I am planning on doing my first western hunt. I am from Mississippi and I am planning on doing a solo spring bear hunt in Montana Unit 106 focusing on the Flathead Range from mid May to June. I was wondering how dense the grizzlies are in this area. My thought are to hike into placed I have found on via satellite mapping that look like good vantage point to glass near by south facing avalanche shoots or areas that have wholes and pockets along a timbered mountain side. My hikes in are ranging from 2 miles to 5 miles and I plan on back country camping as well as camping near my truck. I have never been in this type of geography and was wondering are there certain thing i may need to be prepared for that I may not consider on first thought. Also in mid may how is the snow in this are. I am trying to gauge if i need to push my trip back or forward a week. Also in this are would a bike be handy riding logging roads instead of hiking into back country. Thank you for any responses.
First Spring Bear Hunt
- Thread starter Samwise
- Start date
MTbowhunter36
WKR
I've hunted spring bear in this unit and had encountered the sub-adult grizzly pictured below that harassed me for awhile with sightings of others. This unit does have a high concentration of grizzlies and it borders GNP as I'm sure you're aware. Be prepared and be smart and run a very clean camp. Call the biologist in Libby, she used to be the bear specialist for this area. She's super knowledgeable and very helpful.
Utilizing a mountain bike by the reservoir is doable. If you're hunting the Swan side it's thick country that's not as conducive to glassing/biking.
I've hunted spring bear in units 103 and 106 solo, but after having several grizzly sightings the risk isn't worth the reward, IMO. I can't get some hunting buddies to go with me either, so I've ruled those units out for bear.
It's hard to describe, but 50% of me doesn't like it, and 50% of me that enjoys the adrenaline/fear of being in their house. Once you see one and maybe even have an encounter you'll know what I mean. Glassing up a black bear compared to a griz is like spotting a VW bug compared to a semi truck.
I'm trying not to be a wet blanket, just giving you my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.
Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk
Utilizing a mountain bike by the reservoir is doable. If you're hunting the Swan side it's thick country that's not as conducive to glassing/biking.
I've hunted spring bear in units 103 and 106 solo, but after having several grizzly sightings the risk isn't worth the reward, IMO. I can't get some hunting buddies to go with me either, so I've ruled those units out for bear.
It's hard to describe, but 50% of me doesn't like it, and 50% of me that enjoys the adrenaline/fear of being in their house. Once you see one and maybe even have an encounter you'll know what I mean. Glassing up a black bear compared to a griz is like spotting a VW bug compared to a semi truck.
I'm trying not to be a wet blanket, just giving you my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.
Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk
There are plenty of good places to hunt black bears without dealing with grizzlies. Doing your first western hunt is enough to deal with by itself. Doing it alone and in grizzly country is really asking for it. Idaho has a lot of bears in places without monsters. I assume Montana does as well.
FortuneTeller
FNG
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2021
- Messages
- 15
Agreed. Unit 106 you will see grizzlies. We have hunted the area but probably saw just as many grizzlies as black bears. It can be done but I'd be really careful camping alone. I'd rather sleep in the back of the truck than have to deal with getting food away from my camp, etc. 103 will have lots of grizzlies as well. I surprised a big bear in there while in a thicket, alone.. It'll get your blood pumpin that's for sure. Whichever unit you choose, you're in for an adventure, grizzlies or not.
I guess 106 needs to go on the back burner until i can get some one to hunt with. I am looking for a unit that looks to have alot of opportunity in hiking glassing and fishing. I literally picked that unit because i thought the terrain looked absolutely amazing from Google earth and videos I've seen of guys fishing out there. Any other units that are going to offer the type of hunt I'm looking for.
Originally I was not planning on going solo but my "friend" bailed on me a couple of weeks ago. He has been on board with me on this for close to a year. I just had my heart set on this unit but that can change until i have some one to go with. Honestly the idea of being there when I had a partner seemed exciting in a way knowing I would be on edge and have to have a heighten awareness. But with amount of grizzly that you guys say are there solo doesn't sound so smart.
Consider 21-A in Idaho. Lots of good opportunities to glass and lots of bears, just not the scary kind. If you must hunt Montana, I was up against the state line and they had bears over there too.
Idaho is not out of the spectrum at all. Thank you I will look in to 21-A for sure
How close did it get to you.I've hunted spring bear in this unit and had encountered the sub-adult grizzly pictured below that harassed me for awhile with sightings of others. This unit does have a high concentration of grizzlies and it borders GNP as I'm sure you're aware. Be prepared and be smart and run a very clean camp. Call the biologist in Libby, she used to be the bear specialist for this area. She's super knowledgeable and very helpful.
Utilizing a mountain bike by the reservoir is doable. If you're hunting the Swan side it's thick country that's not as conducive to glassing/biking.
I've hunted spring bear in units 103 and 106 solo, but after having several grizzly sightings the risk isn't worth the reward, IMO. I can't get some hunting buddies to go with me either, so I've ruled those units out for bear.
It's hard to describe, but 50% of me doesn't like it, and 50% of me that enjoys the adrenaline/fear of being in their house. Once you see one and maybe even have an encounter you'll know what I mean. Glassing up a black bear compared to a griz is like spotting a VW bug compared to a semi truck.
I'm trying not to be a wet blanket, just giving you my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.
Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk
MTbowhunter36
WKR
Long story short, he was in some tall grass below the road feeding. I saw him and watched him for a bit. I didn't know it was a grizzly right away due to the angle by which I was looking. I then walked up the bank of the road to get a better vantage. My scent was going down and he smelled me for sure. He then came out of the grass onto the road. He was about 150 yards and at this point started sauntering towards me. I was yelling and waving my arms and it was as if I was silent - it didn't faze him one bit. When he was about 100 yards I fired a shot to his left and in front of him and he ran up the bank. I thought it may flank me so I walked back 40 yards or so. It was back down and on the road in about 45 seconds. He wouldn't look at me, but just walk towards me no matter how much I yelled and threw gravel. There were a lot of things going through my mind. I had bear spray and my rifle. I picked up a large rock and when he was about 20 yards away I threw it at him. This was what finally scared him and he went below the road and popped his head up behind a stump. I continued yelling and throwing gravel and he jogged off. I got the heck out of there. Driving home after that experience felt like I was hooked up to a low voltage wire. I didn't turn the radio on, but just kept thinking what could have happened.
Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk
I hunt the NW corner and am planning on being there this May. I hunt solo and do not let the thought of grizzlies be the deciding factor on whether to hunt a unit or not. Just be smart, have your head on a swivel, have the appropriate defense mechanisms and have fun. Even in grizzly country, your drive from Mississippi to Montana is going to be thousands of times more likely to cause you injury or death than a grizzly encounter once you reach your hunting destination.
this is exactly what I've been telling my girlfriend.
- Banned
- #13
Same here...I live in 106...sure, lots of grizz but your chances of having a bad encounter with one are extremely low. I camp and hike regularly up there. I am aware of the potential to run into a grizz, but I don't let it bother me. I just do my best to remain aware at all times and when I'm in thick country I go REAL slow. Most of the people that get mauled are because they surprise a bear which grizz don't take kindly to.
Also, is there a group in the area that has blood trail hounds. Here in Mississippi there is a group on facebook that tracks wounded animals if needed. Ive never used them but Im on the facebook group incase the situation arises.
- Banned
- #15
Never looked into it so I'm not sure...lots of houndsmen out here, that's for sure!
lost cajun
FNG
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2021
- Messages
- 20
i'm located in SW montana but hunt up in NW frequently. Where in Mississippi are you from? I went to school in Hattiesburg.
If it is just meat then 55 qt is likely enough. We had a 75 qt for our bear (which we did not get) and a 55 for food. If we had killed 2 we would have used both coolers, but that was unlikely. We had already lined up a processor and a taxidermist close by, so we would have packed him out quartered.
Perfect. Th
gulfport just south of there
Featured Video
Latest Articles
- Mathews ARC Bow Review
- What the Mule Deer Conservation Strategy Reveals About Wyoming’s Future
- West-wide Snowpack & Precipitation Update with Josh Boyd
- Leica PRS 5-30x56i Field Review
- Backcountry Mule Deer Hunting with Braxton Hamilton & Storie Ratcliff
- The Next Level in Optics with Ryan Holm of Leica
- Teratorn Backpack Review
- Argali Serac MagnaCut Knife Review
- James Yates: Leveraging Data for Archery Excellence
- How Old Was He Really? Big Buck Hunters Talk Age vs. Score