Idaho Spring Bear

[IDVortex]

Just a friendly reminder for you folks coming from out of state.

There are snotel sites all around Idaho to check the snow depth on and pretty decent placed road cameras on Idaho 511.

Do your homework so you don’t call people at an office after the fact and complain because you couldn’t get over a 6000 foot back country pass in April because the road isn’t plowed. Most of them aren’t plowed anyhow unless you’re hunting private timber grounds where harvest is occurring.

And bring chains with you, be wise to have a chainsaw too.

 

[Clark33]

I've had good luck calling the nearest local USFS ranger station and just ask them what general elevation the snow line is at. They'll usually hand you off to a ORV ranger.

 

[packgoatguy]

In regards to calling USFS offices... they have been way under staffed in recent years. For example, one district ranger I spoke to indicated that in the past several years he has rarely even left the office (his district covers a major trailhead for bear hunters). They have more seasonal workers out and about later in the spring and summer for trail work, but are often focused on prescribed burns in the early spring... so they may not have actually been to the pass or road you are hoping to access... so take the information they provide with a grain of salt. Anecdotally, and in regards to the low man power issue... I spoke with a couple usfs employees last spring who were doing the "annual" inspection of the major Outfitter in the area. They admitted that it was the first time in 6 years they had even been there to do said inspection. So, bottom line is, it may be a challenge to even find a usfs person who has been in the field recently who would have the information about travel conditions that you desire. Definitely not something to be left to the last minute.

 

[.204smokechaser]

Seen my first bear outside of their den this afternoon.

 

[PoniBoy]

Seen my first bear outside of their den this afternoon.

Go shoot him tomorrow

 

[IDVortex]

Seen my first bear outside of their den this afternoon.

I'll be interested to see if I see anything this coming weekend.