I'm headed to Colorado unit 70 on September black bear hunt. Anyone do this before?. I have hunted the unit over the last 4-5 years. I have seen one before, but no tag at the time. Any one else hunt this time of the year have advice. Even if its another unit.
I forgot to mention that the previous hunts were in 2nd rifle.

No experience with unit 70, but I wish you good luck and success. Post a report and pics after the hunt!

I’ve hunted unit 70 about 10-15 times over the past 20+ years. Wife’s distant family homesteaded a ranch up there back in the 1890s. We were just up there 2 weeks ago. It’s the greenest I have ver seen it in the 20+ years since I have been going. Saw more game this time than I have in the 20 years combined. Granted I am in private property and not forest service so likely a different story. Per day we averaged seeing 30-50 head of elk & 6-10 mule deer. Saw 4 bears all within a hundred yards. They were feeding & out moving a little after 5pm. Earlier than typical. Generally south facing slopes are best. Lots of green vegetation in the open parks seems to have their attention now. Likely to dry up by Sept. Look for scrub oak and you’ll find the acorns. If it gets super dry might sit water. Beyond that I am not much help. Never had any luck taking a bear during the season..

Good luck

Wow, sounds like the area is in great condition! I haven't hunted bear in years and then it was way back when there was a spring season in Colorado so I am not much help. Last couple of bear hunts were in Idaho but also were in the spring.Might try glassing with a spotting scope or big binos and stalking, we took a few that way in the spring. I miss bear hunting, probably one of my most favorite animals to hunt....Good luck and enjoy the scenery!

Good luck. Not much help as I've not been in unit 70.

I appreciate the responses. I had planned on mostly glassing and staying close to water. My concern would be the elevation. I usually hunt about 9000 ft up, but I'm hunting elk and MD. Some of what I have been able to read up on they're usually lower elevation than that. I know finding activity and food will be my first priorities.

If you find a recently shot Elk, hunt the carcass. Every bear in the will visit it within a day or two.
Acorns and choke berries will also attract bears. Most of the bears I’ve seen hunting Colorado have been in the mornings before 10 AM.

did you pull rifle tag or archery? Archery is a tough spot and stalk. Rifle tag, go high first and then move down in elevation. Bears tend to be active later in morning and earlier in evening. Use glass over legs. Look for green grass up high, or acorns down low

being a fawn in distress call also

Find the food sources and you will find bears. That was what I did in 2021 in CO and I got a 240 pound boar with a chovolate coat.

I drew a rifle tag. I had put in on muzzle loader for elk and deer, but got skunked. Thought about the second draw chance, but thinking I'm just going with what I have. Plan on truck/Utv camp and pack in somewhere for a few days. Definitely going to look for food. As a round representative of males food is on my mind regularly. I had a bear walk by me about 5 yrs ago while hunting elk/deer. Of course I didn't have a tag then. I appreciate the responses.

Never hunted that area but have hunted and killed lots of bears over the years both spring and fall. That time of year if you find the berries you will find the bears or alternatively any mast bearing trees that are dropping nuts is another good bet. My part of the world white oak acorns and beech nuts will outperform everything. If either of those two nuts are dropping in the areas i am hunting there is no bait that will attract them. They will stay on nuts until they are gone and only after that consider bait.

Thanks Hirogen I plan on looking for the available food source and water near if possible. I appreciate the information by all. Looking forward to the hunt.

I was wondering if it was better early September or later in the month. Anyone with some insight on this. thanks.

The answer to that will be highly localized and will vary year to year. Pretty much need a local with active eyes on to advise you. That being said there should be an average for the area in question. Will almost completely depend on when the berries are ready, when the nuts are dropping and any other local food sources that come available seasonally. That timing will be plus/minus the average and a function of the weather throughout the preceding season.

Years with tons of berries and nuts everywhere are actually harder to hunt as the beasts have too many good options. Dry years with late killing frosts are easy as the options are limited and predictable.

Thanks again Hirogen. I appreciate the info. I was planning on going a few days ahead of Muzzleloader season with the hopes of finding a location. I was thinking by getting there early that I might have some time to locate an area before the Archery/Muzzleloader herd hits the woods. Once that opens up it should start moving some around, or that's my thinking.