Steamboat springs bear hunting

[scuba steve]

I have elk hunted near Steamboat Springs and saw some bear sign but now I drew a rifle bear tag and would appreciate any advice, Thanks

 

[dogz]

I have elk hunted near Steamboat Springs and saw some bear sign but now I drew a rifle bear tag and would appreciate any advice, Thanks

I take it you have a fall bear tag, if so I'd try to key in on area's with good berry crops (if they have them, I don't know the area but I do know fall bear hunting). To that, I'd go as early in the season as I could. When you hunted elk was it during the rifle season or archery?

 

[COBrad]

I've seen most of my bears hunting water holes. I have a couple spring fed ponds a few miles above the house that pull bears like a magnet when the berries are good. Years when there's no berry crop up there I see only an occasional small bear there as the rest are down in the valleys where there's something to eat… frequently raiding trash cans

 

[scuba steve]

I take it you have a fall bear tag, if so I'd try to key in on area's with good berry crops (if they have them, I don't know the area but I do know fall bear hunting). To that, I'd go as early in the season as I could. When you hunted elk was it during the rifle season or archery?

We hunted elk during archery season. Early season is what i was thinking also before the beries are all gone. I appreciate your help, thank you!

 

[scuba steve]

I've seen most of my bears hunting water holes. I have a couple spring fed ponds a few miles above the house that pull bears like a magnet when the berries are good. Years when there's no berry crop up there I see only an occasional small bear there as the rest are down in the valleys where there's something to eat… frequently raiding trash cans

Has it been a wet year in that area? I have been checking out water holes on Google earth, but not sure if there is even water in them this year.

 

[crashlanding]

Also, don't over look oak brush areas, where I hunt elk typically during muzzle loading season which overlaps the early rifle bear season, if the acorn crop is good, those bears are gorging on acorns, their crap looks like mounds of skippy peanut butter. I also second what COBrad said about sitting on water holes. When you say you drew a bear tag, are you referring to the September hunt?

 

[wyodeer]

No idea about that area but the key to bears is a good water source
They need lots of water!

 

[scuba steve]

Also, don't over look oak brush areas, where I hunt elk typically during muzzle loading season which overlaps the early rifle bear season, if the acorn crop is good, those bears are gorging on acorns, their crap looks like mounds of skippy peanut butter. I also second what COBrad said about sitting on water holes. When you say you drew a bear tag, are you referring to the September hunt?

Yes, September hunt

 

[scuba steve]

I greatly appreciate all of your help. I am pretty new to bear hunting other than coming close to killing one with a muzzle loader a few years ago. I can't stop thinking about killing a bear since then.

 

[COBrad]

Has it been a wet year in that area? I have been checking out water holes on Google earth, but not sure if there is even water in them this year.

Wet enough but one of my hands tells me the berries froze above us. I know the apple blossoms froze down on the ranch.

 

[scuba steve]

Well, that will not help our odds but we will try to make something work. Thanks again.