Idaho Spring Bear

[Customweld]

MAybe a couple months ago i got a survey from idfg about bear hunting regs. Lots of questions about otc opportunities, bag limits, baiting, season dates etc. Seems pretty clear that they might be making some changes. When does idfg usually publish the new big game regs? Anybody heard anything about changes to bear coming this year?

It's on a 2 year rotation, this being the second year. The Weiser River zones had a large change not that long ago. That was a result of local concern of bears being overpopulated and becoming nuisances on and around private ground. IFG put a committee together of local folks and hashed the new changes out. There may be a few changes coming, but I wouldn't expect much of any substance.

 

[Slingrope]

What a great thread and a way for hunters to help others! Me and my son are gonna make a run to central Idaho around May 22 and will be setting up a camp at 4,500 ft. We’ll be packing in roughly 10 miles with horses and just not familiar with how early the horse feed might be growing at that elevation. Does anyone have some advice for us if there might be enough feed or should we plan on packing it in with us? Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[derrick454@]

Great thread and thank you. I roam around 39 mainly and still learning. Interested in 22 and 32a but need to learn more about that take only within 1 Mile of private land

Pretty cut and dry I guess


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[Customweld]

Great thread and thank you. I roam around 39 mainly and still learning. Interested in 22 and 32a but need to learn more about that take only within 1 Mile of private land

Pretty cut and dry I guess


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That was a pretty productive rule change for the first couple of seasons. The locals definitely put it to good use. You'll catch them in those areas, but not like they were before the rule change.

 

[Jsteel]

Can’t wait for spring bear 2024!

 

[Bigborealaska]

A hunt residents should be happy to help with. Come have a great time and kill a bear. Montana and Wyoming also have good spring bear hunting. Spot and stalk is lots of fun and totally doable for hunting. On multiple trips I've spotted bears on day one.

Nonresidents wondering where to go have lots of options. The units with the most bears killed, say top three, are well known. They're good and have a lot of bears killed to some extent because of their popularity. Not crazy busy in those units from my experience but also kind of nice to get off the beaten track a bit more.

Salmon, McCall, Sawtooth, Beaverhead, Lemhi all have at least decent bear numbers. The Middle Fork and Selway Zones are not very accessible due to high country access points until Mid June or later when the bear hunting starts to drop off or get closed. You could target a mid June backcountry hunt in there and make it work but access will be a challenge and the bear hunting won’t be easy that late and in huge country. You could also do a fly-in hunt earlier in the season when the greenup is closer to the river and animals are closer to winter range. That would likely be a better hunt. You could have a wolf, lion, bear combo hunt and just an amazing time in deep backcountry. The other main access point to the Selway and Salmon Zones is along the river roads. Steep hiking but a good number of bears if you hike away from access points.

In general, for the average guy not messing with the lower priced tags which are more difficult to access and rugged to get around will make for a more successful hunt. Buy full price and go for it.

Throughout the state, you'll want to do your research to see if the road you're planning on taking will be open. Anything above 5,000 feet is a red flag. Call the forest service office and post on here if you want about the roads. Look at Snotel and information available online about snowpack. Many will be closed or impassable. You might be good for a while and then hit a snowbank. A common good approach is to find a lower elevation road and hike up from there. 4 wheelers are very helpful for getting around when access might be hit or miss.

Northern Idaho has more bears generally speaking than south and central Idaho. Panhandle, Clearwater, and Lolo areas can be productive. You will have to plan for how you hunt with all the dense timber but there are bears around and more wolves up there too.

Pioneer and more desert units south of I-84 don't have a lot of bears.

Normally the later part of April through early June the hunting can be good. May is a nice middle ground. You might want to hunt a little lower or higher depending on the timing.

Feel free to PM. Depending on volume and where you're looking, I might be able to help. I don't know that much about the areas north of the Salmon River Breaks. Anything south of that I've probably ventured through and hunted at least a little for some critter.

I've never hunted bear, however living here in Idaho and having the opportunity I feel I need to start. I have no idea where to start as I hunt elk mostly. I appreciate your help.

 

[Knuckles_Malone]

I'll be out there for my first ID spring bear hunt this year! This was a gem to find.

 

[Goody454]

I’m 15-pages through this thread! Great insights so far.

 

[Huckleberry Hound]

One of the last states left for otc spring bear isnt it? Hope they can keep it. I was going to skip spring bear this year, but since washington is about to screw us on our fall bear season ill be in idaho this coming may again. Really leaning toward doing the 77tmk thing for spring bear over there this year.

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

One of the last states left for otc spring bear isnt it? Hope they can keep it. I was going to skip spring bear this year, but since washington is about to screw us on our fall bear season ill be in idaho this coming may again. Really leaning toward doing the 77tmk thing for spring bear over there this year.

Is Washington going to end fall bear?

 

[Huckleberry Hound]

Is Washington going to end fall bear?

Looks like itll be going from aug 1st opener 2 bear limit, to sept 1st opener 1 bear limit

 

[Huckleberry Hound]

But yes, the ultimate goal of the anti hunters inslee stacked on the comission is to get rid of all predator hunting.

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

But yes, the ultimate goal of the anti hunters inslee stacked on the comission is to get rid of all predator hunting.

What a joke, Colorado is turning into a joke as well

 

[MTN BUM]

What a joke, Colorado is turning into a joke as well

WA and CO. And the invasion continues. MT and ID are not immune and will be next. People get pissed about how crappy their state is and move to a new state. Vote for the same people. Screw up the new state. Act surprised. Repeat.

Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

 

[derrick454@]

WA and CO. And the invasion continues. MT and ID are not immune and will be next. People get pissed about how crappy their state is and move to a new state. Vote for the same people. Screw up the new state. Act surprised. Repeat.

Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

Yep. I have a feeling the whole US is gonna go soft and liberal. Younger generations think differently than we do regardless of what colors ur state is.


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[derrick454@]

Looks like itll be going from aug 1st opener 2 bear limit, to sept 1st opener 1 bear limit

I see your from the good part of the state. The anti Inslee part
Is that official yet or just hearsay on the fall season.

I thought I heard there was a chance to get the spring bear controlled hunt back ? Or is that gone forever.


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[SouthernCharm]

Thanks for all the good info, planning to visit your state for spring bear and wolf and take some of those predators out. Good luck everyone with this years hunt and be safe.

 

[ndlawrence]

Awesome thread. I’m hoping to make it out this Spring. Thanks to everyone for contributing.

 

[sneaky]

WA and CO. And the invasion continues. MT and ID are not immune and will be next. People get pissed about how crappy their state is and move to a new state. Vote for the same people. Screw up the new state. Act surprised. Repeat.

Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

ID has a constitutional right to hunt, fish, and trap. WA doesn't. They'll play hell trying that in ID.

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[Flintlock13]

A hunt residents should be happy to help with. Come have a great time and kill a bear. Montana and Wyoming also have good spring bear hunting. Spot and stalk is lots of fun and totally doable for hunting. On multiple trips I've spotted bears on day one.

Nonresidents wondering where to go have lots of options. The units with the most bears killed, say top three, are well known. They're good and have a lot of bears killed to some extent because of their popularity. Not crazy busy in those units from my experience but also kind of nice to get off the beaten track a bit more.

Salmon, McCall, Sawtooth, Beaverhead, Lemhi all have at least decent bear numbers. The Middle Fork and Selway Zones are not very accessible due to high country access points until Mid June or later when the bear hunting starts to drop off or get closed. You could target a mid June backcountry hunt in there and make it work but access will be a challenge and the bear hunting won’t be easy that late and in huge country. You could also do a fly-in hunt earlier in the season when the greenup is closer to the river and animals are closer to winter range. That would likely be a better hunt. You could have a wolf, lion, bear combo hunt and just an amazing time in deep backcountry. The other main access point to the Selway and Salmon Zones is along the river roads. Steep hiking but a good number of bears if you hike away from access points.

In general, for the average guy not messing with the lower priced tags which are more difficult to access and rugged to get around will make for a more successful hunt. Buy full price and go for it.

Throughout the state, you'll want to do your research to see if the road you're planning on taking will be open. Anything above 5,000 feet is a red flag. Call the forest service office and post on here if you want about the roads. Look at Snotel and information available online about snowpack. Many will be closed or impassable. You might be good for a while and then hit a snowbank. A common good approach is to find a lower elevation road and hike up from there. 4 wheelers are very helpful for getting around when access might be hit or miss.

Northern Idaho has more bears generally speaking than south and central Idaho. Panhandle, Clearwater, and Lolo areas can be productive. You will have to plan for how you hunt with all the dense timber but there are bears around and more wolves up there too.

Pioneer and more desert units south of I-84 don't have a lot of bears.

Normally the later part of April through early June the hunting can be good. May is a nice middle ground. You might want to hunt a little lower or higher depending on the timing.

Feel free to PM. Depending on volume and where you're looking, I might be able to help. I don't know that much about the areas north of the Salmon River Breaks. Anything south of that I've probably ventured through and hunted at least a little for some critter.

nice post