Idaho Bear Thoughts and Must Haves

[Browning98]

I live and hunt in the panhandle. I haven’t hunted bears elsewhere so I can’t comment on that. There are lots of bears around here, but it can be difficult to spot and stalk because the majority of it is heavy timber and thick. But, it can be done. 1) My biggest tip would be wary of where the snow line is for when you’re going. 2) I pretty much pack the same for any other hunt, but bring some bug spray beings that it’s spring. 3) I don’t think you’ll have an issue. Baits are usually not too far off the road and just don’t park where a pickup with a dog box is parked and start hiking. In unit 1, dogs and bait are prohibited but there are grizzlies. There can be grizzlies throughout the panhandle, but much more common in unit 1. You can find places to glass, mostly clear cuts and burns. There are also small pockets of glassing areas throughout. There’s quite a few bears up here, too.

 

[ELKOHUNTER]

It's not just you, bears are hard to escout for. If I have 10 places escouted for deer/elk, 8 will pan out usually. If I have 10 places for bear, I'm lucky if 5 work out/look like I want, realistically more like 3.

Elevation varies on where you are, it's just a guideline. The bears will be where the food is in May. The food is going to be somewhere below the snow line, so generally gives you an idea. I've seen plenty of bears cruising over ridges in snow, but they won't stay there. All of them won't follow the snow line up either, but a lot will. I've seen bears at 2500' and living there while others are at 5500', all within a mile.

I'm still trying to get 2 of 10 to work out. I agree that ungulates are much more of a sure thing for e scouting. Bears are more of "looks good that way".

 

[Hpi75]

I'm still trying to get 2 of 10 to work out. I agree that ungulates are much more of a sure thing for e scouting. Bears are more of "looks good that way".

So same as everyone is saying… find green grasses and god be with you.

 

[Hpi75]

It's not just you, bears are hard to escout for. If I have 10 places escouted for deer/elk, 8 will pan out usually. If I have 10 places for bear, I'm lucky if 5 work out/look like I want, realistically more like 3.

Elevation varies on where you are, it's just a guideline. The bears will be where the food is in May. The food is going to be somewhere below the snow line, so generally gives you an idea. I've seen plenty of bears cruising over ridges in snow, but they won't stay there. All of them won't follow the snow line up either, but a lot will. I've seen bears at 2500' and living there while others are at 5500', all within a mile.

Well your odds for e-scouting are generally better than mine in any circumstance then. I haven’t spent much time in Idaho hunting anyways that’s why I’m weary of spending a ton of time and running up there for a bear. Not much else to do in May so will probably pop in for a few days.
Sounds like bear are like everything else out there. There are desert deer/elk and mountain deer/elk.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Well your odds for e-scouting are generally better than mine in any circumstance then. I haven’t spent much time in Idaho hunting anyways that’s why I’m weary of spending a ton of time and running up there for a bear. Not much else to do in May so will probably pop in for a few days.
Sounds like bear are like everything else out there. There are desert deer/elk and mountain deer/elk.

I just have a lot of experience with it, definitely started off a lot worse. Like anything, you get better the more you do it. Any hunting is better than not hunting and spring is a great time to be in the mountains. Go out and have fun, good luck!

 

[Shadowbandd]

If in central Idaho area, buy a wolf tag too.

 

[David Gough]

1. If you're in the ticks you're in the bears.
2. Permethrin, permethrin, permethrin. And gaiters soak in permethrin.
3. Yes, you'll be fine if you get away from roads and quad trails.