what unit for bear?

Aaronjhanson · May 22, 2017

Hey guys, what do you think the best bear unit is in Colorado? I have 7 PP (resident) In my 8 years of hunting here i have only seen 1 bear.

ORIONTHEHUNTER · May 22, 2017

Are your eyes closed? Seriously every GMU in the state is overpopulated with them. I've never collected bear points as the unit I hunt doesn't take any for the early September season. You can cash your points in for 61 lots of bears.

littlebull209338 · May 22, 2017

I feel there are more bears now than ever. They tend to be nocturnal-or very late afternoon/evening guys so seeing them requires hunting at that time.....mostly. In the spring they feed a lot during the day until it gets to warm for them. Areas where I know that hold to many bears...Montrose-Norwood. Piance Creek and the areas West of Aspen. Good luck..they need to be reduced!

ORIONTHEHUNTER · May 22, 2017

Guys say that but I have killed a pile of them between 10 and 2 o clock during the September season. Found a spring fed pond way back in a canyon full of chokecherries and acorns. It's a bear mecca.

ORIONTHEHUNTER · May 22, 2017

Here it is. I have hundreds of pics like this throughout the years.

ORIONTHEHUNTER · May 22, 2017

Aaronjhanson · May 22, 2017

Maybe I'm too focused on Deer or elk to pay attention.
65 and 78 look good as well.

I can't make it down there this year, However, I am wondering what units up North I should look at? I live near Fort Collins.

I think I am looking for wet areas like riparian area? with choke berry type shrubs?

Aaronjhanson · May 22, 2017

Orion, nice pics. thanks for sharing.
I have not invested in game cameras yet. I should probably do that.
are these all in the same area?

ORIONTHEHUNTER · May 22, 2017

yeah that is all on one pond in one canyon. have two others just like it though

ColoradoRam · May 22, 2017

Unit 62 or 61. Find th transition zone that has pinon, oak and berries and you will find bears. Good luck.

Hunt_the_West · May 22, 2017

Like the others have said there are bears all over the state. The units in the south and west have more than their share. In 71/711 one year I think I seen bear every time I was out during archery season. Choke cherries, acorns, and water = a lot of bears.

Coloradoboy · May 22, 2017

41,42,421 and 521 are over run with them.

Allout_hunting · May 30, 2017

LAST EDITED ON May-30-17 AT 01:14PM (MST)[p]Unit 61 has incredible bear population, I just returned from a morning scouting trip there and seen three with out even trying. I'd say the bear hunting there is better than the elk hunting and the elk hunting is pretty dang good.

Allout Guiding & Outfitting LLC
www.alloutoutfitters.com

El Gringo · May 30, 2017

>LAST EDITED ON May-30-17
>AT 01:14?PM (MST)
>
>Unit 61 has incredible bear population,
>I just returned from a
>morning scouting trip there and
>seen three with out even
>trying. I'd say the bear
>hunting there is better than
>the elk hunting and the
>elk hunting is pretty dang
>good.
>
> Allout Guiding & Outfitting
>LLC
>www.alloutoutfitters.com

^^^^^
I second this. Very few units in the state require any preference points to draw. 61 is a great one to burn that many points. The only other one that is higher demand is Bosque Del Oso, which takes 14 or so points to draw.

elkcrzy1 · May 30, 2017

Ive seen a few bears in Colorado but very very few in units 19 and 20 near Ft Collins. Yes, I know theyre around just not very optimal country for spotting them and I dont think theres as many as other places in Colorado.

bcoufal · Jun 14, 2017

If you live in Ft Collins area I'd say go to North Park. Bear Numbers are 5 x's what they use to be. I've seen bears every year the last five year while archery hunting. Some areas I see more bear scat than I would prefer while elk hunting. Good color phases as well. I believe you can even get left over rifle or archery tags some years for bear in the area and not burn points.

Deerlove · Jun 14, 2017

Saw three last year in 43.

Adventurewriter · Jun 15, 2017

How many points to draw 61?

Allout_hunting · Jun 16, 2017

I believe the 2017 unit 61 bear draw results resulted with
75% of residents drew with 2 points
100% of non residents drew with 2 points.

JT Robbins
Allout Guiding & Outfitting LLC
www.alloutoutfitters.com

Adventurewriter · Jun 18, 2017

Thanks All out my dad has killed several bears I have been a lifelong antler horn junkie....but need to get me a Baar...think I have 3 points or so...need a mountain lion Buffalo-Musk Ox...and Bear for the NA Super 10

Allout_hunting · Jun 21, 2017

If your on Instagram look my account up.
We get awesome bear footage in 61 almost every time I step into the unit. We did two hunts last year and killed big boars no problem
Decent Lions in that Country too.

Allout Guiding & Outfitting LLC
www.alloutoutfitters.com

Adventurewriter · Jun 27, 2017

Great looking bears thanks for posting

Allout_hunting · Jun 28, 2017

I got up close and personal with one today while out checking trail cams.

Allout Guiding & Outfitting LLC
www.alloutoutfitters.com

ColoradoRam · Jun 29, 2017

Haha, that's great..

Muley · Jul 12, 2017

Bears aren't nocturnal in the fall. They're fattening up for winter and are out 20 hours a day feeding.

cowhitey · Jul 15, 2017

Bear points are pretty much worthless in CO. With that said I have 16 and don't know where I'd use them.

I can say without a doubt I would save them and get an OTC with Caps archery tag in unit 61. Hunt the middle of the muzzy elk hunt until you tag out. Spend a day or 2 driving around and visiting with elk camps and leave your cell number with them. Have them call you when they have a gut pile and get on it immediately. You WILL kill a bear if you spend a day talking with the elk hunters.

Option 2 is to get an OTC with Caps for unit 214. Hunt the state trust lands and scout until you find drainages with lots of service berries and the bears WILL be there. I killed mine doing exactly this and don't have any idea or desire what to do with my bear preference points.

This plan will only work if you focus on just bears and not try to hunt a bear as an option to your elk or deer tag.