California Black Bears

[GoGriz]

I know California has the largest population of black bears in at least the lower 48 states (I’m pretty sure that’s true or really close to true). I would love to be able to begin to hone my bear hunting location/ timing now, so when my kids are old enough, I can take them. What are some things that I need to be looking for as I start to hone in on areas to check and explore for good numbers? I would love to stay around central California, but would be willing to drive farther north to find them. Any suggestions on best time to hunt them, what ti look for in topography, etc. and are they usually best hunted away from civilization as possible, or do they not really care if people are around in the general area?

Thought I would throw it out there and see if anyone has beat me to this search by a few years and might have a pointer or two.

Thanks!

 

[Bill Zent]

Try northern Ca, that means north of SF on the west side of I-5.

 

[rke]

Use the annual bear harvest data to help hone in on bear numbers. We have seen them all over, and have had a few real good opportunities over the years. Most CA hunters get a bear tag as an after thought to their deer tag just in case they come across one; and it does happen often. PM me if interested in continuing this conversation.

 

[HighDesertSage]

Just go into the Trinity alps. I swear more bears than deer.

 

[2rocky]

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[BucksnDucks]

Just go into the Trinity alps. I swear more bears than deer.

This is true for many areas and forests I visit in Northern CA. At least while driving forest roads I typically see more bear than legal bucks. Mendocino, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta all have healthy populations. I don't spend much time in Eldorado or Tahoe NF but would bet they are loaded as well.

 

[Bill Zent]

The Trinity Alps may have more bear than deer, but from my experience I think there were more hunters than deer. You can get away from many hunters by backpacking but with game to pack out it can be a nightmare. And not everyone has a horse.

 

[BK Ammo]

Just go into the Trinity alps. I swear more bears than deer.

That’s because those black bears and the Trinity’s will literally follow around pregnant doe in the last few days of their pregnancy and essentially do a live abortion. I know a warden here really well and he gave me the number to one of the biologists that specializes on the bear populations and even he is befuddled why California Department of fish and wildlife refuses to address the over population of bears. We all know the answer to this. That they don’t like the optics of it to the voter pool here in California. So instead sneakily, we pay Houndsman trappers and marksman every year to try to bring down the bare numbers because Lord only knows in the last decade since getting rid of bating and or hounds in California hunters have yet to meet their 1700 bear tag quota for the year.
While there are some hard-core 1% Stone cold killers in California. I think the vast majority of our hunting base are Fairweather hunters. So pretty much anywhere from Yosemite to Santa Cruz Eureka to Mount Shasta. There’s bears all over the place. Set a deer gut pile for a day or two when you’re guaranteed to kill a bear.
Find where the Oaks with acorns on them meet the evergreens and you’ll find bear

 

[BK Ammo]

This is true for many areas and forests I visit in Northern CA. At least while driving forest roads I typically see more bear than legal bucks. Mendocino, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta all have healthy populations. I don't spend much time in Eldorado or Tahoe NF but would bet they are loaded as well.

The bear population is probably thickset in the Sierra foothills or the north coast. But everything from Sonoma county to Tahoe and north to Oregon