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OZSTRIKER22 · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 165 Location: Sunny San Diego

I live in San Diego... Are there any areas to hunt black bear within 4-5 hours of here?

Thanks!

Jesse

PhilM.N. · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 4 Location: westcoast

Hey Ozz, There are a few places to hunt black bear near you but there around 2-4 hour drive. Sanbernadino National forest and Where i hunt Los Padres National forest. You would be very suprised on the info on hunting that you could get by just getting a map from the Forrest service! Maps of the National forests practically tell you the trails where bears are!! No joke , Thats how i found a couple of hunting spots. Good luck .

[ This Message was edited by: PhilM.N. on 2004-02-07 03:52 ]

kNObs 52 · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 1:06 pm Post subject:

Oz:

DON'T FORGET. Go ahead and get the maps but remember to CALL the FS to CONFIRM which ( if any ) forests have been reopened due to the fire closures. You can't even pull over due to erosion concerns. Our only opportunities here in SC will be on either BLM or private land otherwise UNTIL they let us back in. From prior experience (Kitchen Creek Blaze 70')with burn closures, we'll probably have to "Go North" if we want to hunt in CA.

OZSTRIKER22 · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 165 Location: Sunny San Diego

Thanks, guys! What types of trails do black bears use? Is it legal to bait them?

Also - about the forest closure... when did they open Kitchen Creek back up? I am looking forward to hunting deer along the edge of the burn... cover on the right, and new browse on the left.

Thanks!

PhilM.N. · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 4 Location: westcoast

Dont think its legal in C.A. to bait bears.

[ This Message was edited by: PhilM.N. on 2004-02-10 00:20 ]

OZSTRIKER22 · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 165 Location: Sunny San Diego

Knobs52, how long did it take them to open up Kitchen Creek after the fire in 1970?

Phil M.N. To be honest, I don't even know what types of trails Black Bears use?!

The reason I'm asking is because a friend of ours shared some Black Bear Chili a client of his shot in Montana. It was AWESOME and I'd love to have a freezer full of bear meat.

Thanks for your time and knowledge, Jesse.

PhilM.N. · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 4 Location: westcoast

The trails i'm talkin about are the ones people go hiking on. I have come across some huge tracks while walkin down a couple of trails and thought holy ----!! Man i couldnt even imagine hiking around the bend of a trail and crossin that bears path!! Any way the maps will usually warn hikers that bears are in areas that the hiking trails run through.Make sure when you decide to go lookin for bears that you are prepared.

OZSTRIKER22 · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 165 Location: Sunny San Diego

Thanks, Phil. I won't go unarmed - I'm in process to buy a .44 magnum right now. If someone asks, I'll just mention that Jack Rabbit and Coyote season is year round:)

When you've found a trail that has tracks, scatt, or scratchings on a tree, how do you find the bear without bait or dogs?

Thanks again, Jesse

kNObs 52 · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 11:53 pm Post subject:

Oz:

Sorry I did'nt get back to you sooner, just saw your message and I'm coming back from a surgery. I believe it was opened back up in 72' or 73'. I can't find my old tag( I "lost" my office to one of my sons) as I killed a nice buck up there once they opened it back up again. What was a real problem for me was that I used to hunt deer in a completely different area (South of 94) and they decided to close adjacent areas as well EVEN THOUGH they had'nt been burned AT ALL!!! Now the Lagunas have'nt taken any fire but they've closed the ENTIRE Cleveland Forest down. Looks like they might be going the same route. With my luck they'll probably close adjacent BLM land too! I'm planning to talk with someone who might have an inside as to what the Feds are planning to do with the Forest so I can make NorCal archery plans ASAP if need be.

Re: finding bear above: Try a predator call if the scat is fresh. My hunting partner came upon some really fresh scat in Oregon last year and "hit" the call. The forest exploded and brush was being destroyed enroute back to him and then a huge black bear came over the hill on top of him and hit the brakes at EIGHT FEET!!! He unfortunately had his scope still cranked up at 9 power. So he "sight lined" the barrel and torched one off! Picture this. He killed him with one shot and it now ranks within the top 60 All Time Oregon Records.

"Work Hard. Good Things Happen"!!

[ This Message was edited by: kNObs 52 on 2004-03-04 23:11 ]

[ This Message was edited by: kNObs 52 on 2004-03-04 23:21 ]

OZSTRIKER22 · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 165 Location: Sunny San Diego

Holy Cr@p that's a good story!!! He's lucky the bear stopped at 8 feet instead of 2!

Will you PM or Email me when you find out about the forest closure? The only area's I really know to hunt in San Diego are in the clevelands and a couple of pieces of BLM land that everyone else hunts too! The clevelands offer the opportunity to not see anyone else (If one's willing to go on a very long hike).

Thanks for your time, and I hope you completely recover from your surgery soon.

Jesse

wilsonknives · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Riverside, CA

[quote="OZSTRIKER22"]I live in San Diego... Are there any areas to hunt black bear within 4-5 hours of here?

Thanks!

Jesse[/quote]

Sequoia National Forest near the Golden Trout Wilderness (Boy, did Feinstein mess that up) is a good place and is within that distance.

OZSTRIKER22 · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 165 Location: Sunny San Diego

Good deal. Thank you for the lead, I'll definitely be doing some scouting!

When bear sign is located, do they usually stay in the area, or do they cover a lot of territory?

Jesse

wilsonknives · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Riverside, CA

[quote="OZSTRIKER22"]Good deal. Thank you for the lead, I'll definitely be doing some scouting!

When bear sign is located, do they usually stay in the area, or do they cover a lot of territory?

Jesse[/quote] :

When I find an abundance of bear sign in the form of scat and fresh tracks, I figure they are still around. Last year, we started to see a bunch of concentrated bear sign in two different areas. In the morning, I saw some very large tracks that were not there the night before.

I hunted the ridge above those tracks and was about two miles from them when I shot a 6' -400 pounder that walked right up to me (25yd shot). I am not saying that it was the same bear, I am simply saying that the very large tracks belonged to a large bear like the one I shot.

Best of luck! Paul

OZSTRIKER22 · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 165 Location: Sunny San Diego

Wow! that's pretty impressive. Congratulations! If a 400lb bear got 25 yards from me I'd probably soil myself :lol:

Do you use a game call? Private land or public?

wilsonknives · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Riverside, CA

[quote="OZSTRIKER22"]Wow! that's pretty impressive. Congratulations! If a 400lb bear got 25 yards from me I'd probably soil myself :lol:

Do you use a game call? Private land or public?[/quote]

No game call although I have heard that some hunters use them with great success. All National Forest up there...

Paul