Fall bear

[AspenCreekOutdoors]

Hopefully there's a couple experienced fall bear hunters on here who can answer this, my taxidermist told me not to bother shooting my target bear till middle of September the earliest

His reasoning is the bears coat quality wil be much better then at this time

Makes sense to me just wanted to hear what you guys/gals have to say

I'll be hunting my bait in the 500 series area if this helps

[Desert Eagle]

As a trapper, the longer you can wait the better off the fur will be. I took a cinnamon bear in late Sept during a warm year and the fur was still quite lacking on the belly and armpit area.

North in the 500 zones may be a bit different though.

[AspenCreekOutdoors]

Makes sense, will have to see how the weather will be up north this September

If it's an average fall I'm going to assume bears coat gets prime last couple weeks of September

[3blade]

I'm no bear expert, but I have heard that a bears coat doesn't really prime up outside the den. Which is not to say it can't be nice, but it's not going to be spring-nice. But it will taste better.

I can say that by October they are few and far between unless you are in an area with some really late berries or unharvested oats and no furry government unicorns (grizzlies).

[Torkdiesel]

Originally Posted by 3blade

I'm no bear expert, but I have heard that a bears coat doesn't really prime up outside the den. Which is not to say it can't be nice, but it's not going to be spring-nice. But it will taste better.

I can say that by October they are few and far between unless you are in an area with some really late berries or unharvested oats and no furry government unicorns (grizzlies).

That's pretty accurate 3blade

They don't get really nice until after they have gone to bed for the winter !

[Hunter4ever12]

The way I was explained to was if you want a full thick coat shoot a spring bear,if you want that nice silky looking coat shoot a fall bear.

[muzzy]

Definitely the spring bear has the thick winter coat but the fall bear has a shorter but much shinier coat. The longer you can wait in fall the better

[ex811]

Shot my fall bear late September last year in 519. Awesome hide and really tasty.
And the posters must be right, it's hanging up beside some fall bears and it does appear to be have more of a shine.

[newguy]

Took a bear in CNP in late sept. The fur was excellent as was the meat.

[raised by wolves]

I was amazed at the difference a month can make. A friend of mine took a bear in late November back during one of our warm years. The hair was so long and thick. Amazing hide.