Spring black bear Montana 2025

[Nicholas.ostas]

Hello all, I am planning a hunt this year with my father. We are planning on the first week of June, but interested on what you guys say for time of year to go. I have a couple of areas in mind, but this will be my first time out west. I'm a college football player so I usually spend my falls playing football and chasing Michigan whitetails whenever I can sneak out. For me the size of the bear does not matter, rather than just the experience of the hunt, I love spending time in the woods. Hiking will not be an issue, I would love to spend time away from the general crowd. Grizzlys arent really a concern for me, I'll be prepared. Here are some of the areas I am looking into,

South of Bozeman- wondering if there is a certain area better than another

Unit 150- This unit really interests me, I know the harvest numbers are super low but is it just because of hard access, or is there just no bears in there

unit 200- Ive heard a lot of people go here but it all looks the same trying to escout

unit 240- also really interests me

crazy mountains- exactly as the name says, the public land looks like a nightmare, but people say there are a lot of sign.

I just want to know if I'm on the right track. Any tips are greatly appreciated, just trying to get on a bear and get my dad one as well. I will 100% share my story and any tips I learn along the way. my email is nicholas.ostas@gmail if you prefer email.

 

[stayzeroed]

Take what I tell you with a grain of salt, as I am a fellow Midwesterner. However, I have travelled to Montana numerous times to visit my friends and to hunt, and I consider it a second home.

Timeframe: hard to tell at this point, depends on how long winter decides to stay, or not, and what the snowpack is. One year I hunted, it was 70 degrees towards the end of May. Then, a week later it snowed a foot.

Areas: best advice I received, was the closer you are to Yellowstone, likely the worse off you are for black bear sightings. The grizzly have really gained a foothold in the SW portion of the state. However, grizzly are now all over, just depends on how dense they are.

Prepared for Grizzly: hopefully you mean in more ways than one. Having a smart camp site, self protection, etc. It all plays a part.

There are numerous areas you can go to get away from the crowd. If you hunt an area anywhere close to a densely populated city, you may have a lot of people vying for bear during the weekends and some weekdays.

I cannot speak for those units you mentioned, but the western units close to Idaho are on my list of Units I'd like to try. As far as the Crazy Mountains, I have been by them many times and watched them grow as I drove west on the interstate; they appear not for the faint of heart. Not only because of the ruggedness, but when other ranges did not have snow, they held their snow a bit longer. Weather seemed a bit challenging there.

Your adventuring into western hunting is starting at a great age. I only wish I had started sooner. It is a phenomenal time, even when you don't see much for wild life. Montana is a beautiful State and I hope that it stays that way for decades to come.

-JA

 

[Nicholas.ostas]

Take what I tell you with a grain of salt, as I am a fellow Midwesterner. However, I have travelled to Montana numerous times to visit my friends and to hunt, and I consider it a second home.

Timeframe: hard to tell at this point, depends on how long winter decides to stay, or not, and what the snowpack is. One year I hunted, it was 70 degrees towards the end of May. Then, a week later it snowed a foot.

Areas: best advice I received, was the closer you are to Yellowstone, likely the worse off you are for black bear sightings. The grizzly have really gained a foothold in the SW portion of the state. However, grizzly are now all over, just depends on how dense they are.

Prepared for Grizzly: hopefully you mean in more ways than one. Having a smart camp site, self protection, etc. It all plays a part.

There are numerous areas you can go to get away from the crowd. If you hunt an area anywhere close to a densely populated city, you may have a lot of people vying for bear during the weekends and some weekdays.

I cannot speak for those units you mentioned, but the western units close to Idaho are on my list of Units I'd like to try. As far as the Crazy Mountains, I have been by them many times and watched them grow as I drove west on the interstate; they appear not for the faint of heart. Not only because of the ruggedness, but when other ranges did not have snow, they held their snow a bit longer. Weather seemed a bit challenging there.

Your adventuring into western hunting is starting at a great age. I only wish I had started sooner. It is a phenomenal time, even when you don't see much for wild life. Montana is a beautiful State and I hope that it stays that way for decades to come.

-JA

Thank you so much for the info! that's some great intel. I definitely am going to prepare for anything with the weather, and grizz. Getting away from the crowd is definitely a big bonus, and its sounding like the NW area is the was to do it. Again much appreciated on the info! hoping to start a lifelong tradition of western trips

 

[Nicholas.ostas]

The next question I will ask is that late in the season is there a certain elevation I should be looking for or once the snowline is gone, does it really not matter.

Is it worth calling the DNR/ Biologist in the unit I decide on heading to for some info? Ive heard sometimes they give great info on harvest reports, but I've also heard MT can be a little behind on their info

 

[ncstewart]

The next question I will ask is that late in the season is there a certain elevation I should be looking for or once the snowline is gone, does it really not matter.

Is it worth calling the DNR/ Biologist in the unit I decide on heading to for some info? Ive heard sometimes they give great info on harvest reports, but I've also heard MT can be a little behind on their info

I always like to reach out to the state guys in the area I’m going to hunt. I have found from state to state it makes no difference except for the person you get ahold of. Some are super helpful and some are terrible. But I still like to reach out


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[Nicholas.ostas]

I always like to reach out to the state guys in the area I’m going to hunt. I have found from state to state it makes no difference except for the person you get ahold of. Some are super helpful and some are terrible. But I still like to reach out


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome thanks!

 

[Nicholas.ostas]

I have spent a lot of time researching and one of the best websites I found for info was bearhunting magazines.com, aside from forums they have excellent info from experienced bear hunters.

 

[Nicholas.ostas]

One thing Ive learned being a young hunter, is that you never stop learning, even if its the most basic information that I have just overlooked. Im constantly looking to grow as a hunter, and to do that requires hearing everyone's information and stories. So please do not hesitate to reach out and share your story! Even if you were unsuccessful, failure is the best teacher. I just hope that I can learn as much information as possible before my hunt, and have a few things to pass on here to the next person!

thanks for reading/sharing!
Nick Ostas
517-902-8641
[email protected]

 

[Nicholas.ostas]

Is it worth it to flesh and tan your own hides? or is it worth the $600ish to get it done right?

sorry ahead of time I'm posting a lot, gotta get 10 posts in to be able to pm