Idaho Spring Bear w Llama Advice

[Gooden123]

@GoatPackr haha I can't even remember what made me choose Island Park. Doesn't matter. I wasn't prepared in a lot of ways back then. I don't remember there being so much talk about grizz there 7-8 years ago. I'm sure they were abundant, but maybe not to the extent of people refusing to hunt there like today?

As for multiple trailhead options....that wasn't intended as alternative places if there's no action at the first one. They're in case I can't access one due to snow, too crowded, doesn't look like I expected, too high, too low. If I find an area that has the necessary ingredients, I'm not judging. I'm pretty knowledgeable about bears back east and spend a lot of time around them. My friend was also our state bear biologist so I even am pretty in tune with the science-y stuff too. Could have no relevance to bear hunting in Idaho, but a good background can't hurt!

Anyway, I'm going to shoot you a message instead of replying to multiple posts lol. You're obviously very knowledgeable and I think I planned on sending you a message anyway. Need to check my notes to see why exactly. Truly appreciate all your wisdom on this topic and others!

 

[khunter]

You will likely enjoy working with llamas. I sure did on an elk hunt when I rented a pair for a month.

Ask your outfitter how they perform in the dark in case you find yourself needing to travel in the dark. I had some trouble with that. We bought some llama letts for treats that they absolutely loved. We were thinking insurance incase we dropped the lead rope on one. They come right to you to get the pellets.

 

[Gooden123]

You will likely enjoy working with llamas. I sure did on an elk hunt when I rented a pair for a month.

Ask your outfitter how they perform in the dark in case you find yourself needing to travel in the dark. I had some trouble with that. We bought some llama letts for treats that they absolutely loved. We were thinking insurance incase we dropped the lead rope on one. They come right to you to get the pellets.

Sweet I'll watch that video when I get home from work. Thanks for the reminder on insurance too. That's something I've been meaning to look into. I saw somewhere that a well trained pack llama can go for $10-15k. Insurance is cheap and I'm sure there's some kind of per diem option for stock animals.

 

[khunter]

Sweet I'll watch that video when I get home from work. Thanks for the reminder on insurance too. That's something I've been meaning to look into. I saw somewhere that a well trained pack llama can go for $10-15k. Insurance is cheap and I'm sure there's some kind of per diem option for stock animals.

Yes on the insurance being a good idea as once a llama is loose it really may not ever come back to be caught is what our outfitter told us. But that is not what I really meant. I meant the treats were used and given to them with regularity since they loved them and in the hope if one got loose we might trick it into getting caught again. We never accidentally let one get loose and we were diligent to ensure that did not happen.