Help me kill a back-country bear!

[TheGDog]

If you have to hike-in quite a ways to eventually find a spot where your cams have shown you Bears come thru... then mostly likely your plan will have to involve staying until last light and hiking out under headlamp.

And especially if it's Hot? Yeah early am they're trying to find someplace to take a dip to cool off before the days heat comes on in. So if the hike-in is long-ish, like 7mi+? it'll make it more difficult to get in there early enough in the AM. Assuming heading in from vehicle in the AM.

Another thing to look out for... if like if you're following along a waterline/creek bed that's dried out and not flowing ATM? Like say it's mid of Summer... we've startled Bears that were napping, nestled within the young sapling beechwoods, that were growing along the edges of this creek bed... where the slope of the adjacent hill/ridge... which causes condensation to get pulled down it by gravity... so the edges of that waterway still have some moistness to the soil, which makes it a cool nice place to nap at.

 

[Zebadiahetter]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some advice that hopefully will lead to a successful hunt next spring. For context I'm a Midwest bow hunter that has been trying to kill a western bear for two years now. Ive thus far been unsuccessful in even locating a bear. I'm pretty committed to a spot and stalk back country hunt. Ill outline my previous hunts and problems Ive run into.

2024 - Western Montana last week of April. This was my first western hunt. I backpacked in and spend 3 nights 4 days hunting. I certainly was humbled by the terrain I chose. I had plans to go much deeper than I was able to get. I found myself in steep, shale slopes that were impossible to navigate. I also over packed and definitional carried too much weight. This combined with some foot problems made traveling difficult for me. I did find a few good areas to glass but there was not much in terms of green up. Found lots of deer but I couldn't find any bears. Due to my poor planning I felt kinda "stuck" in the area I was in and wasn't able to relocate easily. Overall a good learning experience to associate some terrain with my digital scouting and iron out my gear.

2025 - North East Idaho early September. I went out for 4 night 5 days. I felt much more comfortable with my gear and hiking and was able to navigate to my desired areas without much problem. However I found myself in areas that were super thick with vegetation and made glassing very difficult. I tried to locate berries which I did but was unable to locate any bears. Again due to the terrain it was impossible to glass all but small pockets of open slope. I did have my gear dialed in and felt very comfortable, although the daytime temps were in the high 80s, which I think also contributed to the lack of bears. Overall this was another good learning experience but again I was humbled by the difference between digital scouting and the reality of the terrain.

Now I'm planning a trip to Western Montana for mid-May of 2026. I'm focusing on trying to e-scout south facing slopes which I can glass, and have options to continue moving and see more country. I would love to at least locate a bear. Anyone have any tips, tricks or advice for me?

Thank you all for the time!

I'm sure this has been said but, bears love that brand new grass not far from snow line. Glass, glass, glass...

 

[ianpadron]

Anyone happen to have any experience with Mark Livesays treeline academy course for bear?

I have not, but have run into Mark a couple times in the ID and WY backcountry. Seems like a solid dude that knows his stuff, cool llamas too lol