Colorado add on bear tag - 2nd rifle

[MountainMan83]

I have almost always picked up an add on bear tag for my 2nd season elk rifle hunt. I frequently see bear scat, and a few years I have seen fresh tracks in the snow but have never seen a bear. Last year, my hunting partner saw a bear while hiking back to camp near dark. Just curious how many people see bears during 2nd season rifle deer/elk hunts? Anything stand out to explain where/when/why you see them during late October?

 

[abbrown]

I only see them when I elect not to grab the add-on tag. Never once when I carried one.

 

[justinspicher]

I always add one as well, knowing that the only time I’ll probably see one is when I don’t have a tag.

 

[Hnthrdr]

If it was me, I’m a res, so sure. If I was a NR no way in hell am I paying that kind of cash for super slim odds since they raised the bear tag price substantially

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I've personally never seen a bear in 2nd rifle or later and only once have I seen one in 1st rifle. But I'll be in good fall bear habitat this third rifle so I'm all ears if folks ever actually see them.

 

[Dakota Dude]

I see them pretty regularly during 2nd and 3rd in CO. I know they aren't hibernating yet (why would they its been so warm) I had one terrorizing my house last night.

 

[MountainMan83]

I see them pretty regularly during 2nd and 3rd in CO. I know they aren't hibernating yet (why would they its been so warm) I had one terrorizing my house last night.

Have you noticed any patterns to why/where/when you see them? Morning/evening? Near big game kills? Thick timber/open country?

 

[COelk89]

I have seen a pretty big boar in 4th Rifle at about 8500 feet with a lot of snow on the ground. I was helping a friend on his first hunt ever trying to fill a cow tag and we did not have a bear tag. That is the only time I recall seeing one in a concurrent rifle season but it definitely can happen.

 

[Poser]

I've seen some fresh brear tracks around during 2nd and 3rd rifle, but never actually seen a bear during this window

 

[MountainMan83]

What time of day did you see the bear? Was he in thick timber or in the open? What was he doing - cruising around?

I have seen a pretty big boar in 4th Rifle at about 8500 feet with a lot of snow on the ground. I was helping a friend on his first hunt ever trying to fill a cow tag and we did not have a bear tag. That is the only time I recall seeing one in a concurrent rifle season but it definitely can happen.

 

[Dakota Dude]

They are crusing during rifle seaons looking for last minute meals before their big slumber. You'll find them in wide out in the open or in creek bottoms. I'd focus on scrub oaks near think creek bottoms (that's just me and my experience). Carcuses are always your best bet though, and it needs to be fresh--not 2 weeks old.

 

[MountainMan83]

They are crusing during rifle seaons looking for last minute meals before their big slumber. You'll find them in wide out in the open or in creek bottoms. I'd focus on scrub oaks near think creek bottoms (that's just me and my experience). Carcuses are always your best bet though, and it needs to be fresh--not 2 weeks old.

Thanks for the intel. No oak where I hunt, but they do feed on rose hips in my area. Hoping someone in my hunting group will get an elk down that I can check on!

 

[COelk89]

What time of day did you see the bear? Was he in thick timber or in the open? What was he doing - cruising around?

There was some shrubs around but we were a little higher up than the oak brush. He cruised through a little opening at the bottom of a drainage on the edge of timber/aspen where it transitioned to sage. Funny thing is we had been right where that bear crossed earlier, and chased some elk that were on the hill right above my truck. We got on top of the hill looked back and there was the bear on our same trail.

 

[RancherJohn]

This has been a warm fall so far, and bears are still out. These tracks are from yesterday afternoon, I think we may try to have a bear tag handy this year for 2nd rifle.

 

[MountainMan83]

This has been a warm fall so far, and bears are still out. These tracks are from yesterday afternoon, I think we may try to have a bear tag handy this year for 2nd rifle.

View attachment 781137

Did you see the tracks high or low? Close or far from the road?

 

[RancherJohn]

Did you see the tracks high or low? Close or far from the road?

Bottom of the valley on our place, which is 2/3's up a mountain if you go 10 miles down valley. Find food that's still good, and you may find bears. They are getting the last of the goods and aiming for their den sites around this time, just depends on what we get for continued winter weather.

 

[MountainMan83]

Bottom of the valley on our place, which is 2/3's up a mountain if you go 10 miles down valley. Find food that's still good, and you may find bears. They are getting the last of the goods and aiming for their den sites around this time, just depends on what we get for continued winter weather.

Thanks for the tips. I’ll be posting if I get one!!!