Washington Fall Bears

[Mountain Mule]

I was planning an Idaho bear hunt, but with recent fires dampening my hopes of going where I wanted to in Idaho, I have decided to switch gears and head to Washington. I plan on hunting the more northern Cascades (Glacier Peak Wilderness or Mount Baker Wilderness) on the west side of the divide. I plan on leaving Aug. 28th after work and hunting through the 7th if needed. I will primarily be backpacking in on high alpine ridges glassing as much country as possible while targeting berry patches. I don't have my location exactly set, but I plan on coming up with a few main zones to target. If you have any experience hunting this terrain, area or with alpine bear hunting in general, id love to hear from you. Im stoked for this hunt and to have a solid write-up when its all wrapped up. Thanks!

 

[Matthew57]

Never hunted there but good luck! Post photos

 

[kwyeewyk]

Haven't hunted those areas but my general experience with the north cascades, west side in particular, is that off trail travel can be difficult at best and damn near impossible at worst. Vine maple and devils club can be awful. Also be prepared for wetness, even if it just rains for a little while the brush holds it and rains it on you as you pass beneath. I'd spend a lot of time escouting areas with trails accessing high ridges and trying to find glassing spots. Most of our peaks are relatively low elevation so the amount of true alpine is somewhat limited and finding good vantage points can be difficult. Good luck.

 

[Mountain Mule]

Haven't hunted those areas but my general experience with the north cascades, west side in particular, is that off trail travel can be difficult at best and damn near impossible at worst. Vine maple and devils club can be awful. Also be prepared for wetness, even if it just rains for a little while the brush holds it and rains it on you as you pass beneath. I'd spend a lot of time escouting areas with trails accessing high ridges and trying to find glassing spots. Most of our peaks are relatively low elevation so the amount of true alpine is somewhat limited and finding good vantage points can be difficult. Good luck.

That makes sense. Most of my off-trail travel will be mostly above tree-line. I grew up in western Washington, but I moved away before I got seriously into hunting. Im excited to go back to hunt some of the ground near where I grew up and to likely take away a whole new prospective on it. Limiting my distance to the truck while hunting solo will be a challenge in such steep and large ground, but I'll keep it within 10 miles of the truck.

 

[Letthemgrow]

We pick berries in those areas every year. Bears are not hard to find.
You will have fun.

 

[RG300]

I was planning an Idaho bear hunt, but with recent fires dampening my hopes of going where I wanted to in Idaho, I have decided to switch gears and head to Washington. I plan on hunting the more northern Cascades (Glacier Peak Wilderness or Mount Baker Wilderness) on the west side of the divide. I plan on leaving Aug. 28th after work and hunting through the 7th if needed. I will primarily be backpacking in on high alpine ridges glassing as much country as possible while targeting berry patches. I don't have my location exactly set, but I plan on coming up with a few main zones to target. If you have any experience hunting this terrain, area or with alpine bear hunting in general, id love to hear from you. Im stoked for this hunt and to have a solid write-up when its all wrapped up. Thanks!

Good Luck......I know a guy who regularly hunts these areas where u are going, but he is not sharing any info..... I have never hunted because i do not know where to go & can not afford to take time off for scouting & no one wants to share info......the terrain in these areas are very unforgiving so be careful & keep head on swivel. Good Luck, looking forward to your after action report.