Bear hunting in california

[whiskyninja]

Hello all, I'm pretty new to hunting. There is a lot of great info in these forums! I live in San Diego county and have decided to try and take a black bear this season. I have heard that the best spots in california are in the Trinity/Shasta/Siskiyou areas. I don't expect anyone to give up their honey holes, but any advice and or general areas to start glassing would be very much appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[Orygun]

Welcome to the forum. You will get better responses in the bear hunting forum. This site is about 90% CA hunters so the bear forum is essentially CA bearhunting

 

[#1Predator]

I'd say find some public land (Shasta National Forest) around Shasta Lake, away from any campgrounds of course. Our family took a houseboat trip there a few years ago in July. We saw several bears on the beach around the lake. On the first night, around 2 a.m., we had a bear climb onto the houseboat. We had stored the trash can on the roof, thoroughly burn off any grease on the BBQ and washed down the deck but it still came aboard. Two .45ACPs and a .357 "magically" appeared as the bear frosted the sliding glass door with its breathe.

When our 7 day rental time was up, we returned the boat to the dock and asked the attendant, "What gives with all of the bears?". He told us it was a common occurrence around the lake and that they had had 9 reports of bears on boats that week. Sounds like good bear country to me.

 

[thewolfman]

Welcome to the forum...u are on the rite track...u live far frm the shasta area but if u are willing to travel...i tell u this...i hav a buddy tha lives up there and they alway fill there bear tags...but dont b surprised if u dont see one or bag one either...just part of hunting unless u kno ppl frm there or u just a really lucky dude...hope this helped...best of luck

 

[whiskyninja]

Thanks guys. Sounds like Shasta Lake is the place to be!

 

[dunderee]

Lake Pillsbury.. Get up in the mountains above it.. Interstate 5 to clear lake turn left. To give you a idea..

 

[chrisout]

If you want any coastal hunting... the Kings Range is infested with bear. we were there a couple of years ago deer hunting and they would not leave us alone at night. its not a matter of if, its a matter of when they will come. We were at the ranger station before we went in country to ask if hunting was allowed both for bear and deer and the ranger walked us in the back room without saying a word. it was a room that had about a hundred backpacks, backpacks that were shredded up by bears. tons of people backpack the lost coast trail there and yeah, its true, not a matter of if its a matter of when they will come at night. be forewarned. the ranger station rents canisters for 5 bucks. with that said good luck. oh yeah the ranger said please hunt the bears. on another note, beware of Marijuana growers, while in country we ran into a grow that had water being pumped into. we did not see anyone but did not stick around, we double-timed it out of there.

 

[NastyNate]

If you want any coastal hunting... the Kings Range is infested with bear.

Are you referring to kings canyon national park? If not, please elaborate.



NastyNate

 

[DFG_Bear]

Kings Range...aka 'The Lost Coast.' BLM run property in Humboldt County. Check with BLM for restrictions.