Black Bear Hunting Good in Most Places
In most areas of the state bear seasons overlap deer and elk seasons, many hunters pick up a bear tag just in case they happen to see a bear while deer or elk hunting.
Northeast Washington’s opening day for the most popular black bear units (GMU’s 101, 105, 109, 113, and 117) is moved back to the day after Labor Day (September 5) for 2000. The August season has been eliminated in these units because of over-harvest. There is still a good bear population and hunter success should be high.
Wild berry production is a critical factor in the bears feeding habits, so knowing the location and status of berries will dictate when and where to hunt. Ferry County and GMU 105 in northern Stevens County are excellent bear hunting areas. The season continues to open August 1 in the Huckleberry Unit (121) and Mount Spokane Unit, (124). In Spokane County, scout Mica Peak and areas north of the Spokane River for wild apple trees on old homesteads, or look for huckleberry patches. Predator calling can also be an effective way to hunt black bear.
Southeast Washington’s Blue Mountains has a high black bear population, but hunting will be difficult due to few and scattered natural foraging areas. Scout for old orchards, huckleberry fields, hawthorn thickets, plum thickets, and blackberry patches. Hunters are reminded that the bear season opening date for this area has been changed from August 1 to September 5.
Black bear populations appear healthy in northcentral and southcentral Washington and hunting should be good. However, the number of complaints about bear damage or other problems -- a relative indicator of populations -- is lower this year than last. In the north Puget Sound region, private timber lands should be good bear hunting places for hunters who gain permission to bike or hike behind closed gates. Two bears can be harvested throughout western Washington; check the hunting rules pamphlet on page 28 for details.
Black bears are found throughout the southwest region, but the Willapa Hills and the lower hills of eastern Lewis County have the largest populations. High bear numbers and damage from bears have been reported on the Weyerhaeuser Vail tree farm, particularly in the Thompson and Hanaford drainage. Interested hunters should contact the Weyerhaeuser toll free access line at 800-361-5602.
In the coastal region of the Olympic Peninsula bear populations continue to do well. Hunters should key in on open forest areas that are producing trailing blackberries, or on large huckleberry openings. Higher elevation ridges surrounding Olympic National Park offer openings where bears will be foraging in late August and September. Along the coast, openings around cedar swamps and natural prairies where crabapple and cascara thrive offer good opportunities.
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