Idaho Spring Bear

[drpnw]

Congrats to your son and hats off to you for being a badass dad

 

[Ursidae]

Hello all, Just wanted to provide this link for forest rd info. Has all the road use and permitted use times.

Interactive Visitor Map

Web site created using create-react-app

www.fs.usda.gov

 

[packgoatguy]

Hello all, Just wanted to provide this link for forest rd info. Has all the road use and permitted use times.

Interactive Visitor Map

Web site created using create-react-app

www.fs.usda.gov

Thanks for the link! Just an FYI for those needing this kind of info, I would strongly suggest you call the Ranger Station in the area you intend to hunt. Some Forests and Ranger Districts are severely understaffed, and what is found online does not always reflect what you will find when you actually get to the road or trail in question. I've encountered several roads and trails this spring that were either closed or opened contrary to online travel plan maps and such. There have also been situations where a trail had been closed for some reason, like a slide, years ago... but the closure was forgotten about and not officially rescinded, even though the reason for the closure had long since been cleared. Best to clear it up with the District Ranger before you go.

 

[IDVortex]

Thanks for the link! Just an FYI for those needing this kind of info, I would strongly suggest you call the Ranger Station in the area you intend to hunt. Some Forests and Ranger Districts are severely understaffed, and what is found online does not always reflect what you will find when you actually get to the road or trail in question. I've encountered several roads and trails this spring that were either closed or opened contrary to online travel plan maps and such. There have also been situations where a trail had been closed for some reason, like a slide, years ago... but the closure was forgotten about and not officially rescinded, even though the reason for the closure had long since been cleared. Best to clear it up with the District Ranger before you go.

Or call the local ranger station to ask if they know if a certain road is even passable instead of driving the 6 hours to find out the hard way it isnt...

Fun fact. I understand why people use ATVs or UTVs for traveling in the woods vs a longbed quadcab ford f250.

 

[apkleinschmidt]

My son (14) took his first ever bear today. A spot-n-stalk Idaho,chocolate colored, boar. 400 yards, 1 shot with the uberlite 6Creed. White dot on the bear's shoulder in the second pic is actually the bullet a millisecond before impact, caught on the phoneskope. He has put on the miles. This was his 3rd season hunting bears. 7 or 8 days this season, 6 or 7 last year, and 5 or 6 the year before. Almost had a shot 2 weeks ago, but the clock ran out before the bear cleared the timber for a clean shot.

Awesome!!! That’s a heck of an accomplishment. Hats off for getting him in the woods and into hunting.


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[Cow_MuleBuck]

There isn't a bad option among what you've described. Pick somewhere and go. You just want to avoid getting snowed out or places without any bears.

Could not agree more!

 

[North Idaho Stickbow]

Apparently I’m feeding the whole forest.

 

[bpeay4]

A little late but I hunted the weekend of april 27 and saw a total of 3 bears. Had a shot opportunity on a medium color phase at 500 but opted to get closer. In the process I managed to roll a rock and he spooked. My fault, I was confident I knew where he was bedded and should have positioned myself closer for when he got up but I was lazy and chose to not climb down the ridge to where I should have been.

Haven't been able to get back out but since but next weekend I should be back in there. Hopefully he is still hanging close by but I doubt I will be that lucky.

Would love to take a week off work and hunt but other obligations did not allow for it this year. Something special and vastly different about being in the mountains in the spring time as compared to the fall.

 

[gotlag1789]

A little late but I hunted the weekend of april 27 and saw a total of 3 bears. Had a shot opportunity on a medium color phase at 500 but opted to get closer. In the process I managed to roll a rock and he spooked. My fault, I was confident I knew where he was bedded and should have positioned myself closer for when he got up but I was lazy and chose to not climb down the ridge to where I should have been.

Haven't been able to get back out but since but next weekend I should be back in there. Hopefully he is still hanging close by but I doubt I will be that lucky.

Would love to take a week off work and hunt but other obligations did not allow for it this year. Something special and vastly different about being in the mountains in the spring time as compared to the fall.

Agreed man. Coming from the midwest, which is special in its own way, the springtime in the mountains is quickly becoming my favorite time to be there. So jealous of the residents.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Something special and vastly different about being in the mountains in the spring time as compared to the fall.

Sure is. I find spring bear hunting to be incredibly relaxing.

 

[eod.tek]

My daughter (10) harvested her first bear and first game animal on Thursday night!

We went up as a family to check on our first ever bait site and as my daughter and I approached there was a cinnamon bear trying to get some snacks. She nailed a 200 yard shot and we found her about 40 yards from the site.

Seeing her take her first animal, all the time we got to spend setting up the site, checking cams, hiking for some spot and stalk was all absolutely amazing, but the icing on the cake was that her mom and brothers (6) and (2) all were there to celebrate and help too.
I'm definitely one proud dad!

 

[bpeay4]

A little late but I hunted the weekend of april 27 and saw a total of 3 bears. Had a shot opportunity on a medium color phase at 500 but opted to get closer. In the process I managed to roll a rock and he spooked. My fault, I was confident I knew where he was bedded and should have positioned myself closer for when he got up but I was lazy and chose to not climb down the ridge to where I should have been.

Haven't been able to get back out but since but next weekend I should be back in there. Hopefully he is still hanging close by but I doubt I will be that lucky.

Would love to take a week off work and hunt but other obligations did not allow for it this year. Something special and vastly different about being in the mountains in the spring time as compared to the fall.

Well a month later I finally had a weekend to get back into bear country. Hunted 3 days battling wind, rain and thunderstorms the first 2 days.

Saw half a dozen bears throughout the weekend and finally located one in a good spot on the second evening. After spending the entire last day trying to locate him with no luck, we decided to call it and pack camp out and go home a few hours before dark. On the way out I looked over and there he was sitting on the open face below me. I ranged him a couple times, got the rifle dialed and set up a good rest.

He rolled down to the bottom of the canyon and my excitement quickly faded as reality sank in. Got him worked up that night and came back the next day to haul him out.

Still in awe that it all came together on the last day on such a beautiful bear.

 

[bpeay4]

Well a month later I finally had a weekend to get back into bear country. Hunted 3 days battling wind, rain and thunderstorms the first 2 days.

Saw half a dozen bears throughout the weekend and finally located one in a good spot on the second evening. After spending the entire last day trying to locate him with no luck, we decided to call it and pack camp out and go home a few hours before dark. On the way out I looked over and there he was sitting on the open face below me. I ranged him a couple times, got the rifle dialed and set up a good rest.

He rolled down to the bottom of the canyon and my excitement quickly faded as reality sank in. Got him worked up that night and came back the next day to haul him out.

Still in awe that it all came together on the last day on such a beautiful bear. View attachment 717117View attachment 717119

Had my bear hide out of the freezer yesterday prepping it for the tannery and was pleasantly surprised to find the bullet lodged in the opposite side of the hide. Factory 165 gr. Federal Trophy Bonded out of a .308 at around 550 yds. Bullet did pretty much what you would expect at that range. Hit about center mass. Bear took one leap uphill before rolling seconds later