WA resident here looking for advice

[mrdeadheadr]

Hey everyone, I've been on a few out of state elk hunting trips. I really want to get out and try a solo bear hunting trip next year here in Washington. Any one can point me in a right area to go for good glassing/finding bears?

MUCH appreciate any help. Thanks!

 

[92xj]

why wait until next year? Just go this fall.
And there are bears everywhere. I have no idea where you are located but there is decent bear hunting within two hours of you.
Find their food, sit and glass.

 

[shootnrun]

There is no need to wait or make a big game plan. Get above tree line, find ripe berries, sit and wait. I've lost track exactly, but I'm around an even dozen bears with this tactic. Best we've done is 3 bears in 16 hrs. 1 in the evening, slept, 2 before noon the next day.
I haven't done much lowland bear. Seems I hear about random opportunity more than folks having a strategy to target anything specific. But there may be someone here who has lowland dialed and give you pointers.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Go hit the alpine in the Cascades.

 

[Bachto]

Find the huckleberries and you will eventually find the bears.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Yep, berries=bears.

 

[Oncorhynchus]

We live in a great state for bear hunting (aside from the F&W Commission removing spring bear opportunity). Two bears OTC in most units and beautiful long summer days in Aug & Sept. In the low lands I look for clear cuts under a decade old with blackberries. As others have said, alpine berry pockets are money too!

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I think I read somewhere one time that WA has more black bears than anywhere in CONUS.

 

[xrangerx]

I’ve never gone for bears either, I’m thinking this might be my first year too. SW WA

 

[DenimChicken]

I've done alright in other places, but I haven't had near as much consistent success in WA as would seem logical given the number of bears in state. I see more bears in suburban/semi-rural areas than I do out hunting the high country. I'm gonna give it another concerted effort this summer.

 

[shootnrun]

All day sits seem to work for us. We've killed 12 bears on one ridge the last 5 years.

 

[DenimChicken]

All day sits seem to work for us. We've killed 12 bears on one ridge the last 5 years.

I need to work on figuring out the right locations for late summer. I think I'm looking in good areas at the wrong time.

I usually head out of state for spring bear and have figured out patterns for different areas in spring bears, but I am trying to use that same knowledge base during August when WA opens. I don't put in a ton of time or effort in WA because I've typically already harvested a bear and by the time September rolls around I'm chasing elk then deer and don't give bear very much effort.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

I've done alright in other places, but I haven't had near as much consistent success in WA as would seem logical given the number of bears in state. I see more bears in suburban/semi-rural areas than I do out hunting the high country. I'm gonna give it another concerted effort this summer.

Also, lots of terrain that's difficult/nearly impossible to hunt being limited to (basically) spot and stalk. There's a reason baiting and hounds are allowed elsewhere!