I usually go to the bWCA in May or September and seem to miss the big berry patches, either too early or too late! Does anybody know the general cycle of the berries! Ive always known the BWCA for its blueberries, but was looking at a survey that stated that the raspbery numbers were actually greater! Anyway, any info on the start and end of the rasp, blue, pin, choke, etc is would be appreciated greatly!

Here is a trip report that focuses somewhat on berry picking. Blue heaven on the Granite river

Generally speaking; going in mid to late July into an area that was recently burned (for instance the Ham lake fire) will give you the greatest odds of berry success. Blueberries can run into August.

Here's an old thread that might be of some help as well.

The raspberries can come a little earlier. Went through the burn area 2 years ago on July 6 and had tons of them. Also, the blueberries were just starting. Depends on temp and moisture for the year.

Seems to me that I generally find plenty of blueberries when I go in early August. Unfortunately, I prefer September's weather but, no berries are left.

We've always found plenty of raspberries mid-August. Blue berries are normally over by then, but we've hit them a couple of times.

Early August 2011. The burn areas are the places to find them in numbers.

Late July was good to us.

Mid August 2011 the berries were plentiful. We spent five days off the Gunflint canoeing and then an additional week in Grand Marais, day tripping up and down the shore and the Trail.

By the end of the trip we actually passed by both blueberries and raspberries. Everyone in the family was sick of them except me and we decided not to pack them up and bring them home with us. I ate my fill every day though.

Raspberries especially were plentiful...even by the parking lots of state parks I could eat my fill.

It all depends on what the weather has been like, but Strawberry season is from the beginning to the end of June, Dew Berry from mid June to mid July, Juneberry (Service Berry) from late June to late July, Blueberry and Raspberry from mid July through August with raspberries lasting the longest, Thimble Berry from mid August though September, the wild Cherries from mid August through September, and the Highbush Cranberries from end of September through October.

Aug 4 09. Picked them by the bucketload and boiled them with powdered lemonade to make syrup to replace the maple variety forgotten on the kitchen counter...

Two years ago we picked blueberries and raspberries the last week in June and ate them. Earliest I had seen them!

Bruce

Great info, although it still leaves me a lil confused! Maybe is shouldve stated that i plan on doing a BWCA bear hunt this year, and was wondering what type of syrup or scent to use as opener is Sept 1! The bears will key in on whatever the dominant crop is at that time! My way of thinking is trying to mimic a scent that matches what the dominant crop is at that time of year! Ive created a burn that involves jello mix and a few other choice ingredients, and is very sweet smelling! Jello comes in wild cherry, berry blue(blueberry), raspberry, that would fit in well up there in my burns! Wild cherry, blueberry, raspberry scented sprays can also be purchased! During late aug/early sept what would be the most dominant berry crop in the central BWCA?

I understand that this year the early spring will produce berries much earlier, and they may be dwindling if not absent come sept.

quote eyestalker: "I understand that this year the early spring will produce berries much earlier, and they may be dwindling if not absent come sept."

Yes. As a general rule, most berries have run their course by September.

quote eyestalker: "Great info, although it still leaves me a lil confused! Maybe is shouldve stated that i plan on doing a BWCA bear hunt this year, and was wondering what type of syrup or scent to use as opener is Sept 1! The bears will key in on whatever the dominant crop is at that time! My way of thinking is trying to mimic a scent that matches what the dominant crop is at that time of year! Ive created a burn that involves jello mix and a few other choice ingredients, and is very sweet smelling! Jello comes in wild cherry, berry blue(blueberry), raspberry, that would fit in well up there in my burns! Wild cherry, blueberry, raspberry scented sprays can also be purchased! During late aug/early sept what would be the most dominant berry crop in the central BWCA?"

You may be over thinking the scent burn thing, but there still should be some wild cherries around on Sept 1st if you are going to try the Jell-O burn. Family members hunt bear every year. What they use is honey burns and bacon grease heated up. Bears at that time are trying to fatten up. I attracted a bear to my cabin door in September by deep fat frying fish one year.