Bear Hunting Areas

Bearpaw Outfitters hunt in northeast Washington close to Idaho and British Columbia, Canada. Harvest records show more bear taken many years in this region than in other regions of Washington. It's easy to come and hunt this area, you don't have the hassle of crossing the border and dealing with customs to go on a Canadian bear hunt.

Hunting Methods

One of the most effective bear hunting methods is sitting and glassing mountain berry patches for feeding bear. Sometimes bear are spotted at close range so you can shoot when the bear is first spotted and other times bear are spotted at long distance and hunters try to stalk closer. It really gets exciting when a bear is so close in the brush that you can hear him eating but you have to wait for a clear shot. Bow hunters usually watch game trails or waterholes for close range shots.

If the thought of sitting over a bear bait pile doesn't sound appealing and you want to feel like you really earned your bear, this might be the right hunt, give us a call. This bear hunt is perfect for the bear hunter looking for a truly challenging bear hunt. Once you've hunted bear this way, you will likely want to do it again.

Shot Opportunity

Shot opportunity on the fall guided bear hunts usually runs 50% TO 80% but we've had years with 100% opportunity. Our guided spring bear hunts have been 80% TO 100% most years. Unguided hunters average about half the success of guided hunts. Shooting distances vary from 10 yards to 200+ yards. Sight your rifle dead on at 200 yards. Bow hunters should practice for 10 to 50 yard shots.

Trophy Quality

Hides are best in the spring or after chilly fall nights cause the fur to thicken in September. Roughly 50% of bear taken are off color, so there's a reasonable chance of taking a brown, blonde, or cinnamon color phase bear. There is an option to hunt a second bear after you get your first bear. Most bear weigh from 100 to 300 pounds and measure from 5 to 6 feet. Some of the larger bear have weighed from 300 to 550 pounds and measured 6 to 7 feet. Fall bear have about the same size skin as spring bear but are about 50% heavier than spring bear that have recently come out of hibernation.

Bear Hunting Seasons

Fall Bear:  Season opens Aug 1. Fall hunting is best in August and September when ripe berries attract bear from miles around. Bear only feed on berries that are ripe so timing is everything, the key to successful bear hunting is to be in the right place at the right time. The Denney family has hunted bear in Washington for over 70 years, they know when and where to hunt.