I haven’t been out much this year, but I, surprisingly, haven’t seen a single bear this fall. Not one. Kind of weird, actually.
Last year, the last one I saw was this guy on October 28:
Great size bear by most standards and definitely a shooter. If I wasn’t after elk that day, I would pack it out.
My friend also shot a bear a few days before or after, I don’t recall exactly. Was a small bear. He shot it in the field. The one in the pic is deep in the bush of a river valley.
This time of year, it is probably best to know someone who has bears in their field showing up, really. What Dean said in regards to where to look. Other than that, it is a lot of luck involved in getting a good (or any bear) this time of year. Going on tips for location or knowing a farmer are probably the only efficient ways to proceed at this point, imo.