2020 Montana Spring Bear

[Archer_32]

Anyone having any luck so far? I've been out hunting a few times (about 24 total hours of hunting) and have yet to see any sign, much less a bear. I'm new to Montana so taking it all as learning. Talked with a few guys yesterday that hadn't seen anything either. Hunting the Little Belts.

It's entirely possible I suck as much being a bear hunter as I do being a whitetail hunter; understanding the two aren't mutually exclusive

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[Call.me.porter]

Not a lot of green-up in the areas I hunt, haven't seen any sign yet. Just a matter of time, should be getting good in a couple weeks. There's some out though, I've seen some good ones killed already. The more time you spend out the better your odds will be at finding one!

 

[Archer_32]

Gotta take next weekend off but headed out the next weekend. Hopefully it has had time to green up by then.

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[ZMT588]

Things are starting to green up around here. Heard of a few killed. My buddy has laid eyes on a few. Got my first sighting of a sow and some cubs yesterday. Hopefully things heat up soon.

 

[dk88]

Things are starting to green up in the Beartooth where I hunt but still a lot of snow. I did spot this blonde last week but it was too far away to go after. I’m heading back out Thursday to chase them again.

 

[Archer_32]

Good to see that! I've considered a hunt in the beartooth but worried about hikers with the improving weather.

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[dk88]

Yeah the amount of hikers/backpack campers has been extremely high. My normal spots have people everywhere doing day hikes so I have had to switch to areas with few trailheads and go off trail.

 

[Nodak100]

I am hoping to hunt the little belts. I’ll be watching this thread.

 

[mooster]

We had planned to hunt NW MT abut due to the MT travel quarantine we cancelled our trip yesterday. You may find the woods a little less crowded due to other nonresidents being forced to do the same. Good luck.

 

[Call.me.porter]

Got my buddy on this nice young bear last night, not a bad one to start your bear hunting career on. Funny thing was this wasn't the bear we were after, but a bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bush. They are out and about. Have located 3 in the last 2 days.

 

[Archer_32]

Got my buddy on this nice young bear last night, not a bad one to start your bear hunting career on. Funny thing was this wasn't the bear we were after, but a bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bush. They are out and about. Have located 3 in the last 2 days. View attachment 179738

That looks like great bear country! The stuff I'm hunting is much more broken up with timber. Congrats fellas

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[mtjimbo]

I know up in Lincoln County eureka and lobby area people have been seeing tons of them. That's where I used to live awfully bear dense area

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[Call.me.porter]

I know up in Lincoln County eureka and lobby area people have been seeing tons of them. That's where I used to live awfully bear dense area

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Dense with Griz too.

 

[mtjimbo]

Dense with Griz too.

Sure is. I've had some run ins in the west kooteni a time or two.. its pretty much dense in all predators haha

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[Call.me.porter]

Another one in the books for me. Same drainage as my buddy's from a week ago. This is the bear that I had originally spotted that I thought he shot, until I saw his had a black muzzle. So I played chance and found him again. Had to leave the hide and half the meat on the mountain for tomorrow, but I can't wait to get a tape on him. Should be right at or just shy of 6ft.

 

[mwf008]

Noob question: How does leaving the meat on the mountain overnight effect it’s quality? At what temperature would this be pushing it to the point of spoilage?

 

[Call.me.porter]

Noob question: How does leaving the meat on the mountain overnight effect it’s quality? At what temperature would this be pushing it to the point of spoilage?

Having your meat spoil is always a concern but there are precautions you can take to easily avoid it. In this situation, I know it's going to get plenty cold enough overnight that I can safely store it. Having been quartered and boned out, it will allow the meat to constantly cool until it reaches the ambient temperature. Hanging it on a north face or near a creek bottom also helps cool the meat down faster. If it had been 80 or 90 degrees I probably would have pushed hard to get it all out. But seeing as how it dropped down to 35 degrees last night that meat will be as good as gold!

 

[Wildatheart]

Awesome bear !! Sweet gun also.

 

[netman]

How’s the roads in the SW higher areas looking?
Thanks

 

[Trox416]

Yesterday made it to 6500' on a north aspect before being snowed out. I'd say 90% of road systems are open, just the few watershed highline roads and high high access that are still snowed in.