Idaho Spring Bear

[tuckermica]

Good stuff here! Thanks for al the knowledge!

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

Got the kids on a couple little Idaho boars last week. Spot and stalk style. Both made perfect 1 shot kills, 480 and 365 yards respectively. Two legs on the smoker right now, so hoping it tastes as delicious as it smells!

Nice job, very cool!!

 

[packgoatguy]

Nice! Which gun dod they end up using?

I'd thought about taking the little 2.25lb 223rem AR15 with the 77tmk bullets... but I pretty much limit that rifle to 400 yards and in, 300 yards is even more realistic. It's so lightweight that it's not always the easiest gun to shoot... and I know spring bear spot and stalk hunts inevitably will yield shots beyond 400 yards that I'd rather have a bullet with a higher BC that can buck the wind just a bit better.

 

[Matt5266]

I'd thought about taking the little 2.25lb 223rem AR15 with the 77tmk bullets... but I pretty much limit that rifle to 400 yards and in, 300 yards is even more realistic. It's so lightweight that it's not always the easiest gun to shoot... and I know spring bear spot and stalk hunts inevitably will yield shots beyond 400 yards that I'd rather have a bullet with a higher BC that can buck the wind just a bit better.

Thats what I was curious about. Its a sweet little gun though. Awesome the kids got bears! Dang good shots for anyone to make let alone kids!

Im hoping to get out soon to chase some

 

[Bowhunter9704]

Any one have any suggestions or success for around elk city? Units 14,15,16 is where we will be. Seems to have some good Older burns and some dense timber around gospel hump in 14.

 

[coya]

I'm planning on bear hunting 10 days in Idaho/montana in the first or second week of May. I have a flexible window to hunt with work. Would you guys recommend one week over the other? I can't make my mind up

 

[Matt5266]

It honestly doesn't matter. Since your flexible i would watch the weather and base it off that. We've had quite a few days of rain lately. It sucks to be stuck in a tent or under a tree all day. Id go the week with least chance of rain

 

[OsoMountain]

It honestly doesn't matter. Since your flexible i would watch the weather and base it off that. We've had quite a few days of rain lately. It sucks to be stuck in a tent or under a tree all day. Id go the week with least chance of rain

My first year out West, I quickly realized why so many guys base camp out of an Outfitters Tent. The weather can be REAL fickle. A man can see rain, sleet, snow, and partly cloudy skies within a few hours.

As Matt said, have your stuff packed and ready to go. Watch the weather and strike out when the time is right.

 

[David Gough]

Any one have any suggestions or success for around elk city? Units 14,15,16 is where we will be. Seems to have some good Older burns and some dense timber around gospel hump in 14.

Gospel Hump is fun. Just bring your big boy pants.

 

[Customweld]

Gospel Hump is fun. Just bring your big boy pants.

I do a lot of backpacking in there, and it can be tough. Absolutely beautiful though.

 

[Mtbhikernv]

No experience hunting bear, I think I’ll take a crack at it next weekend with three days to solo hunt. Driving from NV, I’m leaning towards 33 or 27. It sounds like 36, which I had my eye on, isn’t as productive. Obviously I’d like to find the biggest boar I can, but this is more about a learning opportunity and a chance for what I’ve heard is good meat.
27 is more of a drive and a gamble depending on snow levels, 33 seems more popular and I’m guessing that skews the numbers.
Any input for a newer hunter, experienced backpacker?

 

[David Gough]

No experience hunting bear, I think I’ll take a crack at it next weekend with three days to solo hunt. Driving from NV, I’m leaning towards 33 or 27. It sounds like 36, which I had my eye on, isn’t as productive. Obviously I’d like to find the biggest boar I can, but this is more about a learning opportunity and a chance for what I’ve heard is good meat.
27 is more of a drive and a gamble depending on snow levels, 33 seems more popular and I’m guessing that skews the numbers.
Any input for a newer hunter, experienced backpacker?

I’m also am from NV and have hunted 33 several times. You can PM me if you’d like.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OsoMountain]

No experience hunting bear, I think I’ll take a crack at it next weekend with three days to solo hunt. Driving from NV, I’m leaning towards 33 or 27. It sounds like 36, which I had my eye on, isn’t as productive. Obviously I’d like to find the biggest boar I can, but this is more about a learning opportunity and a chance for what I’ve heard is good meat.
27 is more of a drive and a gamble depending on snow levels, 33 seems more popular and I’m guessing that skews the numbers.
Any input for a newer hunter, experienced backpacker?

Is this your first time in the big country? Be ready to feel absolutely bewildered, excited, humbled, and in awe. The learning curve can be steep and unforgiving, but it’s INCREDIBLY fun to chase bears in the mountains. When prepared correctly, I venture to say that clean bear meat is better than a beef roast. And the rendered fat, Lordy it is good enough to drink.

Are you dedicated to one particular style of hunting, or are you dedicated to a successful bear hunt? Results may vary.

Adjusting for variation depending on area, 80-90% of a black bears diet will be in the ballpark of forbes, tubers, insects, acorns, berries. Things of that nature. Ol’ slew foot will snag a fawn on occasion if they can manage. Don’t be afraid to beat the brush, checking water sources, back country logging roads, transition areas, and the snowline/greenup. Find the elevation they’re running and you’ll be able to strike more sign. This means being willing to hump the mountains or run the roads. If you find big logs busted open, rocks flipped over, scratch trees, then you’re in their playground. Find good fresh scat and you’re in the chips.

Enjoy yourself, take it all in, and remember you’re hunting THE BLACK BEAR. Nothing more American, in my mind.

 

[Mtbhikernv]

Is this your first time in the big country? Be ready to feel absolutely bewildered, excited, humbled, and in awe. The learning curve can be steep and unforgiving, but it’s INCREDIBLY fun to chase bears in the mountains. When prepared correctly, I venture to say that clean bear meat is better than a beef roast. And the rendered fat, Lordy it is good enough to drink.

Are you dedicated to one particular style of hunting, or are you dedicated to a successful bear hunt? Results may vary.

Adjusting for variation depending on area, 80-90% of a black bears diet will be in the ballpark of forbes, tubers, insects, acorns, berries. Things of that nature. Ol’ slew foot will snag a fawn on occasion if they can manage. Don’t be afraid to beat the brush, checking water sources, back country logging roads, transition areas, and the snowline/greenup. Find the elevation they’re running and you’ll be able to strike more sign. This means being willing to hump the mountains or run the roads. If you find big logs busted open, rocks flipped over, scratch trees, then you’re in their playground. Find good fresh scat and you’re in the chips.

Enjoy yourself, take it all in, and remember you’re hunting THE BLACK BEAR. Nothing more American, in my mind.

Thanks for this! I’m hesitant about bear in the sense that they look a bit like dogs, and I love dogs more than most people…but I hit 40 and my goal is to learn these life skills since I grew up in a liberal city with no exposure to this. My first successful year last year turned up a buck and a cow in my freezer and I fell in love with hunting, to the point my wife rolls her eyes when I constantly talk about it to her…
I’m up for truck or backpacking with the limited time I have, my one ton has a truck camper so I’m pretty flexible. I’ve backpacked a ton across the west coast and other countries so I’m very comfortable with gear, tent camping, etc.
been researching a ton about where to look, but I’ll have no scouting ahead of time so I’m not sure what roads will look like. I’d imagine access is easier in 33 and harder in 27, and the drive is shorter to 33 which gives me more time on the ground.

 

[IDVortex]

I do a lot of backpacking in there, and it can be tough. Absolutely beautiful though.

When i head down in about a month to try and climb into the Frank, if I cant get into the frank from the area im wanting to get into, im headed to the gospel. It looks like absolutely amazing country.

 

[Big_wals]

When prepared correctly, I venture to say that clean bear meat is better than a beef roast. And the rendered fat, Lordy it is good enough to drink.

Yep, a berry-fat fall bear is as good as it gets!