bear hunting colorado

anyone very familiar with how the bear hunting is around rifle or parchute co.
im planning on elk hunting the archery season and just wondering if i dare spend the extra money on a bear tag also. im thinking ill wait and see for this year and if i see any i may just get one next year any info will help thanks
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I have tried twice to reply maybe this will get throut
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Ox

The Colorado Division of Wildlife has interactive maps on their website that can help you determine the bear population in the areas that you want to hunt.

If you can afford the tag I would get one. Better to have it and not need it then vice versa.

Also you may want to check with the regional office for DOW. There are some fires up around Rifle right now. It has been my expierience that the folks at the regional offices go out of their way to help hunters locate what they are hunting.

Also if you have a side arm (.40 or larger) carry it while you bow hunt. If not get a large canister of bear spray. The incidents of bear/cougar and human encounters seems to be increasing the last couple of years.

I have had 2 encouters with bears where I didn't have any permit, side arm or bear spray. My spray travels with whenever I head out the door now. Since I strarted carrying it I have not had an encounter. The stuff seams to be a repelant haha.

Good luck and check your 6 frequently.
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Its worth mentioning that the concentration maps are from person reports, not collar data. I don't know how true it is but I know from my own experience for the area we hunt elk it is pretty darn close.
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The Ox
you can carry a sidearm during the archery hunt huh. i thought so but wasnt sure. thanks fro the info guys... well i can only afford the tag if its a fair chance at getting one so ill look it up. i will have to check into the fires around rifle thanks.
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