Anyone have any bear stories? We hiked 5 miles thru road closures, never saw another hunter, counted over 20 deer, but no bear.

Saw no bear yesterday, but did see a nice one this morning. He was on his way out of dodge about 550 yards away. No chance for a shot. Have been seeing a lot of deer though.

Maybe tonight will be the night.

Lotta deer but no bears.

lottsa big bulls but no bears.. oh well i have my bull pick out. 2 months to go...

I've personally checked every square mile of "Bearless" country. Last weekend I spent three days and never found a single sigh of bear. Covered miles and miles of country around Jasper Mountain, on a "tip" from someone that said that area was full of bears.

I'm definately begining to think that those fellows that "claim" there are bears in Washington, are full of crap! West siders that say they see 10 bears a night and have to "pick" the one they really want...yeah right!

I've been trying for 4 years to get a bear. I used to see them when Elk & Deer hunting, now I can't find one to save my rump? When I wasn't interested in them, there they were, now that I'm trying...they've left the State.

The next hypothosis that I'm going to throw out is likely to get me shot, but there's a distict possiblity that the reason none of you guy's saw bears last weekend, is because I was in the woods. I won't be out next weekend, so you'd better go hunting while you can...I may make it out the third weekend, so don't waste your time on the hill, the bears will be in Hawaii that weekend.

45/70

Been a little slow in my area, only two killed opening day and one on day two.

Got mine with with a cow call (it works great)
It wasn't huge, went 170 minus the guts.

I will try to post a pic and story later.

45/70 - The WETside is loaded with bears, but it is so damn brushy. I reccommend listening more than using your eyes in this situation..This is my tenth bear in eleven years on the westside, and I have heard most before I spotted them...

Ill be going out to try and bag a bear this weekend. Ill be hunting up in Whatcom County.

I have seen lots of bear sign while pre season scouting. Water Water Water is a good location too look around.
like they say: you need to be in the right place at the right time.

Check your scent and shoot straight!!!

Good luck to all

Every one is just hunting the wrong spots. You need to move closer to the cities. Like in the "burbs. They are seeing them all the time. Hunt near houses with small dogs. Bears and cougars love them.

You guys have any advice on caring for game after the kill when the weather is still hot? I can't hang one in the garage and spend the next couple of evenings cutting it when it's this warm.

If I'm hunting on foot my packboards are with me. Small saw, sharp knives, rope and game bags. Upon making the kill, I field dress and skin. wrap meat with cheesecloth game bags and head for the truck, I have a chest freezer at home that I will stick the meat in to cool. If you have a long drive you better have a big cooler that is packed with ice but keep your meat dry when you put it in coolers. Dry Ice works well for this. I know guys that used to pack their bear out on one of those things that search and rescue people use to bring injured people out on. Then they hit the first cold river and submerge it for an hour to cool.

Seen bear number five hit the ground last night ,all but one of them were in a creek eating berries the one last night we had to hike down the hill right above him for a shot.A few other good bear hunters that I know said the same thing most of the bear they have seen shot have been on the creek edges.

You guys need any help weeding out them pesky bears, all you gotta do is tell me where you hunt & I'll come and get the ones you don't want around...

There aren't any over here, I checked!

45/70