California second bear tag

[AM_Hunter]

I pulled my first tags ever in CA (have hunted mostly out of state prior w friends) and got two bear tags. It will be a miracle if I harvest even one, but for the reasonable cost and opportunity across alot of zones (relatively speaking) I figured might as well! I recently read in the LA Times that there's over 60,000 bears now in CA. With the pressure on the urban interface I think the 2 tag policy makes sense.

In the future I'd just buy one bear tag at a time, if you harvest one then pick up the second after that. It would be highly unlikely to tag two bears in a day but still possible I guess. Maybe in the northern parts of the state.

 

[Norcal18]

I pulled my first tags ever in CA (have hunted mostly out of state prior w friends) and got two bear tags. It will be a miracle if I harvest even one, but for the reasonable cost and opportunity across alot of zones (relatively speaking) I figured might as well! I recently read in the LA Times that there's over 60,000 bears now in CA. With the pressure on the urban interface I think the 2 tag policy makes sense.

Where are you planning to hunt? If it’s in the northern part of the state, it would be possible. My group saw 9 in 4 days last year.

 

[OrangeCurtain]

In the future I'd just buy one bear tag at a time, if you harvest one then pick up the second after that. It would be highly unlikely to tag two bears in a day but still possible I guess. Maybe in the northern parts of the state.

I totally agree with you, I just got stoked we were able to get two bear tags, and I sprung for both. Looks like reality will hit me in the face come rifle season, LOL! In the future, I'll save my 2nd tag cash for gas.

 

[OrangeCurtain]

Where are you planning to hunt? If it’s in the northern part of the state, it would be possible. My group saw 9 in 4 days last year.

That's an impressive count! I'll be keeping an eye out in D8 (Sequoia NF area) with deer tag for this season.

 

[Quercus]

It would be pretty easy to shoot a second bear while quartering out the the first bear, or even from the same glassing spot if you are in the feed. I could have done so any season in the past decade, same date, same trees like clockwork. However it will not be allowed under the new regs, as the bag limit is one bear per day.

Logistically, it would be difficult to deal with the aftermath. I'm glad they wrote the regs that way. A lot of bears get spoiled/soured or shot and left to rot as is.

 

[mighteywhitehunter]

I have seen as many as 7 different bears in a single day in So Cal. They are here if you know where to look, that being said i wont buy a second bear tag until I fill my first.
It is super funny that just a couple of years ago they were trying to completely stop bear hunting, now they want us to have 2 tags a year.... Haaaa The CA DFG never ceases to amaze... just like the Citidiots of LA.

 

[Bubblehide]

I have seen as many as 7 different bears in a single day in So Cal. They are here if you know where to look, that being said i wont buy a second bear tag until I fill my first.
It is super funny that just a couple of years ago they were trying to completely stop bear hunting, now they want us to have 2 tags a year.... Haaaa The CA DFG never ceases to amaze... just like the Citidiots of LA.

I have to agree, lots of bears in Southern Ca.

 

[Quercus]

It is super funny that just a couple of years ago they were trying to completely stop bear hunting, now they want us to have 2 tags a year.... Haaaa The CA DFG never ceases to amaze... just like the Citidiots of LA.

You realize that neither CDFW nor FGC tried to ban bear hunting, right? Any Tom, Dick, or Harry can submit a petition for anything. 99% of the petitions are non-sense and get rejected.

 

[180ls1]

I have to agree, lots of bears in Southern Ca.

I have seen as many as 7 different bears in a single day in So Cal. They are here if you know where to look, that being said i wont buy a second bear tag until I fill my first.
It is super funny that just a couple of years ago they were trying to completely stop bear hunting, now they want us to have 2 tags a year.... Haaaa The CA DFG never ceases to amaze... just like the Citidiots of LA.

Mind if I ask where? Feel free to PM.

Looking at the reports LA / SB / Riverside counties average about 25-30 bears a year combined. But I am somewhat ignorant to those units and bear hunting in general.

 

[Jusgunn3]

I buy a tag every year but I just never seem to get one, I need to get out there more I guess.

 

[AM_Hunter]

It would be pretty easy to shoot a second bear while quartering out the the first bear, or even from the same glassing spot if you are in the feed. I could have done so any season in the past decade, same date, same trees like clockwork. However it will not be allowed under the new regs, as the bag limit is one bear per day.

Logistically, it would be difficult to deal with the aftermath. I'm glad they wrote the regs that way. A lot of bears get spoiled/soured or shot and left to rot as is.

Thats probably true in NorCal, I have yet to see a bear while hunting in SoCal. Got em on camera, found their tracks, fresh scat, I think I even bumped one off my deer killsite from the previous night, but haven't laid eyes on one yet. Hand calls have not produced either. I know SoCal is thiccc with bears I just never see em.

 

[Bubblehide]

There

Mind if I ask where? Feel free to PM.

Looking at the reports LA / SB / Riverside counties average about 25-30 bears a year combined. But I am somewhat ignorant to those units and bear hunting in general.

There are lots of bears in the Angeles and Los Padres National forests. The issue with hunting bears (without dogs) is that they are very much nocturnal, and more so when they feel pressure, I e., human presence in areas they usually don't find humans.

Bears are very water dependent, for digestion, but more so, for cooling, like pigs, bears do not have sweat glands, so they must use other methods to regulate their body temperature. As such, if it is hot, they will seek shade, cool places, including laying - entering and staying in water. However, this does not mean they won't travel a ways away from water.

I no longer get a bear tag. They are just to much work (unless to got a small one). Typically with Southern Ca temperatures, you don't have enough time to get all the meat out before it spoils, unless you have plenty of help. Bears a tree a ton of work, greasy work. Unless they are close to an accessible road, I would not pursue them unless it was cold, as in refrigerator temperature or below.