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Anybody Spring Bear Hunting this year?

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Anybody getting out for spring bear? We are headed out this weekend. Very new to bear hunting and dont have much idea what we are looking for as far as terrain and feed, but going to give it a go

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We went out a few weekends ago; didnt find any bears but did help a couple older guys get a sxs out that they had rolled the night before. I think that day we were meant to be out there to help them rather than find a bear. They’d have been there well through the night without some additional help.

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They are out there. Found this yesterday.

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1 hour ago, Evan T said:

They are out there. Found this yesterday.

IMG_20240414_162244791_HDR.jpg

Guess im just in the wrong areas. Do they seem to be feeding on one specific type of vegetation right now?

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From what I understand they are mostly feeding on vegetation this time of year. Permanent water sources in isolated canyons seem to be the key. 5-7000 ft range. Oak and juniper country below the pines. At least that's the impression I'm getting. Just started looking for them last spring so I'm no expert. 

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The ones i saw in March were eating old manzanita berries and  grass

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My Cinco de Mayo bear

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Screenshot_20240506_171539_Gallery.jpg

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Glassed across bay. Saw a few bears feeding.  Finally found one who looked big Decided he needed a closer look than ¾ mile.  Had good wind. Took the boat over. Tied up to some rocks,  sneaked down the beach 200 yards to where this toad was feeding on herring roe.

Watched him for 20 minutes. Decided i was going to pass.  As we started to back out he saw us.  He climbed up on the bluff parallel with the beach.  Knowing that he was going to try and flank us we headed for boat.  He peeked over the edge a couple of times. We came to the creek where we beached the boat and he had a steep trail off the bluff. 

He stood up and looked at me,  pinned his ears back and started down towards me.  He was maybe 20 yards. I shouldered and fired. The shot set him back.  He retreated and i hit him again.  He tried to get down in another spot but it was shear and rocky so he faded into the alders of sight, in the bluff. 

Went up and found blood. Took 20 minutes to sort the trail out. Went into the alder thicket slowly.  After 15 minutes and 20 yards i saw him and made straight to him. Second charge but i hit him immediately.  He then turned and went away.  dang these things are tough. 

I circled and got above him and put another one in him. 

I then closed in and finished him with my 10mm.

2 partitions exited, 2 stayed in, trapped by the skin from exiting.  10mm bullet penetrated 40+ inches. He died in a devils club thicket amidst the alders. Took 6 hours to skin in the tight quarters. The hide was wet and muddy and weighed 180 pounds. 2 of us carried it the 200 yards to the beach. Loaded the boat and headed to camp.  Tough, grueling day. 

One of the shots hit the front of his lower jaw and took out a few teeth. Kinda bummed about that. 

Took him to town and had him sealed. 

9' 6", 28 ⁵/16.

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9 hours ago, catclaw said:

...As we started to back out he saw us.  He climbed up on the bluff parallel with the beach.  Knowing that he was going to try and flank us we headed for boat.  He peeked over the edge a couple of times. We came to the creek where we beached the boat and he had a steep trail off the bluff. 

He stood up and looked at me,  pinned his ears back and started down towards me.  He was maybe 20 yards. I shouldered and fired. The shot set him back.  He retreated and i hit him again.  He tried to get down in another spot but it was shear and rocky so he faded into the alders of sight, in the bluff. 

Went up and found blood. Took 20 minutes to sort the trail out. Went into the alder thicket slowly.  After 15 minutes and 20 yards i saw him and made straight to him. Second charge but i hit him immediately.  He then turned and went away.  dang these things are tough. 

I circled and got above him and put another one in him. 

I then closed in and finished him with my 10mm...

Sound like an exciting turn of events!

Congratulations on the success!

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