Idaho Spring Bear

[K_pem]

Looks like it will be a great bear

Yeah I don’t think she’s too huge. Maybe like 180lbs?

 

[Rowdy99]

We got her pointed North. Hopefully hit the mountain Sunday and will have 10 days ish to try and find two bears.

 

[IDHunt]

View attachment 874623

We got her pointed North. Hopefully hit the mountain Sunday and will have 10 days ish to try and find two bears.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[Rowdy99]

Good luck and have fun.

Thank you!

Planning on starting in unit 33 and maybe swing up to 23. Snow level still sitting around 6k?

 

[Tbrink13]

7 days in central Idaho. Filled 4 tags. 3200’ to 4200’ was prime last week. The heat is here though and bears will be climbing.


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[stan_wa]

Got one in central Idaho right in the deepest green patch and on the hill

195 Berger 2800 fps impact, went about 10 yards good broadside shot center if ribs entrance and exit . Fist sized hole .

 

[IDVortex]

And here i am working tomorrow and maybe be able to get out to one spot Sunday.

 

[The Harbor Master]

I feel ya.. I have to wait till next weekend, and then have mother's day to contend with.

 

[packgoatguy]

Glassed this guy last night. Going back in this afternoon to see if we can relocate him for my son

 

[IDHunt]

7 days in central Idaho. Filled 4 tags. 3200’ to 4200’ was prime last week. The heat is here though and bears will be climbing.


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What caliber and distances?

 

[Tbrink13]

What caliber and distances?

I was shooting a 7mm 08 and killed at 380 and 420 and my buddy shot his bears with a 6.5 prc at 630 and 480.

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[packgoatguy]

Got it done for one of my other sons today. 500 yards, 1 shot, 6.5prc. It's been a big 12 months for him... got home from his 2yr mission, started college, got married, and shot his first bear!

 

[Rowdy99]

Heck yeah guys, great bears! Congrats to everyone, we are hitting the mountain in the morning. Have roughly 10 days to get it done

 

[rratzlaff1490]

Had some fun a week ago .. 432 yards with a 300 prc

 

[The Harbor Master]

Some great bears in here, congrats to those who tagged out. Excited to get out there again this weekend!

I'm no expert but experienced with deer and elk in the western mountains. First year bear hunter here though.. I'm seeing a lot of great shots at well over 400yds. Should I more or less expect a longer shot for black bear? I'm fairly confident out to 450yds in broken terrain and can repeatably make that shot off a decent rest on steel. I would REALLY rather not push it that far if I can help it. Are sub-400yd shots not very common for black bear in the mountains?

 

[OneGunTex]

I'm no expert but experienced with deer and elk in the western mountains. First year bear hunter here though.. I'm seeing a lot of great shots at well over 400yds. Should I more or less expect a longer shot for black bear? I'm fairly confident out to 450yds in broken terrain and can repeatably make that shot off a decent rest on steel. I would REALLY rather not push it that far if I can help it. Are sub-400yd shots not very common for black bear in the mountains?

That's a big "it depends" there bud.

On my trip a couple years back, we saw 2 bears. First was thick in the vegetation at 500ish and i'm glad I convinced my buddy not to try the shot. Next day I walked around a bend and there was one at 102yds on the hillside in front of me.

I have definitely been told stories of running into them at 15yds, and lobbing shots across the drainage at 500. Obviously in the timber you can't see so far. In the more open areas you can spot them way out sometimes. Most important is you know your limits and employ good woodsmanship to get into *your* range and make an ethical shot.

 

[The Harbor Master]

That's a big "it depends" there bud.

On my trip a couple years back, we saw 2 bears. First was thick in the vegetation at 500ish and i'm glad I convinced my buddy not to try the shot. Next day I walked around a bend and there was one at 102yds on the hillside in front of me.

I have definitely been told stories of running into them at 15yds, and lobbing shots across the drainage at 500. Obviously in the timber you can't see so far. In the more open areas you can spot them way out sometimes. Most important is you know your limits and employ good woodsmanship to get into *your* range and make an ethical shot.

Definitely understood, even though 450 is doable it's still touching the outer edge of my repeatable/confident ability and would have me toeing the line of my personal ethical limits. I'd really love to close that distance if at all possible. 500yd lobbing across a canyon is something I'd be tempted by, but wouldn't do. Im not there yet. A 15yd encounter would be preferable to the 500yd encounter if theres time for a well placed shot, lol.

I guess better phrasing of my question would have been, "I see a lot of 400yd+ shots, is that more so the expectation or are closer shots fairly common as well?"

 

[Mtaylor]

View attachment 875587
Had some fun a week ago .. 432 yards with a 300 prc

Nice bear!!

 

[Mtaylor]

Got it done for one of my other sons today. 500 yards, 1 shot, 6.5prc. It's been a big 12 months for him... got home from his 2yr mission, started college, got married, and shot his first bear!

Busy year congrats!

 

[bigbassfish]

Up north you'll be lucky to make it up past about 4500ft even on the south facing slopes, I imagine everything on the north side is all still snowed in.

That being said my little dude and I made it out and about and spotted a pretty decent looking chocolate colored sow(?) at about 3500ft about 750yds away tucked into a steep north cliffy face. She looked like she was hanging tight where she was, I imagine that she denned somewhere nearby.

We will see if we can go turn her back up this weekend maybe.

What about this bear makes you think sow? The narrower head and ears on top maybe?