Montana vs. Idaho Spring Bear

[MTHunt’r]

Yea, I haven’t looked at harvest statistics to see how much they’ve changed if any but I have hunted up there for over a decade. There has definitely been a shift in resident tolerance that’s noticeable. I can’t say I blame them, used to feel like it was just me up there. Now I’m racing to glassing points and a lot of times heading to my 2nd-3rd spot because people are already there.

I definitely know the feeling. Opening gun elk is nuts.


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[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I definitely know the feeling. Opening gun elk is nuts.


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I’m talking specifically bear. I think a lot of the increased elk pressure is from all y’all’s new residents, not necessarily NR, but that’s a whole other can of worms that I don’t want to clog this thread up with
That being said, I don’t have issues finding solitude during elk season.

 

[MTHunt’r]

I’m talking specifically bear. I think a lot of the increased elk pressure is from all y’all’s new residents, not necessarily NR, but that’s a whole other can of worms that I don’t want to clog this thread up with
That being said, I don’t have issues finding solitude during elk season.

I was referencing bears as well. The comment about elk was more anecdotal than anything. I saw more bear hunters than ever last year. Som were road hunters, others just took a light stroll, but all that impacts bear movement. I’m baking on an early bumper crop of berries and rosehips Could make opening weekend a lot of fun.


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[FunkEyeMissed]

There’s certainly not the pressure you find during elk season, and many hunters aren’t going deep so that helps. That said, with this winter, there may be no snow line to key in on. We are getting 2-3’ in some areas this weekend, but it has otherwise been unseasonably warm. Concerns with how this will impact opportunities in MT.


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This will be my first year chasing spring bears in MT and I’m concerned about the undefined snow lines as that is what so much of the information you read about locating them talks about, but I’ve got a few spots I know hold some bears so will likely start there. Edit to add: I was already seeing flowers up at elevation yesterday in SW Montana.

 

[MTHunt’r]

This will be my first year chasing spring bears in MT and I’m concerned about the undefined snow lines as that is what so much of the information you read about locating them talks about, but I’ve got a few spots I know hold some bears so will likely start there. Edit to add: I was already seeing flowers up at elevation yesterday in SW Montana.

This snow dump will set some of that back, but I think sw got missed. I was going to hit some of my spots this weekend to see what it looked like, but with this snow I’ll wait few more weeks. Low land is supposed to be in the 70’s next week though so who knows.


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[Jesse Jaymes]

Driving from WI so Montana will get us there quicker. Was looking at unit 28 in Idaho west of Salmon

You'll get dinged for mentioning Units. And I would prefer you didn't. I don't have a ton of exp in that area yet, but that would not be in my Top 10 areas for spring bears.

Look at harvest data and stats. Same latitude but other side of the state is much better. Panhandle is better too. Very different habitat tho.

I have some exp in NW Montana also. I don't think it's nearly that great of an area. Plenty of better areas. Draw lost of Non Res. And "NW MT" is a rather broad geographic area.