Cohutta Bear access location preference(not asking for spot specifics)

[ForagerDCRD]

Ive done alot of reading over the past couple months as its gonna be my first season up there and I want to get the most out of the weekends Im able to hunt.. A big trend Ive noticed is the most talked about places revolve around the lake parking/camping sites and very little is mentioned about hoofing it deeper into the WMA...

Is it a simple matter of convenience since hauling out a bear can be a bear of a job, or are the numbers actually higher toward the perimeter of the WMA with less dense game populations on the interior? My current plan I hope to test out is to park at three forks and scout/hunt/backcountry camp the drainages between east cowpen trail and the conasauga river south of panther creek. probably gonna be about 1.5-2.5 miles in at any given time.

 

[twincedargap]

I'd plan to hunt the harder to access areas, in hopes of avoiding other hunters. If its easy to get too, I guarantee you won't be alone.

 

[gobbleinwoods]

I'd plan to hunt the harder to access areas, in hopes of avoiding other hunters. If its easy to get too, I guarantee you won't be alone.

I have had bear on more than one occasion visit my campsite on a fs road. Huff at me even to let me see them.

 

[ForagerDCRD]

I'd plan to hunt the harder to access areas, in hopes of avoiding other hunters. If its easy to get too, I guarantee you won't be alone.

That is the plan! Im saying I just think its strange that all the suggestions ive seen are for places closest to the roads and popular camping grounds, so I was wondering if there was anything too that other than a shorter pack-out...

 

[Joe Brandon]

Cohutta is unforgiving, cold and wet , especially down where you are speaking of. Be careful and know where you are going at all times! God speed~!

 

[twincedargap]

I have had bear on more than one occasion visit my campsite on a fs road. Huff at me even to let me see them.

I had a small one do a very quick bluff charge a couple weeks at a campground on a WMA. They certainly go where the food is.

 

[ripplerider]

The first animal I ever drew a bow on was a nice bear in the general area you described. Unfortunately he saw me draw as he was walking directly toward me and he whirled and was gone in a flash. Maybe that was a good thing as it would have been a very steep pack-out and I was alone, before cell-phones existed. There's plenty of bears in that area but it's really rugged.