patches
worn and recently used paths into large creeks

Called a few up from thick creek beds towards clearings but got winded. Had a chocolate ready for winter take a morning stroll down a path, 30'-40' in front of me, sniff in my direction, and bound downhill before I got an opertunity.

 

[mountainmanb]

I’m interested in teaming up. None of my family or friends have any real interest in hunting big game. I was gonna start bear hunting next weekend around Arnold. There’s tons of bears there and I was told they release problem bears in that area from Tahoe.

 

[Braaap]

My buddy sent me a game cam pic from yesterday of a large bear in C zone, pretty low elevation, just cruising. It was probably 2,000 ft elevation. Maybe you can still catch them out and about.

 

[Spence1]

I’m interested in teaming up. None of my family or friends have any real interest in hunting big game. I was gonna start bear hunting next weekend around Arnold. There’s tons of bears there and I was told they release problem bears in that area from Tahoe.

Nice, that's good intel. I think I've heard that too.

 

[DuckDawg22]

I'm in Lodi and would like to stay in touch, although I'm also one of those guys currently hunkered down with new kids. Next season I'll have more ability to get out in the woods, currently saving my hall passes for ducks when it gets colder.

 

[mountainmanb]

Seems like there’s a bunch of us east bay guys with the same issues. Buddies don’t hunt and we have young kids.

 

[Spence1]

Seems like there’s a bunch of us east bay guys with the same issues. Buddies don’t hunt and we have young kids.

Send me a private message. I can't figure out how to do this. Maybe we team up for Arnold exploration before season ends?

 

[persianrug]

Send me a private message. I can't figure out how to do this. Maybe we team up for Arnold exploration before season ends?

You need 10 posts to be able to PM.

 

[mountainmanb]

Send me a private message. I can't figure out how to do this. Maybe we team up for Arnold exploration before season ends?

I’m down for that.

 

[mountainmanb]

Send me a private message. I can't figure out how to do this. Maybe we team up for Arnold exploration before season ends?

PM sent