2014 Spring Bear?

[QuazyQuinton]

Anybody going after spring bear this year in Oregon? Have you made your plans and applied for tags yet?

Two years ago I hunted with a party of four in the Snake River unit, and my nephew shot his first big game animal. I've been ready to go back ever since, and I'm hoping to establish a plan where my family can make Snake River spring bear an annual event. The problem is I took my wife on her first eastside spring hunt last year on the Sled Springs-Chesnimnus, and she didn't appreciate the terrain very much. Gonna have to think about it a little more before we head to a place that's called Hell's Canyon. So I'm still not sure, but hoping to be out chasing them sometime in May.

QQ

 

[Timberstalker]

Not this year but maybe in the future. The daughter said she would like to go when she's done with school and sports. I started building her points last year, Chesnimnus is where I would take her. I personally don't have any interest in shooting a bear, but I love the country, she likes to hunt so it would be fun to take her.

 

[Joe Hulburt]

But of course! Running low on canned enchilada meat so it must be getting close.

 

[QuazyQuinton]

But of course! Running low on canned enchilada meat so it must be getting close.

If I recall correctly, for the size of bears you shoot, you must eat a lot of enchiladas!

QQ

 

[gonhunting247]

View attachment 7728I'm in the same boat, but it's breakfast sausage for me!

 

[gschuer]

Got four points and am put in for West Blues. Heard there are quite a few color phase bears in that area so hoping for a good hunt. Anyone have any info to share on general access points for the hunt. Have 4 wheeler and two strong legs to take me where I need to be.

 

[QuazyQuinton]

Well, after saving points and looking forward to hiking the canyons of the Snake River unit in search of bears, I decided saving some money was probably the prudent thing for this year. Consequently I'm in with a party of four to hopefully draw Wilson-Trask tags as a second choice. That tag seems to be getting harder to draw as a second choice, but hopefully we'll have a chance to get out for a few Saturdays and evenings to find a bear or two. And I haven't forgotten about the Snake River unit.

QQ

 

[Joe Hulburt]

If I recall correctly, for the size of bears you shoot, you must eat a lot of enchiladas!

QQ

We eat a few.

Finished up early this year!


54 yard shot and I'm back to canning bear meat.


Any other Oregon bears to share?? Good luck to those of you still at it!

 

[Timberstalker]

Nice looking bear Joe!

 

[QuazyQuinton]

Well, the season has come to an end, and I was entirely unsuccessful. I took my wife and kids up last night for a final try, but all I could find were elk. One of these years I'll figure out how to find bears in that unit.

Hopefully next year I'll be back to chasing them on the east side.

QQ

 

[Joseph]

I just got back from a short two day backpack trip in the Kootenays not far into the mountains near where I live. My hunting partner and I packed 4km into a road closure before finding a nice little camp site with a million dollar view of Kootenay lake. We saw two bears the first day, if either had given me the opportunity I would have shot. The first was a gorgeous reddish brown colour and a decent size, the second was a smaller bear but I'm not looking for a trophy so either would have legal if they had just stuck around. The second bear actually ambled through our camp before we noticed him 40-50m away from our tents. He was gone before I could get to my rifle. The next day(today) we had elk and mule deer wander through while we were packing up, we had 10 elk,4 mule deer, and a bear within 100m or less of our tents/camp. I think we may have stumbled upon a very productive little hotspot. I can't wait to hunt elk, deer, and bear from there this fall. I was glassing animals the whole time right from camp, make a cup of tea, grab the binoculars and find a nice cozy backrest. It was a blast.

 

[tim]

Minam state park campground has a nice cinnamon bear raiding trash cans and campsites. threw rocks, and hit him with them, yelled and tried scaring him out of there. eventualyy sat at the end of my tail gate with my pistol in my hand with the warning shot circle 20feet out in my head, and the shooting circle 5 feet out. he stopped 25 feet from my truck. we had a little stair down, and he eventually left. the whole episode took about a half hour, from first seeing him and trying to shoo him away until he finally left.

one of the most intense and not fun encounters in my life and i have been charged by grizzlies before.

 

[Wild Country]

We eat a few.

Finished up early this year!


54 yard shot and I'm back to canning bear meat.


Any other Oregon bears to share?? Good luck to those of you still at it![/QUOTE

What happen to the ol' trusty 30-30 Joe? Looks like you have a new friend in the background!

 

[Joe Hulburt]

What happen to the ol' trusty 30-30 Joe? Looks like you have a new friend in the background!

I thought I wanted to be able to kill one from a distance. Spotted this boar at 475 yards and adjusted the scope for the shot and got on the bear but it didn't feel right so I snuck up on him. 30-30 would have loved to have been there! This bear went farther than any I've killed with the 30-30...it will see more spring bear action!

 

[Wild Country]

I thought I wanted to be able to kill one from a distance. Spotted this boar at 475 yards and adjusted the scope for the shot and got on the bear but it didn't feel right so I snuck up on him. 30-30 would have loved to have been there! This bear went farther than any I've killed with the 30-30...it will see more spring bear action!

He'll of a shot.....I would have still snuck up on him no matter what distance I shot him at but congratulations on a nice bear. And I love to see bear photos....I had my string of drawing the snake for spring bear broken this year and didn't get to hunt this year. So August 1 I will have my bow in hand and call in mouth! Thanks for sharing.