Finding Bears And Berries

[BuckhunterBen]

Hey guys, I set some trail cameras over the summer in a drainage filled with berries and running water. Went back in today to pull them and no berries or running water(Which I was prepared for). Cams revealed bears running around until about 2 weeks ago.

Now obviously I’ve read a ton on here and done other research so I’m aware that bears generally aren’t gonna be where they were in July/August come September.

Is it even worth going into that drainage to sit some of the standing water?

No berries, no fresh sign, no bueno.

 

[Hem]

Hey guys, I set some trail cameras over the summer in a drainage filled with berries and running water. Went back in today to pull them and no berries or running water(Which I was prepared for). Cams revealed bears running around until about 2 weeks ago.

Now obviously I’ve read a ton on here and done other research so I’m aware that bears generally aren’t gonna be where they were in July/August come September.

Is it even worth going into that drainage to sit some of the standing water?

No berries, no fresh sign, no bueno.

They probably are all town bears now raiding dumpsters. No joke.

 

[Straight Arrow]

​ More than 60 bear sightings this week in Bozeman, as city urges bear-proof bins​

KBZK TV news.

 

[Hem]

[td] ​ ​ [td] ​ More than 60 bear sightings this week in Bozeman, as city urges bear-proof bins​

[td] Bears are showing up all over Bozeman and the city is urging residents to take steps to keep both people and wildlife safe. ​

​

[/td]

[/td]

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My daughter at Chi Omega has a video of one going in the dumpster behind the sorority.

 

[El Jason]

No berries, no fresh sign, no bueno.

No bears. Go somewhere else. Find the food.

 

[Coopers]

No bears. Go somewhere else. Find the food.

any tips for finding the food? Other than boot leather?

 

[El Jason]

Not knowing where you are, the food sources I’d look for are, in no particular order:

Fruit trees. Old homesteads.

Chokecherries in foothill creek bottoms.

Old burns and look for bears digging

High ish altitude and find the currant bushes

 

[Coopers]

How old of burns are we talkin?

 

[BuckhunterBen]

I’d imagine 5 plus years but I’m not familiar enough to give a solid answer

 

[El Jason]

How old of burns are we talkin?

Stuff with lots of rotten and down logs.

 

[Burn Pile]

They probably are all town bears now raiding dumpsters. No joke.

Thats what I'm worried about for my tag. My usual areas that have some food in rough years have nothing this year. And if I'm far enough from town then they're hitting campsites. Hopefully the archery boys and gals are supplying a few natural food sources.

 

[Burn Pile]

If you can find an area where there are some around then sitting water is a reasonable option if you have ok line or sight and wind conditions. If they're around they're going to need the water. But if there's no fresh sign or any food near by they won't be going all the way out there just for water. They'll be hitting water thats closer to their food zone. Whatever that is for this year.