Idaho Spring Bear Advice

[Gooden123]

I'm looking for an area of Idaho where it would be possible to hike in and packraft out for late spring bear. Ideally with archery in mind. I've killed my share of bears and know it's really tough without bait, which isn't an option. That said, I'm open to rifle but I'd rather not.

Bonus if there's good elk and mule deer in the area that time of year as I like to shed hunt too. Even if I can't keep them (not sure of the laws yet).

I have a lot in general left to learn and am just looking for a starting point right now.

Thank you!

 

[Aginor]

Sounds like pretty much all of Idaho. The season is April 15 - June 30, so that pretty much covers melt from every elevation range. Everything south of the panhandle should be open enough to hunt without bait

 

[Gooden123]

Sounds like pretty much all of Idaho. The season is April 15 - June 30, so that pretty much covers melt from every elevation range. Everything south of the panhandle should be open enough to hunt without bait

Thanks I actually did a solo caribou hunt in Alaska with a packraft since this post. I decided it would be a little too sketchy in Idaho spring due to run off.

Started another post since where I'm considering using llamas mostly to gain experience handling a couple llamas before renting 3 or 4 for an elk hunt. Debating that or maybe just backpacking in. I'd hate to tie up time and money renting llamas then have issues getting to trailheads due to snow, muddy roads, etc.

 

[Aginor]

I guess it's a tradeoff between how strong your wallet is to how strong your back is. I shoot bears in Idaho every year (usually around the opener and then a second one in June). They're nothing compared to an elk weight-wise FWIW.

 

[Gooden123]

I guess it's a tradeoff between how strong your wallet is to how strong your back is. I shoot bears in Idaho every year (usually around the opener and then a second one in June). They're nothing compared to an elk weight-wise FWIW.

Awesome! Yeah I've killed several bears and they're pretty easily managed. Plus I have good, light gear. The llamas would be more of a learning experience than a need. But as you pretty much said, a pretty costly lesson. In my other post I'm looking for a partner to help offset the cost. My people are all big time whitetail hunters and don't have backcountry gear for the west. Barring that I'll probably just stop by the llama ranch for a crash course and pack in somewhere.

 

[Aginor]

I hunt elk in the Frank Church and have considered them many times, but every time I looked into it the price was close enough to a guide that I figured I may as well just go that route and not have to deal with the headache of managing animals myself

 

[Gooden123]

I would love to hunt the Church but know it's out of my league.

This is where I know I have to be weird and I'll preface this by saying I have no problems with guides (or folks who use them) and know their knowledge is invaluable. But I would rather do DIY hunts at all costs and even with considerably lower odds.

It's something I really struggle explaining to my friend Sam who hunts the world so often that he had to build a 'guest house' on his property because he ran out of room in his main house for taxidermy. He refuses to hunt without a guide outside of the Anaconda, MT area where he once lived and still has a cabin. He just returned home from a boat-in Sitka Blacktail hunt and is going to help me put my 6.5 PRC together and chrono it this weekend. Hoping I can talk him into this hunt and better explain why I prefer DIY. The only thing I can figure is it's because I like scouting as much as hunting and don't want someone else to do it for me, even though it means much higher odds of success. Hunting isn't just a means to an end to me either.

Didn't mean to throw a life story at you, but mostly did it in case anyone interested in joining runs across this post, they have some kind of understanding as to why I choose to go unguided (or maybe misguided ). I already have met some people on here and hope to continue building a network of western hunters. It’s tough finding people with gear, time and money being from the east. I would be just as happy tagging along to learn and help pack out an elk (or whatever else) even if I don't have a tag myself.

 

[Aginor]

If you're a glutten for pain and punishment, you can tag along with me to the Frank next year. Maybe for spring bear. I usually shoot my second bear in there