There really is nothing northern WA and TX have in common ala land access. Almost all of this area you would look to hunt is state land. I don't know exactly where you are looking to go but, here's a link to the national forest that covers most of this part of the state. The national forest map is good for finding the major landmarks, creeks ridges etc.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/colville/forest/maps/index.htmlNext, go to this site, the index is the WA state cut up in boxes.. order it and you can then order any or all of the quads you want. This will lay out for you not only the features but the ownership of the land, private, DNR, BLM, State... sometimes what is "private" is timber company so it is still public access. Basically you have paved highways through valleys of different ridges in this part of the state. you will have dirt roads, logging, heading up most every creek drainage and ridgeline. You know when you can hunt when you stop seeing the PRIVATE and NO HUNTING sings...
.. Either way the only issue with private forest land is that the road on the map may go for eight miles but a gate may end your drive after one. The rest is free to access via boot leather.
http://www.or.blm.gov/lo/walndmng.htmYou might call to the guide service to see if they might make some recommends even if you don't book. You might call Clarke's All Sports.. they are the sporting goods in Colville and they are geared to hunters and fishermen. You might find someone there that can help. I don't have a phone number but call to the Washington departement of fish and wildlife. The local ranger is Kelly White, I think that's his name. I'm sure he can assist you in picking quickly scouted and productive bear ground. You might try seeing if there is a cattlemens association head in the area though this part of the state isn't big in cattle. If there is a chapter they would certainly be for one less bear.
In this area often the best bear ground is just up a given hill behind private lands. Places with apple or pear trees. In this part of the state all the low land next to foothills is owned but rarely is the land owned more than a quarter to half a mile off of pavement. Water, berries, sedges are on the order and you don't need to get to 5000 feet and up to find it. Often it's on state land right behind the grass farmer. Bears are plenitful and most of the locals consider them a nuisance, in their yards and fruit trees/garbage.
If after a couple of calls you have some areas you want to pursue.. then go to the USGS website. Get the washington map it will look like the BLM one above and get it. They will have high qaulity, if a bit dated, topo maps. You can get the "7 minute" maps of the exact areas you'd like to hunt in with much greater detail. If your plans are for this year... get cooking. It only takes a couple weeks to get all the maps you need/want, but the calls are likely to be more important still. The bears here are plentiful but as it was already said, not huge. I'd bet with a few calls and some map work to pick areas you can give yourself decent odds on a bear minus the guide fee. Besides, exploration is its own reward.
Colville
