2024 California Bear

[David Gough]

Archery season starts in thirteen days, so lets get this thread started. @NVDesertHunter and I set cameras in late May and both had our firstborns come into our lives within a week. After surviving the newborn stage we checked cameras yesterday and the bears....aren't a big fan of our trail cameras in their home. Five of the eight cameras had been messed with by bears and two were broken. One camera was ripped in half and the bear tried chewing on the batteries.

It's looking to be a promising opener. Post your pictures, videos, stories, and questions here for the 2024 California bear season. I'll start with some screenshots of our videos.

A big bear I've been trying to catch up with for years is still alive.




Similar looking sow on the same balsamroot bush.



Different sow with just one cub.



Several bears hit this pond. The larger one is either a younger boar or older sow. Pond is now dry just like clockwork.







Last but not least, we got our first bobcat on camera during the daytime.

 

[LIK2HNT]

Wish you luck. Think I am going to wait until Nov./Dec. this heat is kicking my butt!!

 

[David Gough]

Wish you luck. Think I am going to wait until Nov./Dec. this heat is kicking my butt!!

Yes, but it also makes bears hit water most days if not every day.

 

[Moserkr]

Good looking bears and a good spot you found!

Im not running cams this year but I hunt in an area with one of the highest concentrations of bear in CA. Will be hunting up high so no shortage of water. Usually run into them in the meadows though eating their greens. Late season we transition down low to find them from the migration corridors to the foothills. Focus on the manzanita and acorn patches.

Old trail cam pics from my high spots. Dates are irrelevant.

 

[David Gough]

Good looking bears and a good spot you found!

Im not running cams this year but I hunt in an area with one of the highest concentrations of bear in CA. Will be hunting up high so no shortage of water. Usually run into them in the meadows though eating their greens. Late season we transition down low to find them from the migration corridors to the foothills. Focus on the manzanita and acorn patches.

Old trail cam pics from my high spots. Dates are irrelevant.View attachment 335378View attachment 335379

That's a nice boar in the first picture. We found some scat that was really fresh. Looks like the bear are still eating a heavy helping of greens and some insects. Some new (to me) berries are pretty prevalent this year. Look like raspberries. Maybe wineberries?