Upon lamenting my lost opportunity this spring for a bear hunt, my wife mentioned that perhaps I should go "next" spring. Looking around I see that Oregon has essentially an over the counter spring bear tag available in the SW corner of the state. As I already buy an Oregon license every year this hunt makes sense. I was raised in the Bandon, Coos Bay area so it would be like going home. I would appreciate if possible some dialog from any of you SW Oregon bear hunters on perhaps some areas to start looking in. I know its early but I am already planning and will be scouting for my 2014 Wyoming Elk Hunt this fall.
2014 Spring Bear Hunt
- Thread starter Elkman
- Start date
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
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Best of luck on both, the spring bear hunt and the elk hunt!
Cool.
Cool.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,505
- 6,517
Bill,
That sounds great. Hope you score on both bear and elk in this coming year.
That sounds great. Hope you score on both bear and elk in this coming year.
Just got back from the Reedsport area. Two people, one bear, and a nice hunt.
The bear we shot last week was along a smaller creek edge in tall grass, grazing like a cow. We were driving out of a dead end canyon, crossing a bridge, when my buddy says "bear". The bear was 214 yds up river. We both got out, Ken took the shot and dropped the bear with it falling into a pool type area of the creek. Gather the pack frame, rope, game bags and knives. Broke through blackberry bushes to get to the waters edge and headed up stream.. Looked around for the bear, no bear, then I see something floating on the other side of the creek...dead bear.
Since I had extra boots in the car, I offered to wade out into the stream. I take the rope and a knife and head out. The water is waist deep, cool but not too cold. The pool area is about 30 ft across. The bear is floating face down. Tie a rope around his back feet and floated him down river. Just below the bridge we were crossing is an old car crossing area. Floated the bear to the crossing, probably 250 yds from where we shot him, backed the suburban up to the water, and that is the story. Retreiving a bear does not get much easier in the area than that.
Great fun, nice weather.
Bear was shot with a 270 WSM - 130 gr AB. Little bit behind and above of the shoulder.
Oregon does not allow baiting. Those not familiar with our coastal range mountains, need to imagine the steepest hillsides and I mean steep hillsides, thick brush and trees, and lots of food sources for bears. Bears here are the ghost of the forest.
Ideally one finds clear cuts, spots across the open cuts, along the timber edge and sees lots of bears. Finding the perfect clear cut is miles and miles of driving. I have seen LOTS of sign and bears on top of the ridge line roads. Seen is key, as they are fast and two steps off the road and they are gone, invisible in the foliage.
I have seen more bears along the river edges where there is LOTS of grass.
While I do not consider myself a bear hunting expert. For the areas I hunt, I look for water and grass in the spring. In the fall, I look for water, grass and blackberries.
The SW area of Oregon has lots of bears, VERY tough terrain, lots of food and water.
Good luck.
The bear we shot last week was along a smaller creek edge in tall grass, grazing like a cow. We were driving out of a dead end canyon, crossing a bridge, when my buddy says "bear". The bear was 214 yds up river. We both got out, Ken took the shot and dropped the bear with it falling into a pool type area of the creek. Gather the pack frame, rope, game bags and knives. Broke through blackberry bushes to get to the waters edge and headed up stream.. Looked around for the bear, no bear, then I see something floating on the other side of the creek...dead bear.
Since I had extra boots in the car, I offered to wade out into the stream. I take the rope and a knife and head out. The water is waist deep, cool but not too cold. The pool area is about 30 ft across. The bear is floating face down. Tie a rope around his back feet and floated him down river. Just below the bridge we were crossing is an old car crossing area. Floated the bear to the crossing, probably 250 yds from where we shot him, backed the suburban up to the water, and that is the story. Retreiving a bear does not get much easier in the area than that.
Great fun, nice weather.
Bear was shot with a 270 WSM - 130 gr AB. Little bit behind and above of the shoulder.
Oregon does not allow baiting. Those not familiar with our coastal range mountains, need to imagine the steepest hillsides and I mean steep hillsides, thick brush and trees, and lots of food sources for bears. Bears here are the ghost of the forest.
Ideally one finds clear cuts, spots across the open cuts, along the timber edge and sees lots of bears. Finding the perfect clear cut is miles and miles of driving. I have seen LOTS of sign and bears on top of the ridge line roads. Seen is key, as they are fast and two steps off the road and they are gone, invisible in the foliage.
I have seen more bears along the river edges where there is LOTS of grass.
While I do not consider myself a bear hunting expert. For the areas I hunt, I look for water and grass in the spring. In the fall, I look for water, grass and blackberries.
The SW area of Oregon has lots of bears, VERY tough terrain, lots of food and water.
Good luck.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,505
- 6,517
Good account, ochemo. I do enjoy spring bear hunting. Spot and stalk is the way it is done here (and simply being opportunistic).
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,840
- 6,322
That seems like a very good hunt Orchemo! I like the idea of floating the bear carcass down the creek to the truck!
Several years ago I passed on a BIG bear and the end of the day, he was across a river and down an embankment. I had already hauled one bear out earlier in the day and was wiped out. This bear was 40 yds away eating bunches of grass. Watch him for 5 minutes, then spooked him off.
Later I thought, I bet he would have floated.......boat ramp 1/4 mile down river.....missed an easy big bear.
Lessons learned
Eric
Later I thought, I bet he would have floated.......boat ramp 1/4 mile down river.....missed an easy big bear.
Lessons learned
Eric
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