Idaho Spring Bear

[RAHC]

I’ve been looking at 3-4 different areas to try and hunt if I can’t get into where I’d like to bc of snow. Just going to watch the weather and look at snowtell and hope for the best.

I've hunted a lot of bears in west central Idaho (bait). Snow can stick around in weird spots. Mid May is a good starting point

 

[gotlag1789]

I’m guessing since that road is the only way In for the most part it gets pretty crowded?

Oh yeah haha.

 

[Smit]

Oh yeah haha.

Welp. I’ll go ahead and check that access of my list.

 

[gotlag1789]

Welp. I’ll go ahead and check that access of my list.

Hunted a lot of the panhandle which is pretty remote, comparatively. We drove down that road to a trailhead and between the jet boats, campers and hunters it looked like a block party

 

[Smit]

Yea I’ve looked at a few other units since I’ve been told I’ll have a lot of company in that area.

 

[RAHC]

Yea I keep looking at the weather and snow just keeps on being forecasted. I’m guessing it will all boil down to how warm the spring is? Just trying to e scout as many places while watching the elevation and got to wondering if the creek bottoms are at 6k and the mtn peaks are 9k if the snow will still be laying in the bottoms. Don’t have to worry about this on the east coast. I know it’s still early as hell.

I forgot what week you said you were coming out. But at those elevations Id expect snow until May 20th most years

 

[Smit]

I forgot what week you said you were coming out. But at those elevations Id expect snow until May 20th most years

I’ve since changed my game plan completely lol

 

[RAHC]

I’ve since changed my game plan completely lol

Thats the beauty of a bear hunt. What week are you coming out?

 

[Smit]

Thats the beauty of a bear hunt. What week are you coming out?

Looking at the 3rd week of may right now. I can move my time around if I really need to.

 

[Andyram_18]

I am seeing so much country in photos and videos that looks awesome, but have complete analysis paralysis. Are there reduced price units a first timer should avoid? If you guys got to start over again, what would you NOT do?

 

[Smit]

I am seeing so much country in photos and videos that looks awesome, but have complete analysis paralysis. Are there reduced price units a first timer should avoid? If you guys got to start over again, what would you NOT do?

Same with the analysis paralysis. I’m just going to pick a unit I think I can get away from people in and e-scout the area as hard as I can until I put boots on the ground

 

[RAHC]

Same with the analysis paralysis. I’m just going to pick a unit I think I can get away from people in and e-scout the area as hard as I can until I put boots on the ground

Thats the best thing to do. Bears are everywhere here

 

[Smit]

Thats the best thing to do. Bears are everywhere here

I’ve actually been looking at a unit that has lower harvest records hoping I miss the crowd and one unit with decent harvest records hoping I can out walk the crowd I guess we’ll see

 

[RAHC]

I’ve actually been looking at a unit that has lower harvest records hoping I miss the crowd and one unit with decent harvest records hoping I can out walk the crowd I guess we’ll see

If you like PM me the unit or units you're looking at and I'll try to help. I'm located in the central part of the state

 

[GambolingQuail]

From one newbie to another - I haven't hunted unit 28 but I have hunted just north on the main fork and there is a high population of bears. As you probably know, that country is legit!

I'm hunting unit 21 starting May 11th for 5 days this year as a first time bear hunter. How did you hunt in this area go and what week did you go?

 

[GambolingQuail]

Just driving back from Idaho, we tried getting into the Frank from Stanley (May 7th, 2 feet of snow), North side (Salmon River and Forks were high.) Hunted unit 28 all week until Friday, Being my first hunt I learned a ton. The first days I was hunting what I thought was "green-up" and later in the week found other areas that are actually green up. Long story short, We went to early and hunted at too high of an elevation. Didn't get to see any bears, but did run into some locals that were starting to bait and confirmed our suspicion of why we were not seeing anything. I'm always open to new information, and the biggest take away coming from Iowa to Idaho is that if you think your in shape, the mountains will show you otherwise. All around it was a great time and we are looking forward to doing it next year.

I'm going into unit 21 just off the salmon river on May 11th. What elevation were you hunting at that was too high? I'm getting worried I booked a trip that's too early. I'm planning to hunt from 4,000-7,500 feet depending on the snow levels. I'm from out of state, so not used to this snow factor

 

[WeiserBucks]

@GambolingQuail you should probably mention a few more times that you're going to unit 21 on May 11th.

 

[EndersPrint]

I certainly wouldn't call you complacent and I consider ammo capacity the weakest of my brainstormed reasons.

I also agree that situational awareness is far more valuable than weaponry or skills with it, and I try to be appropriately vigilant at all times when I'm enjoying the backcountry, especially solo.

If time isn't a factor I'm definitely more accurate with a rifle beyond point blank range, you are correct.

I appreciate you chiming in, your points are completely valid in my humble opinion. I've never carried a pistol rifle hunting before, but here NV we have very few wolves (none until quite recently), no grizzlies, and I've never seen a lion (I imagine we have a lower population of them) so I thought I'd seek some opinions from those with more relevant experience. Thanks!

Last year I asked this thread about opinions on carrying a pistol while rifle hunting in Idaho outside of grizzly country, and thought I'd give an update on my thinking after a couple hunts up there.

Last fall I was solo elk hunting up in 36. I was packing in pretty deep and left my pistol in the truck, partially for load considerations and partially because I hadn't decided yet on a great carry system. I ended up taking a cow about 8 miles from the nearest trailhead, and proceeded to pack it out over several days starting by shuttling the meat to a cool spot a couple hundred yards from my camp. After two trips of hauling meat and gear to my truck I decided to ditch my binos and bring my pistol in my HPG chest pack for the last load.

That night I returned to camp a little after dark, gorged on some food after my 21 mile day, and noticed some eyes lit up at the treeline. Initially I was worried about wolves, so I retrieved my pistol and scanned my surroundings with my headlamp quickly. It appeared it was a lone animal so I started yelling at, pistol in hand. It then began to circle me and my camp with some tall pounces and I noticed its large tail and determined it was a lion. It then set up at a shrub line much closer to me. I took aim with a fully prepped trigger and continued to yell at it. Not sure how long the standoff lasted, but it was quite the experience. Eventually it turned and returned to the hills.

The next morning I realized my distance estimations the previous night were pretty far off. The shrubs were probably only 10-15 yards and the treeline maybe 30. Much too close for comfort, and in retrospect I should have fired. I did have a lion tag in my pocket, but no ear pro or game bags, and my last load was a doozy. After retrieving the last of the meat hanging 4-5ft up in a tree I found one of my front quarter bags was ripped open with a chunk of meat missing. I probably smelled a lot like the lions snack which I'm sure increased its interest in me.

Anyways, I was incredibly glad I had my pistol that evening. I don't think my rifle would have been a good tool for that situation. I plan on carrying a pistol while solo hunting in a lot more situations, and have already outfitted my bino harness with this setup for the future: https://savagethreadworks.com/product/the-beast-adapter/

Obviously this was a very rare occurrence, and I'm not making any generalized suggestions based off of it. Just FYI and a hopefully interesting hunting story.