2023 spring bear hunting forecast

Statewide prospects

Bear emergence is closely tied to green up, when forbs and grasses start to emerge. These are important food sources for bears as they emerge from their dens.

The timing of green up, and bear emergence, will vary in parts of the state depending on winter snowpack and spring conditions. In 2023, many parts of the state were hit by late winter storms bringing snow and cold temperatures. In these areas, green up may be delayed, as will access for hunters who may find roads still snow covered and/or blocked by downed timber.

In other areas, particularly those at low elevations, green up should be underway by April 1. If it’s not already.

This year hunters should be prepared for snow and/or downed timber blocking roads. It might pay to have a back-up hunting location in case your original location is inaccessible. Please keep vehicles off wet and muddy roads to avoid damaging roads and fish and wildlife habitat.

See the district reports below to read what’s happening in the area you’d like to hunt.

The last day to purchase your spring bear tag is March 31.

Tips for new hunters

Wildlife biologists offer the following tips for new spring bear hunters:

• Use the early season to scout for bears. Look for open areas where bears will be moving through or foraging, including clear-cuts, meadows and open slopes that have cleared of snow.
• Look for green up to signal the start of the season. While the season starts April 1, it may be mid-April or May before grasses and forbs begin to green up and hunters start to see bears in the landscape.
• Coastal bear hunters should check riparian areas located in between slopes early in the season.
• Earlier in the season, focus on south-facing slopes with rapid spring growth and on open canyon slopes, where bears can be seen feeding on grass and digging roots. A good strategy this time of year is to sit somewhere with a good view of open canyon sides and use binoculars or a spotting scope to find bears. The animals will feed off and on during all daylight hours, so good optics and patience are important.
• Use predator calls later in the season when elk begin calving. Use calls in forested areas near open meadows.
• Consider walking or biking on smaller side roads. Bears are very wary of vehicle noise and tend to move away from well-traveled roads.
• Know your target—remember it is unlawful to take cubs less than one year old or sows with cubs less than one year old.

You’ll find more spring bear hunting tips in 9 tips to be a better bear hunter.

Regulations

Check-in your bear

Successful bear hunters must check-in their bear’s skull at an ODFW office within 10 days of the harvest so biologists can collect a tooth and other biological information.

Please call your local ODFW office in advance to make sure a field biologist is available or to make an appointment. When you arrive, please make sure the bear’s skull is unfrozen.

Here’s more information you’ll need to check your bear in.

Report your hunt

All hunters who purchase a 2023 spring bear tag are required to report their hunt results online or at a license agent no later than Jan. 31, 2024. Reporting is required even for those who did not hunt or were unsuccessful. ODFW uses this information to determine harvest and effort, and set future hunting regulations.

2022 black bear harvest #s

In 2022 hunters reported harvesting 1,997 black bears in Oregon – 807 during the spring season and 1,190 in the fall. The links below break down these harvest numbers by WMUs.

• 2022 western Oregon black bear harvest (pdf)
• 2022 eastern Oregon black bear harvest  (pdf)

Northwest/Willamette area -- Hunt 710A

The north Coast and north Cascade hunts have been combined into one hunt area now called 710A – NW Oregon. This hunt is made up WMUs 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 19.

Saddle Mtn – Scappoose units

Damage information indicates that bears are distributed throughout Saddle Mt Unit, but in higher densities in the western half of the unit. There are very few bear damage complaints and very few bears harvested in the Scappoose unit. To find bears, hunters need to concentrate their scouting and hunting efforts early in the season near food sources like skunk cabbage (typically found along riparian zones and wet bottomlands) and grass patches on south and southwest facing slopes.

Following a few sunny days, clear-cuts or open areas adjacent to drainages can also provide spot-and-stalk opportunities for foraging or traveling bears. Warmer weather and sunshine are expected in first week of April, potentially providing productive conditions. However, a late snowfall in March could delay green up and temporarily limit access. As in most years, general bear activity should improve as weather patterns move away from freezing snaps and become more stable.

Locations: See the Oregon Hunting Access Map. In the Saddle Mtn. unit, road access is available in the Clatsop State Forest. Non-motorized access to many private industrial forestlands is available but check with the landowner before you enter their lands. Expect Hampton Affiliates land in Clatsop County to be closed to entry.

The Scappoose Unit has very little public land available to hunt, and bears will be found primarily on private industrial forestlands. Most hunters contact private industrial forestland managers or go online to determine access policies. To protect future access, hunters are reminded to read and follow all rules posted near entry gates to private industrial forestland.

Wilson & Trask units

Spring green-up seems to be a couple weeks behind due to the late freezing weather and snow. Blooms were beginning to break on many plants along the coast and valley bottoms before the winter weather but growth should resume with some March sunny days.

Hunters can expect the higher elevations and the east side of the coast range to be a little behind in the timing based on how long it takes the high elevation snow to melt. Spring bears will target these blooming areas as well as grassy slopes (usually south-facing).

Black bear concentrations tend to be highest in the western portion of the units, especially in the southwestern corner of the Trask Unit.

Locations: See the Oregon Hunting Access Map. State and federal lands in these units include the Tillamook and Clatsop state forests, Siuslaw National Forest and scattered BLM parcels. Some private industrial forestland owners allow spring bear hunting as well, usually on a walk-in or mountain bike-in basis. Hunters are reminded to contact private industrial forestland managers or go on-line to determine access policies before hunting. Small private forest and agriculture lands dominate the eastern side of the Trask Unit; access is typically by permission only. A reminder that most Weyerhaeuser lands are likely to be managed under a fee access policy.

Santiam and McKenzie units

Bear densities remain good in the north and central Cascades. Fire closures in many areas have been lifted, but hunters will need to check with Mt. Hood and Willamette National Forests or the Oregon Department of Forestry about ongoing forest closures. Some areas up the Santiam Canyon remain closed, including most of the Little North Fork Santiam River watershed.

The snowpack is above average this year in the Willamette Basin, so hunters will likely have some difficulty accessing higher elevation habitats until early to mid-May, especially on north facing roads and slopes. Hunters should check road conditions and access before heading out, especially early in the season. The NRCS/USDA Oregon Snow Survey is a great resource for information on snowpack. Fortunately, hunters typically experience the highest success in the last 2-3 weeks of the season.

If you want to get out early, start along riparian corridors at lower elevations and focus on south and southwest facing slopes. The key to early success is to target days with some sun and mild weather. As green up starts to occur later in the season bears can be found feeding in clear cuts and grassy meadows. Obviously finding freshly torn up stumps and scat indicate a bear is in the area. Bears will often feed in the same area for multiple days at a time, so these areas are good spots to target. 

Locations: See the Oregon Hunting Access Map. Beginning last year, the boundary changed to include all of the McKenzie and Santiam units. However, many private timber companies still do not allow access. Make sure you check on access before you go hunting.

Hunters can also find good concentrations of bears in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness Area. The Forest Service has been doing meadow restoration projects that, once free of snow, often have good grass growth the bears will key in on. These can be located by looking at Google Earth. In the McKenzie, hunting is best late in the season in some of the old, brushy clear-cuts in the North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River and South Fork McKenzie drainages.

Alsea & Stott Mt. units

Black bear hunting this spring should start well if this winter weather lets up.  Green up was starting in the lower coastal elevations near the beach/sea level before the winter blast hit. If we get our normal sunny weeks in March, green up should be normal. It will start greening up in the stream bottoms and move up in elevation as the season progresses. Bear emergence timing from winter dormancy should be normal.

Typically, May is the better month to hunt as bears will be on the move and vegetation growth becomes more prevalent with warmer temperatures. Timberland clear-cuts are still in winter dormancy, but creek bottoms and meadows are beginning to grow grass. Skunk cabbage has not begun to pop up, which is usually our sign that bears will be waking up from dormancy.

The bear population is abundant, particularly in areas with mixed forest habitats (i.e., clear-cuts, second growth, older growth, meadows). Bear densities are higher in the west half of the units. Hunters should look for bears at lower elevations along streams or open areas with a south or southeast aspect early in April. These are typically areas with more vegetative growth and the grass that bears are looking for in spring. As the season progresses and warmer weather arrives, bear activity will increase in managed timberlands (clear-cuts) and openings.

Locations: See the Oregon Hunting Access Map. Access is good on mainline forest roads but expect numerous roads to have extensive tree fall due to a heavy snowstorm that hit the mid-coast in late February. Some roads will be impassible until roads are cut open. Always check with private timber landowners (e.g., Weyerhaeuser, Manulife -- formerly Hancock, Starker forests) for recreational access questions and permits. Also, pay attention to the travel management restriction signs in the Stott/N Alsea TMA area.

Siuslaw National Forest lands have many spur roads that are bermed, which provide good walk-in hunting opportunities. There is a fair amount of timber harvest this spring, so hunters should expect some access roads to be closed and log truck traffic on open forest roads. Remember mandatory bear check-ins and please call your local ODFW office to schedule an appointment. Be safe and have a great spring bear season.

Southwest Area -- Hunt 722A

This hunt includes all the southwest Oregon wildlife management units (20-30), except within one mile of the Rogue River between Grave and Lobster creeks, and the BLM North Bank Habitat Management Area in Roseburg. These areas are closed.  

Bear numbers in the southwest are relatively high and likely increasing. However, the bear population density is highest closer to the coast in the Coast Range. Bear numbers are also very high in the Southern Cascades and Siskiyou mountains, including the Applegate, Rogue, and Evans Creek WMUs.

Black bear hunting this spring may start off slow due to recent heavy snows we’ve been experiencing. The green up bears rely on this time of the year will likely be delayed until later in the season once the snow starts to melt off.

The Coast Range has also seen a good amount of snow this year that may delay access for bear hunters, however it will likely melt off faster than in the Cascades. Downed trees from winter storms will likely be an issue for hunters. Hunters should be prepared to deal with downed trees or have a backup plan for hunting locations in the event they can’t get to their preferred hunting areas.

Typically, May is the better month to hunt as bears will be moving around more prior to the June rut, and vegetation growth accelerates with warmer temperatures. Also, by May most roads have been cleared of downed trees.

Boars tend to emerge from their dens earlier than sows and cubs. Remember it’s illegal to harvest a sow with cubs. In general, it’s good to start the season by glassing open hillsides during sunny mornings and evenings. Bears will most likely be out at this time feeding on grasses and anything else that can fill their bellies.

The southwest Cascade Range is below average for total precipitation and above average snow water equivalent this year, but conditions vary greatly across the southwest region. Hunters should check here for specific information.

The southwest Coast Range had extensive snow events this winter but most of it should be melted off (except higher elevations in Siskiyou mountains) by the April 1 opening date. Due to heavy snow and ice, a lot of roads will be blocked by trees and branches. Be prepared to traverse alternate routes due to road blockages. Green-up is starting in the creek bottoms now and will progress to higher elevations and clear cuts as the season warms up and goes into May.    

Hunters are encouraged to keep checking the website for updates as the hunting season approaches and throughout the duration of the season. In general, lower elevations tend to green up first so hunters should focus their efforts there during the early part of the season, and then move up in elevation as the snow melts. Early in the season, focus on bear foraging evidence and tracks. After a couple weeks, bear digestive tracts will become more active and scat will serve as another indicator of bear activity.

Increased bear activity will most likely occur on decommissioned untraveled skid roads with high grass production. When bears are active, they will be looking to feed in these grassy openings or similar meadow-type ranges. Coastal wetlands, mid-elevation meadows, mountain prairies and riparian areas are other good places to look for bears. Hunters with access to private timberlands will find bears in clear-cuts, either feeding on green grass or tearing apart stumps looking for insects. Focus on south-facing hillsides in the early mornings and evenings, typically bears will be more active during these times.

Please be mindful of road access conditions. Even this winter’s mild snowfall has the potential to create impassable snowdrifts, especially on north-facing slopes. Hunters may want to drive roads they intend to hunt ahead of time to make sure that the roads are passable.

Locations: See the Oregon Hunting Access Map. Hunters have access to plenty of public land including national forestland (Siuslaw, Rogue-Siskiyou, and Umpqua), BLM land and state-managed property like Elliott State Forest. Hunters should do their homework and call private timberland companies as some offer access. Local landowners include Weyerhaeuser, Rayonier, Financial Investment Associates (FIA), Roseburg Forest Products, and Lone Rock Timber Co.

Hunters can access public land and some private timberland through the Jackson Cooperative Travel Management Area (JACTMA). JACTMA restricts use of certain roads through April 30; for a map contact an ODFW office or download a free geo-referenced pdf. Remember lands within one mile of the Rogue River between Grave and Lobster creeks are closed. The eastern portion of the Applegate unit has open timber draws and south-facing meadows that provide good glassing opportunities to locate feeding bears.

There’s good hunting access in the Coos Mountain Access Area located in the Tioga Unit.  Beginning this year those interested in hunting this area may drive on any ungated roads within the access area, regardless of whether it has a green dot on it or not. The rules within this access area were changed so that vehicle access restrictions are only in place during the fall (Aug. 1 through Dec. 31). During other months this rule does not apply. All other access area rules, however, are in place year-round. See the 2022 Big Game Regulations Page 78 and information kiosks located at major access routes for more information. Be advised public and private landowners within Coos Mountain Access Area may close individual roads to protect logging operations or other land management projects.

Columbia Area -- Hunt 741A

Bear densities remain high in the Hood and White River WMUs, especially in forested areas. In general bear densities are slightly higher in the western portion of the hunt area (Hood WMU) but be aware that this area does not have as many open areas.

Lower elevations across the hunt area are great for spot-and-stalk hunting. Areas that have been logged or have other recent disturbance can provide good glassing opportunities, especially on the west side of Hood River valley. As you move higher into more densely forested portions of the hunt area, look for scat, turned over logs and rocks to indicate that bears are using the area.

The edges of the major drainages, such as White River, Badger Creek, and Tygh Creek should be good places to find bears in the eastern edge of the hunt area. The White River burn is now open to walk-in access and should provide excellent spring forage and open hillsides for hunter to glass.

Forested areas south of Mosier provide plenty of open hillsides and oak dominated areas in the western portion of the unit. Good optics and patience while glassing in these areas should increase your odds of spotting a bear.

Glass open areas that you can find, but also plan to cover a lot of ground to increase your chances of running into a bear. Access in the early portion of the season will be very limited with many forest roads still snowed in. As the snow melts, focus on higher elevations in the western portion of the unit to find higher concentrations of bears.

Locations: See the Oregon Hunting Access Map. In this hunt area, the majority of bear habitat is on public lands. The western edge of the unit has a significant amount of county forest and private timberlands (be sure to check access requirements as they vary by landowner) that harbor good numbers of bears. A large portion of property recently owned by Weyerhauser was sold to Green Diamond in Hood River and western Wasco County. See the ODFW Access and Habitat webpage for access information.

The 2020 White River burn is now open to walk-in access. Be aware that many forest roads in that area remain closed to motor vehicle travel. 

South Central Area -- Hunt 731A

Snowpack is above average due to several late winter snow events. Access will be limited in many areas early in the season. Bear populations continue to increase throughout the hunt area. Historically the highest bear densities are in the Cascade Mountains with lower densities in the drier, ponderosa pine forest portions of the hunt area. However, over the past several years there have been population increases in the Warner, Interstate and Silver Lake WMU’s as well as increased hunter success in these units.

Areas for hunters to check include the Keno Unit, western portion of the Sprague Unit, the Yamsey Mountain and Winter Rim areas of the Silver Lake Unit and the Gearhart Mountain area in the Interstate Unit. Focus on the unburned fringes around recent wildfires.

Locations: See the Oregon Hunting Access Map. Public access is restricted within the Fremont-Winema Natinoal Forest to those areas outside burn scars from 2021 including the Bootleg, Patton Meadow, and Cougar Peak fires. Hunting access is good in the southern portions of the Keno Unit, though spring precipitation can often leave many two-track roads and trails too muddy to be driven without causing damage to the road. Access should improve by later in the season. Please respect private property and avoid driving on soft or muddy roads.

Southeast Area -- Hunt 746A

The area had a mild winter this year with lower areas accessible to hunters; however, higher elevations may still be inaccessible during the start of the season. Snowpack this past winter was similar to last year. Spring green-up is already occurring on the lowest elevations and south-facing slopes, providing ideal conditions for pre-season scouting. Bear populations are stable or increasing but this hunt is still challenging due to the heavily forested terrain that makes it difficult to spot bears. Hunters can find bears widely distributed through all units but harvest in the spring has been highest in the Desolation unit.

Hunters often use this tag as an opportunity to scout new hunting areas for next fall’s deer and elk seasons, turkey hunt, or collect shed antlers. Remember it is legal to take naturally shed antlers, but not skulls with antlers attached. More information on shed hunting.

Locations: Hunters in the Heppner and Desolation units should focus on the area along the breaks of the North Fork John Day River. See the Oregon Hunting Access Map for more hunting locations. Bears are well distributed across Grizzly and Ochoco units. Focus on riparian drainages and open areas. Snowpacks are relatively small this year so green up may be at higher elevations than spring hunters are used to.

Snowpack in the Silvies and Malheur River units are above average and extend to the valley floors. We expect it will be difficult to access hunting areas in these units until relatively late in the season.

Early in the season, it’s best to work the lower elevation fringes of the forest, concentrating on areas with green-up, particularly rocky outcroppings near meadows and other open areas. 

Northeast Area -- Hunts 762A, 764, 754A, 752A, 756, 757A, 759A, 760A

BAKER COUNTY

The district experienced heavy snowfall in the mid to upper elevations. Hunters should expect access to be limited early in the season with access to high elevations by mid to late season. Look for bears in areas of early green-up. Usually south-facing slopes are the first to become snow-free and can be good places to glass for bears.

In the Keating Unit, hunters will find better access in some of the mid to low portions of the national forest. Higher elevations near Pine Creek and McGraw Overlook will have deep snow early in the season but should become accessible by mid to late season. Hunters planning on traveling the 39 Road to access the McGraw area should be aware that the road is still snow covered in higher elevations and access will be limited. For up to date road conditions please contact the Wallowa Whitman National Forest, Baker Ranger District at 541-523-6391.

The Catherine Creek Unit will produce good bear numbers this year. Much of the unit’s lower elevations are on privately-owned land. The higher elevations of the Catherine Creek Unit are mostly within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and contain excellent bear habitat. Snow may limit access to the highest elevations in April but should open up by mid-season. Walking in on roads that are inaccessible by vehicle can be a productive way to find early season bears.

Locations: See the Oregon Hunting Access Map. The Little Catherine Creek Travel Management area just east of Union provides walk-in access to Hancock Forest Management lands; maps are available at entrance points or at ODFW’s La Grande Office.

Lookout Mt. Unit – Hunt 764

Moderate snow in high elevations will limit access in the early season. Try south-facing slopes near the timberline above Brownlee Reservoir. Private lands limit access; make sure you obtain landowner permission before hunting private land.

Locations: See the Oregon Hunting Access Map.

GRANT COUNTY

S Blue Mountains – Hunt 746A

Controlled spring bear season opens April 1^. There is a fair amount of snow this winter and access may be restricted during the early part of the season. Most bears become more active around the first of May and can be found on open slopes feeding on newly sprouted vegetation. Bears are scattered throughout the hunt area, but bears are most abundant in the Desolation, West Beulah and Northside units.

Hunters need to remember the Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Areas is not open to public access until April 15.

Locations: See the Oregon Hunting Access Map.

UMATILLA COUNTY

Mt Emily-Walla Walla-- Hunt 754A

The district experienced slightly above average snowfall at upper elevations this winter. Snow and cold temperatures are expected in the short-term forecast, so expect access to be challenging in the early part of the spring season. Hunters will most likely have limited access to higher elevations off  Hwy 204 until the very end of the season, if at all.

Some areas you might consider for early season access are Lincton and Blalock Mountains and the Walla Walla Unit and the forks of the Umatilla River in the Mt. Emily Unit. Towards the end of April, the 31 road (Summit Road) could potentially become more accessible off of I 84 in the Mt. Emily Unit. Hunters can call the Pendleton ODFW office (541-276-2344) for information on access and snow conditions throughout the season.

Early season bear activity is concentrated along the lower elevation fringes of national forestland. Bears follow the green-up elevation band; concentrate on timbered slopes with small openings with lush green moss, sedge or grassy areas. If the spring is wet, bears will be out on open slopes foraging on wild onions and sedges. If the day is cool, bears will be out in the open for longer periods. However, in warm weather, bear activity will be concentrated early in the morning and late in the day near sundown.  

Locations: See the Oregon Hunting Access Map.

UNION COUNTY

Starkey-Ukiah-- Hunt 752A

The district has not seen much early snow, but the latter half of February has produced some heavy snowfall at upper elevations. Expect difficulty travelling and limited access early in the season at these upper elevations. With these conditions expect some green-up late April to early May. Glassing south-facing slopes is usually most productive, with those slopes opening up and greening up earlier.

Starkey and Ukiah can prove to be difficult areas for spring bear hunting since there is not much open canyon habitat like other NE Oregon units. However, both have strong bear numbers. Focus on walking in closed roads, glassing open terrain and moving across the landscape. The Elkhorn wildlife area in the south end of the unit provides walk-in hunting access as well.

Locations: See the Oregon Hunting Access Map. The Dry Beaver Ladd Canyon road closure area offers diverse habitat and provides limited motorized travel. Other areas that have good bear densities are Spring Creek, open slopes along Fly Creek and public lands surrounding Vey Meadows. It is also quite possible to encounter a cougar in these areas, so having a cougar tag could provide a bonus opportunity.

WALLOWA COUNTY

Wallowa District Hunts - Hunts 756, 757A, 759A, 760A

The district has experienced little low elevation snow, but expect vehicle access at higher elevations to be difficult until early May, due to existing snow and drifts. Access is often limited in areas such as spur roads in the Sled Springs and Chesnimnus Units, Hat Point Road in the Snake River Unit, and the 39 Road to Salt Creek Summit in the Imnaha Unit.

Access to Eden and Bartlett Bench in the Wenaha Unit is looking promising, barring any late season snowstorms. Access in the Snake River Unit will be more difficult due to complications from the Double Creek Fire. For up-to-date restrictions check with Wallowa Whitman National Forest, Wallowa Mountains Office at 541-426-5546. Look for access points and campsites along lower elevation rivers, creeks, and drainages.

Bear activity will depend on late winter, early spring weather, with warm and wet weather resulting in more bear activity. In the early season, most bears will be found in canyon areas. Glass south-facing meadows and timbered slopes at low and mid-elevations for green up.

Lower elevation areas in the Imnaha, Snake River and Wenaha Units are already experiencing green up, especially in burned areas. If hunting later in the season, you may focus on predator calls in open meadows with adjacent timber. Overall, harvest numbers have remained consistent in past years.

Locations: See the Oregon Hunting Access Map. Be mindful of public land access and consult travel management area maps where applicable. The Noregaard, Whiskey Creek and Shamrock travel management areas in the Sled Springs Unit, Grouse Lick in the Imnaha Unit, and Chesnimnus travel management areas will be in effect through May 31.

There is no public access from the Imnaha Highway at Big Sheep Creek, Bear Gulch, and Devil’s Gulch in the Imnaha nor access from the west into Lightning Creek and Horse Creek in Snake River.