Posted: 10/12/2007 9:48:13 PM EDT
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So I was out hiking through the woods today scouting for a project I am working on with ODF, I was just standing real still in the middle of a heavily thinned section of woods checking things out and looking for wildlife (already saw 4 deer). I heard a branch break down the hill and Looked and about 100-150yds down the hill I saw a Black Bear meandering around. I have never actually seen a bear when out in the woods here in OR. See a min of 4-5 every time we go to Canada and have seen a few out in ID, but never here in OR. Was kinda cool. Tried to grab a pic, but the subject was rather uncooperative. Would have been an even better day to see a cougar (then my "animals to see in the woods list" would be complete), and better yet if I could have bagged a grouse or 2. Oh well, still a beautiful day and a good 5 mile hike. Anyone else ever seen a bear in the woods around here? I was kind of under the impression that they are a rare sight. |
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I was scouting for deer and elk with two firends 10 years ago just outside of Estacada and bumped into 2 different bears in under 20 min. Both of the bears also saw us and acted as if they wanted to investigate before they decided to amble off. I usually spend a Month every year in NW Ontario which is over run with blacks, so seeing them is nothing new. I'm just glad the population is still relativly low down here because they are incredably destructive to have around. |
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I ran into a mama and her cub last year while on a search and rescue mission. It was over by saddle mountain state park off 26. Kinda freaky when you are on foot and one of those things crosses the logging road 30 yards in front of you! First time I had ever seen one in this area. A guy in my dept. had one charge him while hunting this last season. He took it down will all 15 round of .40 in his dept issue G22. Crazy situation. Going on a short tangent, anyone like hiking? Anyone been up saddle mountain up by Seaside? Great little hike with some great views if anyone wants to go up some weekend. not my pic  buddy of mine on my last trip   eh, those are the only pics I have no my photobucket right now. I have some good ones on my computer. Sorry for going off topic!  
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| Theres been quite a few seen around Benton County this year, but the main population concentration is in Coos County. The area around Coos Bay/North Bend is supposed to have one of the highest concentraions of black bears of anywhere in the 48 states. Then again, I grew up in SE Alaska, so I've seen more black bears in my life than most people. |
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i had one grunt at me up in deerisland when i was young you never saw an armed kid run so fast and there was one getting chased around scappoose by news choppers and the whole nine a year or two ago poor little guy by the time it was over they had him so worked up he was running threw stuff not even trying to go around |
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I remember that. I was really pissed at teh footage they showed on TV, I have seen 2 bears in 5 yrs of hunting. I have also seen a couple while driving. The best new for anyone affraid of blacks. Is this little tid bit. 1972 or 1976 was the last time a person was killed by a black bear in OR. Darin |
I love the Colbert Report 
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I don't want to seem presumptious  , but what area are you referring to? Interestedparties would like to know.  Spambo |
I was at the tipity top of Larch mountain out in the coast range. Its on the N. side of 6 at the summit. Its one of the higher "peaks" around there that you can drive all the way to the top of (3300' IIRC) Just parked at the top and headed down the west flank of the mountain then linked up with a logging road then hiked back up on the main roads. I got a map if you really wanna know where I was. Got just a topo and an arial one as well with all the open roads marked. |
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SF: Thanks for the info. Another Larch Mt? I used to go shooting at a pit on Larch Mt, outside of Troutdale. This peak sounds like the other side of Hiway 6 from Browns. I've been stomping around in the coast range for the last couple of weekends looking for hair(deer, bear, cougar) and havn't seen much. I still have a couple of weekends to go. Coast Range huntin is challenging. Peta: HA, HA,HAAaaaa! Go Beavers!  You gotta love the way Tedford acted whenhis Beaverton QB ran out those last 13 seconds. Spambo |
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the bucks have been thin from what I have seen. Way more does, but I am not hunting or really looking for the wildlife. If you want some better locations, if you havent checked them out already, the Idiot creek loop as well as the lower (read: closer to the wilson river) sections of drift creek Rd have been where I have seen the most animals, aside from what I saw out on larch mt. Saw a pretty large herd of elk out there a couple months ago. Here is the arial map that I scanned a while back. The top of Larch is in the upper center of it by the penned in "X". All of this is accessed via either Story Burn Rd or further west on the other side of the summit on Drift Creek/Idiot Creek Rd. You might also check out the Timber side (even further north). Seems that there is a bit less recreational traffic over there at times although they were logging the crap out of the area a few months back. |
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I have seen bears in three locations throughout the state: Fort Stevens area near Warrington/Astoria. Hiking on a trail during the spawn. Granite Meadows over near Ukiah. Bow Hunting and my buddy actually took it. Salmon River Trail in the Mt Hood area/Salmon Huckelberry Wilderness. Near the falls about 4 miles up. Still need to see a cougar though. |
| Oregon has the highest population of black bears in the lower 48. So I was told a couple years back. I have seen a fair amount in the mountains around berries. They also like to knock over bee hives for the honey so farmland near the foothills of the cascades have a number of bears that come out. I am convinced they are as nearly abundant in other places but hide better. |
