Learning to black bear hunt in CA

[TheYukiYama]

I'm looking for some recommendations on where to start when it comes to bears in the Sierra (books, podcasts, videos etc) to start to learn more about them until I can get into the mountains come May. Seems like there are certain elevations, changing food sources, spot and stalk vs calling techniques etc. I will likely be hunting the Sierras (based out of Bakersfield but not afraid to drive 8+ hours if it's really worth it).
I have quite a lot of hunting experience (15 years, 50+ deer/elk and a few mountain lion/coyote) but never hunted bear before.

 

[GARLICSALT]

Hunting ain't easy pod cast

 

[bpeay4]

Check out "Black Bear Pursuit" on instagram or youtube.

Probably one of the most knowledgeable and involved guys when it comes to california black bear hunting

 

[TheYukiYama]

Hunting ain't easy pod cast

Listened to the Huntin ain’t easy podcast series on black bear. Here is what stuck out to me. Do these track with everyone? Anything major missing? I’m out of Bakersfield so plan to hunt the Sierras, probably spend some time both on east and west side.

Bear are much more adaptable than many other animals I’ve hunted, and therefore where and when you’re hunting is important. Mike did a good job having guests from different areas on, but generally bears will be where the food is, so based on your area and time of year find that.

3000-8000’ seems to hold most bear. They eat grass or fawns in the spring. Late summer they’ll eat berries based on what’s ripe. Then usually acorns or nuts in the fall if they’re in the area.

Very important to learn your berries and when they’re ripe. Common target berries include service berries, currants elderberry, manzanita and snow berry. Not only do the berries ripen at different times of year, they’ll vary with temperature which varies with elevation. Knowing berries will help you know where to be. Bears may spend a few days in a berry patch.

Learn to identify bear scat. This will tell you what they’re eating, but knowing how fresh it is can be quite difficult unless it is very fresh.

Bears will flip rocks and tear apart logs looking for bugs. Can sometimes be easier to tell how recent it is.

There are a lot of bears in California. You seem better off picking an area and getting to know it well rather than bouncing around trying to find a bunch of bear.

Common tactics include sitting at known bear locations, such as water, food sources, or routes. Another major one is spot and stalk. Find an access point with ability to reach multiple ridges with spotting ability at areas you’ve scouted and know there’s food sources. Early morning they move around more so glassing improves your odds of catching one. As the day heats up they’ll often slow down when still hunting areas you know bear hang out can be best.

Areas with wildfires 2-5 years prior can be good as the regrowth can have good food sources. Bears can particularly be found around areas with pockets that didn’t get burned.

Bears also eat a lot of human food. They can often be found near popular camp grounds, day use areas or popular trails where they steal human food.

There are a lot of color phase bears in CA so you aren’t only looking for black when spotting.

Talk with a biologist. They spend a lot of time studying these animals and will often be helpful and answer your questions, though unlikely to give you directions right to a bear.

Tracking bear can also be valuable. Can find tracks on soft dirt of closed roads. Stomp trails are heavy indents in the ground. You can learn the areas bear use and where they’re eating. It’s usually easier to tell how recent a track is

Before taking a bear, make sure you know how to process it. Getting the meat and hide and getting it out.
The few main areas are below.

Western Sierra- major target here (during hunting season) is acorns. Just because you’re in oaks, doesn’t mean there’s good acorns. Can be good berries also. Water can also be a good resource here. There are bear in the thick timber but down below that likely is the best hunting. I’m foothills will find bear near juniper berries. Typically somewhat close to water.

Eastern Sierra- knowing where the berries are, when they’re ripe, and then glassing those big hillsides will get you on bear in early archery season. As October rolls around, may still have some chokecherry that’s ripe. As you get higher up to 10000’ food sources are less common so beats prefer to be lower. Bears will be high early season and move down as things ripen and then move up as higher ripens later and then moves back down. Later season pinyon pine nuts can be very good which are often around 6000’. Bears seem to get thirsty when eating pinyon pine nuts so water sources may be popular. Scat is easy to identify as you can see the seeds. Tree scrapes can also be identified. East side bears are typically in hibernation by mid November, so need to get it done by then.

Northern CA
Often tighter areas. Less spot and stalk and more sitting in common bear areas or still hunting or spotting bears which will likely already be in range when you see them. There’s a lot of bears up north. The trinity area seems to have bears everywhere. Most bears killed in CA are up north. If sitting, beats will often try to flank an area to make sure and approach from down wind. You might be signaled by other animals that will make warning noises as bears approach that could key you in that one is coming, grey squirrels in particular.

 

[TheYukiYama]

Check out "Black Bear Pursuit" on instagram or youtube.

Probably one of the most knowledgeable and involved guys when it comes to california black bear hunting

Listened to his podcast with Mike Costello. Seth of black bear pursuit seems to have a major focus on mule deer, but I’ll have to look through there and see what I can find on bears as well. He seems to be a bit further north than me but if I do any hunting on the western foothills I’m sure his info could come in handy.

 

[willfrye027]

I am not a big bear guy. But when there is a good crop of acorns, we’ve had sessions seeing 10 or more bears glassing from a distance and then putting the stalk on. This is usually the first week or two of November but definitely they love dropping acorns if you can figure out the timing on that, and the different oak tree species/when the drop. Then all of the sudden they are just GONE.

 

[TheYukiYama]

I am not a big bear guy. But when there is a good crop of acorns, we’ve had sessions seeing 10 or more bears glassing from a distance and then putting the stalk on. This is usually the first week or two of November but definitely they love dropping acorns if you can figure out the timing on that, and the different oak tree species/when the drop. Then all of the sudden they are just GONE.

Appreciate the input, interesting how valuable those acorns can be to them and how quick it happens. Is this western Sierra you’ve done this? Any certain time of day they seemed more active? Also if you don’t mind, i haven’t hunted in CA before, is public land pretty crazy around deer season opener?

 

[willfrye027]

Appreciate the input, interesting how valuable those acorns can be to them and how quick it happens. Is this western Sierra you’ve done this? Any certain time of day they seemed more active? Also if you don’t mind, i haven’t hunted in CA before, is public land pretty crazy around deer season opener?

This is d7 area. They seemed to be active almost all day long during the magical week or two of acorn drop. It doesn’t happen every year acorn crops depending on the specific tree can be random on what years there is a good crop. Opener near the roads can be busy, but it’s also probably the best time to be in the woods. Deer are both largely undisturbed and may be in the same place you scouted them, and you also have deer getting bumped/pushed around. Mostly I backpack hunt d7 these days so less applicable but have also killed a few in the front country opening weekend.

Outside of that, they are pretty seclusive. More so than deer IMO. Pretty nocturnal. But if you get deep into some thick and nasty stuff there will be lots of bear sign. I think they are very in tune with humans and can smell where people have been recently and seek out undisturbed areas until they go nuts with hyperphagia in the fall or if a good food source pops up. My buddy has called one in with a distress call. I killed one archery hunting a few years ago just happened upon him leaving some super thick brush at last light. But I don’t really target them, don’t care too much for eating them.

 

[ThunderJack49]

Appreciate the input, interesting how valuable those acorns can be to them and how quick it happens. Is this western Sierra you’ve done this? Any certain time of day they seemed more active? Also if you don’t mind, i haven’t hunted in CA before, is public land pretty crazy around deer season opener?

Can you make it to the Kit Carson wilderness? I saw lots of bears in there once upon a time. A buddy even found a bear skull, the only guy I know who has done that.

 

[TheYukiYama]

Can you make it to the Kit Carson wilderness? I saw lots of bears in there once upon a time. A buddy even found a bear skull, the only guy I know who has done that.

Appreciate the pointer. I can make it about anywhere. I’ve got no problem driving and fortunately have a pretty flexible schedule allowing me to devote a fair amount of time. Looks like that area sees a decent number of bears harvested so your tip makes sense.

 

[ThunderJack49]

Appreciate the pointer. I can make it about anywhere. I’ve got no problem driving and fortunately have a pretty flexible schedule allowing me to devote a fair amount of time. Looks like that area sees a decent number of bears harvested so your tip makes sense.

there was a large wildfire, I think it was 2020. The fire's ?Northern? edge follows a river. If you can find something on the map that sounds like that, that is where I was. I'm not being vague to give you a hard time, we are just at the limits of my memory.

 

[running&hunting]

Hunting ain't easy pod cast

The guy that runs this podcast has been really helpful and great to chat with. Highly recommend!

 

[running&hunting]

Listened to the Huntin ain’t easy podcast series on black bear. Here is what stuck out to me. Do these track with everyone? Anything major missing? I’m out of Bakersfield so plan to hunt the Sierras, probably spend some time both on east and west side.

Bear are much more adaptable than many other animals I’ve hunted, and therefore where and when you’re hunting is important. Mike did a good job having guests from different areas on, but generally bears will be where the food is, so based on your area and time of year find that.

3000-8000’ seems to hold most bear. They eat grass or fawns in the spring. Late summer they’ll eat berries based on what’s ripe. Then usually acorns or nuts in the fall if they’re in the area.

Very important to learn your berries and when they’re ripe. Common target berries include service berries, currants elderberry, manzanita and snow berry. Not only do the berries ripen at different times of year, they’ll vary with temperature which varies with elevation. Knowing berries will help you know where to be. Bears may spend a few days in a berry patch.

Learn to identify bear scat. This will tell you what they’re eating, but knowing how fresh it is can be quite difficult unless it is very fresh.

Bears will flip rocks and tear apart logs looking for bugs. Can sometimes be easier to tell how recent it is.

There are a lot of bears in California. You seem better off picking an area and getting to know it well rather than bouncing around trying to find a bunch of bear.

Common tactics include sitting at known bear locations, such as water, food sources, or routes. Another major one is spot and stalk. Find an access point with ability to reach multiple ridges with spotting ability at areas you’ve scouted and know there’s food sources. Early morning they move around more so glassing improves your odds of catching one. As the day heats up they’ll often slow down when still hunting areas you know bear hang out can be best.

Areas with wildfires 2-5 years prior can be good as the regrowth can have good food sources. Bears can particularly be found around areas with pockets that didn’t get burned.

Bears also eat a lot of human food. They can often be found near popular camp grounds, day use areas or popular trails where they steal human food.

There are a lot of color phase bears in CA so you aren’t only looking for black when spotting.

Talk with a biologist. They spend a lot of time studying these animals and will often be helpful and answer your questions, though unlikely to give you directions right to a bear.

Tracking bear can also be valuable. Can find tracks on soft dirt of closed roads. Stomp trails are heavy indents in the ground. You can learn the areas bear use and where they’re eating. It’s usually easier to tell how recent a track is

Before taking a bear, make sure you know how to process it. Getting the meat and hide and getting it out.
The few main areas are below.

Western Sierra- major target here (during hunting season) is acorns. Just because you’re in oaks, doesn’t mean there’s good acorns. Can be good berries also. Water can also be a good resource here. There are bear in the thick timber but down below that likely is the best hunting. I’m foothills will find bear near juniper berries. Typically somewhat close to water.

Eastern Sierra- knowing where the berries are, when they’re ripe, and then glassing those big hillsides will get you on bear in early archery season. As October rolls around, may still have some chokecherry that’s ripe. As you get higher up to 10000’ food sources are less common so beats prefer to be lower. Bears will be high early season and move down as things ripen and then move up as higher ripens later and then moves back down. Later season pinyon pine nuts can be very good which are often around 6000’. Bears seem to get thirsty when eating pinyon pine nuts so water sources may be popular. Scat is easy to identify as you can see the seeds. Tree scrapes can also be identified. East side bears are typically in hibernation by mid November, so need to get it done by then.

Northern CA
Often tighter areas. Less spot and stalk and more sitting in common bear areas or still hunting or spotting bears which will likely already be in range when you see them. There’s a lot of bears up north. The trinity area seems to have bears everywhere. Most bears killed in CA are up north. If sitting, beats will often try to flank an area to make sure and approach from down wind. You might be signaled by other animals that will make warning noises as bears approach that could key you in that one is coming, grey squirrels in particular.

This was a great summary! Would you happen to have any advice on food sources in the Trinity area the 1st/2nd week of October?

 

[TheYukiYama]

This was a great summary! Would you happen to have any advice on food sources in the Trinity area the 1st/2nd week of October?

Nope. I’ve never hunted there. and after the last six days I’ve spent glassing only to briefly glimpse a single bear, I’m not sure you’d want by advice anyway haha
Bears can move quite a ways for food and then can really hole up and not move much once on a good food source. So if you’re not seeing sign or bears, I think you’d be best served trying a different elevation or area with different food availability.

 

[willfrye027]

Nope. I’ve never hunted there. and after the last six days I’ve spent glassing only to briefly glimpse a single bear, I’m not sure you’d want by advice anyway haha
Bears can move quite a ways for food and then can really hole up and not move much once on a good food source. So if you’re not seeing sign or bears, I think you’d be best served trying a different elevation or area with different food availability.

There is a great acorn crop this year, at least in central CA. On good acorn years first couple weeks of November can be some insanely good bear hunting in the foothills

 

[TheYukiYama]

There is a great acorn crop this year, at least in central CA. On good acorn years first couple weeks of November can be some insanely good bear hunting in the foothills

I’ve been hunting the eastern side where there’s no acorns, but there are pinyon which seem to have a good crop. Bad crop of berries. I’ve been on pinyons for multiple days that are dropping but nothing so far. If nothing in the next few weeks maybe I’ll have to give the western slope a try

 

[Cchunter]

Excellent thread with good information. I’m new to hunting bear in the eastern Sierra. I’ve hunted for deer at high elevation in D5 (west of Markleeville) this season and seen virtually no bear sign at high elevation. I’ll be heading further south for bear. It sounds like I should look for pinion pines dropping nuts around 6000’. Any recommendations or thoughts?

 

[Bubblehide]

Excellent thread with good information. I’m new to hunting bear in the eastern Sierra. I’ve hunted for deer at high elevation in D5 (west of Markleeville) this season and seen virtually no bear sign at high elevation. I’ll be heading further south for bear. It sounds like I should look for pinion pines dropping nuts around 6000’. Any recommendations or thoughts?

They akso eat juniper berries this time of year. They are highly likely to be reasonably close to water unless they are on the move (they need water for digestion). Bears are very dependent on water. Additionally, if they are going after juniper berries or nuts, typically they are making noise, so use your ears too.

Good luck!