Idaho Spring Bear

[Customweld]

I am a new hunter; last fall was my first season hunting. I was able to harvest a deer in Wyoming and Idaho and am now looking to get out on some bear trips this spring. How can you confirm snow line with SNOTEL data? I scouted an area first week of April and the snow line was at about 6,000ft. Currently, the data shows the SWE is 18.8", however, the interactive map shows a photo at 6,500ft without an ounce of snow. This unit may be a little too high elevation wise, but I am a bit hesitant to try something closer like 39 or 43 as I will be backpacking and looking to get a bit further from roads.

If you are looking at the stock photos that are on some of the snotel sites, those aren’t current photos. There is a line in the graph that shows inches in snow.

 

[Ztm91]

Thank you, much appreciated. I do see that now under the data reports tab and 30 day daily table.

 

[JM151]

@Ztm91 They recently got some snow in that area last week. Went to a spot last weekend and it had about 18” of snow.

 

[Ztm91]

@JM151 thank you for the insights there! Guess I will shoot for a spot a bit more south for the weekend.

 

[Idaho4x4Bronco]

Don't be afraid to stay low. I've seen the majority of bears down low, including the one I shot Monday afternoon, although I will say they've all been smaller bears.
The few I have seen near the show line though have been bigguns.

 

[David Gough]

Don't be afraid to stay low. I've seen the majority of bears down low, including the one I shot Monday afternoon, although I will say they've all been smaller bears.
The few I have seen near the show line though have been bigguns.

Leaving Friday for a more southern unit that I'm familiar with. Thanks for the insight.

 

[Idaho4x4Bronco]

Leaving Friday for a more southern unit that I'm familiar with. Thanks for the insight.

Goodluck dude! Stay safe out there

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

Just hunted 39 for 4 days, didn't see a single bear. Was back in about 7 miles. Oh well that's bear hunting. Il keep at it and hopefully turn something up.

 

[PST9]

Just hunted 39 for 4 days, didn't see a single bear. Was back in about 7 miles. Oh well that's bear hunting. Il keep at it and hopefully turn something up.

Same story for us. Hunted the 24th - 28th, glassing 4,000 - 7,000 feet +. Too high maybe for the colder temps during that time?

 

[Matt5266]

Cold temps dont matter this time of year. Bears are out. Your just not where the bears are.

 

[Dsterk]

Same story as well, spent a whole week in unit 28 in the Frank. Glassed multiple drainages in the 4,000-7,000 range, and a lot of time in the middle. Found fresh bear scat, but no bears. On the positive side though, we didn’t find any ticks either…

 

[Decker]

Flying out for a week as I send this. Hoping my week better then what I’m reading

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

Same story as well, spent a whole week in unit 28 in the Frank. Glassed multiple drainages in the 4,000-7,000 range, and a lot of time in the middle. Found fresh bear scat, but no bears. On the positive side though, we didn’t find any ticks either…

Same, no ticks it was too cold

 

[KelsoBrowny]

Saturday Central Idaho glassed up a big sow with cubs feeding right at 6,000 feet.

Newer to getting after spring bears hard - Am I going to find boars on the same elevation bands as sows and cubs, or if I'm seeing them do I need to change elevations?

 

[Tbrink13]

Spend the last 7 days in the Frank saw 18 bears between 4500-5000 feet. Half of those bears being cubs. Still pretty lazy with sows and cubs active early and boars not getting up outta there beds until 2-4 in the afternoon and some only feeding a few hundred yards before bedding again. With the warmer weather boats are getting active earlier. Get high glass and be ready to be mobile. Best of luck.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Matt5266]

Nope bears are where bears are. If your seeing any bears keep looking

Edit to clarify, keep looking in the area your seeing any bears. Elevation wise depends. I think I more just stay where your seeing bears and look all over.

 

[Idaho4x4Bronco]

I had one cross the highway right after dark yesterday, big bastard where was he when I shot my ground shrinker
They really are just everywhere at any random time I'm starting to think

 

[Ztm91]

I also got beat down this weekend. Started higher on Friday, hiking to the top of a long basin unfortunately from the north side with a bunch of snow. The basin was mostly clear of snow but not an ounce of green or sign of life.

Once it was dark I hiked back out and drove to a lower spot. Hiked in there in the morning and glassed and ended up doing a 10 mile loop down the ridge and over to the next ridge and back.. nothing green there and no sign or bears glassed up.

That night I drove to a lower spot and hiked in, got camp setup, but would’ve had to drop down too far to try to find water since the seasonal streams marked on the map didn’t have water. So ended up hiking back to the truck to bring back in water for the next day. Glassed a huge basin throughout the morning, moved over a ridge to glass another until about 3pm. Lots of greenery now but no bears or sign. Between the night before and that morning I heard three different people shoot from back by the road. So there must’ve been bears in the general area.

Hiked out, drove to a new spot and at 5pm on Sunday I threw a Hail Mary and hiked 1500 feet into another place. Glassed until dark hoping for a buzzer beater with now luck.

Positive news, somehow only saw one tick the entire time and I spent a ton of time crashing around off trail through all kinds of stuff.

 

[shayes11]

Spent three days up in the Panhandle, zero bears spotted, zero sign. 4k-5k elevation in multiple drainages. Green up looks good on the South slopes and non existent on the North. Pretty surprised by the lack of sign because these drainages definitely do hold bears. Taking a week off and will head back up.

 

[HilltopHitman]

As somebody who is an effective hunter and kills mule deer every year… Bear hunting is frustrating. I do feel like the bear density in Idaho is quite linear. They are there or there not. Central Idaho (as in units around elk city, riggins, up the Joe, etc) are much more productive than say anything salmon challis towards the palisades. Wilderness areas produce but man I’m a bit discouraged after spending three spring bears seasons in the salmon region (elk units).