Fall Bear

[Dalebow]

I have shot spring bears and they had long, beautiful hair, my big Choc bear was shot on Oct 18th, 2010, which was a pretty hot year and the hair was long and pretty. I drew a CO bear tag for Sept 3-7 and was just wondering what the hair is like then?
Thanks

[HARPERC]

Generally good, but getting better. Some of the bigger bear can seem a little thin. The August ones we've shot here, and in BC were OK. All the old hair is gone so they don't have patches here and there.

[winmag]

I typically hunt Hells Canyon the 3rd weekend in August. Just about the time the wild plums are ripe. It's very very rare to see a bear with a thin coat even then. However, my September bear from 01' had the thickest coat I've ever seen. I'll bet you'll be fine. No where near as risky as spring bear, & I belive the meat is 10 times better in the fall. Huckle berries, wild plums, blackberries, & green grass all summer make for way better flavor than something that has been living off its fat reserves, & hadnt fooped in months. Just my opinion..... but I'm right hehehe

[HARPERC]

Originally Posted by winmag

Just my opinion..... but I'm right hehehe

I think you're absolutely right-especially a young kick out that likely never had nothing but momma's milk, grass, and berries.

[Dalebow]

sounds good, Iam looking forward to it.

[Timber338]

I hunt in Colorado along the western slope of the Rockies up in the Grand Mesa National Forest... I have yet to see a bear with a scraggly looking coat. Everything from cubs up to the biggest boars all have very healthy thick fur in the Fall, and the bear population is very healthy. Although, I have never hunted there in the Spring, so I don't know how their coats start out after Winter.

Just this morning I picked up my OTC bear tag for the 2nd rifle season in late October... as always, it's gonna be hard to wait for hunting season!

[Dalebow]

I got my first season rifle tag also for bear, it is an A tag and my private land rifle tag for Sept 3 is a B tag, so Iam hunting bear twice in CO:-)
Hope to repeat my 2010 OTC tag hunt, got my elk in the morning and my bear exactly 12 hours later