Idaho Or Montana Bears

[Live Montana]

OK, not asking for any secret bear hunting spots but I'm all geared up to get a bear this year. I hunted around Missoula towards the end of November this year, not much luck. I think I was to late in the year, but I was just getting my bear legs. We are moving to Missoula in March. I can't wait to get out west.

So I have been thinking about hunting Montana or maybe even Idaho for bear this year. I have read that non-resident bear tags are like $45 for units 10 and 12. Montana is $350ish.... So I was thinking maybe Idaho or maybe both. I just wanted to see what you all thought about the hunting quality between Montana and Idaho. Obviously, Missoula is pretty close to the best units in both states. Not to mention I could set up baits and even use electronic calls in Idaho.

Thanks for any input.

 

[mt100gr.]

Being from NW MT, you know where I am going to suggest. Depending on the timing of the melt/green up, which lately is looking like it may be early. I would suggest dropping the extra coin and developing a series of spots in MT. I am in the flathead so I am more familiar with areas around here but honestly, the first spot that comes to mind for me for bears is probably within a few miles of halfway to Missoula. An hour away for either of us! There are plenty of bears and if the snow melts reasonably early, there a lot of country to cover.

I am not at all familiar with the timing of spring in Idaho.

 

[Live Montana]

I appreciate that. I was kinda thinking about that as well. I like the spot hunting better than baiting. It just more fun to me. I hunted Fall just around Missoula while were were there in November. I think some of the bears were in the den already. I did not have much luck spotting or even calling. I did call in a lot of coyotes <smile>......

I will start doing some research up in that area. Thank you so much
....

 

[bhylton]

Where mt100gr is talking, and anywhere on this side of the state really, look for the freshest green up - usually on the south and west slopes in open areas, clear cuts and burns. good luck

 

[MTguy0341]

Bears seem to be just about everywhere in western Montana. Anywhere with clear cuts or thinning has done me well. I've hunted unit 10 in Idaho. Up in the North Fork Clearwater. Looooong drive to get up there early in the year. Roughly 8 hours to the trailhead we went to. If you hunt the North fork Clearwater in order to access it from the Montana line you gotta wait til pretty late in the season. Great fishing in there too

 

[Jeremy]

I've baited bears in 10 and like MTguy0341 said you have to wait until the end of May to get in from the Montana side and even coming in through Idaho. I found this out the hard way on a few trips but there's a lot of bear in there. My friend got one climbing his treestand and we pulled a couple more out of there first trip. What I found baiting is once you've set your barrels up and your scent then for me it generally took about a week until I started seeing action. Then it was continuous and I had to rebate every two to three days. It's a lot of work to do this with the drive but it's worth it. Pick a steep hill for your site and your sure to get some action. Good luck if you decide this route, and the Clearwater elk could use your help with some more predator control!

 

[MTguy0341]

Ain't that the truth Jeremy. Spent an entire summer in that area, only four days back in town. Saw maybe a dozen elk. It's looking rough in there.

 

[Jeremy]

I don't know what's going on. I hunted moose in there late September, didn't even hear a bugle.

 

[MTguy0341]

I was in there for the summer of 2012. Ran into the current game warden and a retired one that worked in there. Regular occurrence that they ran into wolves. I know they shot 27 that winter from helicopter and plus what the trappers had got. Still the wolves were thick in there. We had wolves run in between the horse corrals and our wall tents at night,at least once a week. They'd try to entice my boss's dog out at night. You'd hear the wolves growling and yipping. That dog knew better than that. Same dog would run around the horses as we'd go down the trails. Be running about and always a couple hundred meters away. Whenever we got into the wolves that dog would be practically underneath the horse. Sure enough you'd see a flash of gray hair go through the trees. Wolves around all damn summer.

 

[2ski]

Don't buy any other tags until hunting season. In Sept. you will have been a resident 6 months, and then your tags are resident. Doesn't help for the spring bear though.

 

[dihardhunter]

+1 for NW Montana, hunted north, south, and east of Libby in 2014 for 8 days and had an absolute blast. You can get wilderness, FS, and everything in between within 30-40 miles of town w/ solid food and lodging options if necessary.

 

[Live Montana]

That was some awesome insight. We will be moving to Missoula next week. I can't wait to get out an scout some areas as the weather gets a bit better. How is the weather up there right now. I think I will stick to Montana and maybe get used to the area first. If I happen to get a bear early I might try to jump over and hunt Idaho... So can you buy bear tags in Idaho a few days before you want to hunt like in MT. I need to look that up.

 

[sneaky]

Yes, bear tags are OTC in Idaho

 

[sneaky]

Well, with the exception of a few controlled hunts, but not the units you would most likely be hunting