2025 spring bear thread

[INMT]

Id be interested to see the data on how many bears are taken in quota units by NR.

Without digging up the stats again, I’ve posted them in older threads, tag and harvest numbers have doubled in R1 since Covid. R or NR aside, opportunity is only growing in recent years. We’ll see what happens to the population.

 

[cgasner1]

Sounds familiar.

Bums me out this members account is gone. He had a lot of knowledge

 

[cgasner1]

Without digging up the stats again, I’ve posted them in older threads, tag and harvest numbers have doubled in R1 since Covid. R or NR aside, opportunity is only growing in recent years. We’ll see what happens to the population.

Nope it was a 3x increase on the nr from what I read in last 10 years

 

[Hem]

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Bums me out this members account is gone. He had a lot of knowledge

The politco machine has ruined what once was. I honestly don't see much improving, only decline.
Pessimistic, maybe, but I fear only when it is too late will the alarm be sound.

 

[INMT]

Nope it was a 3x increase on the nr from what I read in last 10 years

That sounds about right. The gas stations around me are already showing the camo clad pop up truck top camper bros. Still a lot of snow in the mtns. It’ll be good in a few. I strayed hunting low key zones an hour + from here with very light pressure.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Piles of them coming in and setting up camp I’m trying to find a thread right now I remember with some better information

Add me to the mix in 4 weeks. It has been a long 3 year wait since my last MT bear trip.

 

[sethkuhl]

Could always come to 200
wolf count 1
Hound count 17
Mile count 5
Bear count 0
Hunter count ran out of fingers and toes. Looking forward to a slow down in work to up the mile count

 

[DinksOnly]

View attachment 369558
Bums me out this members account is gone. He had a lot of knowledge

He may still lurk amongst the shadows……..

 

[MTLabrador]

Bears are hands down more susceptible to the YouTube effect than any other species, and the difference in pressure the last 5 years has been absolutely insane. The quota districts fill depressingly fast, and a lot of places that aren’t on a quota probably need to be. There are people everywhere.

I always think I’m going to go explore the Pryors a bit if the quota stays open, since it’s right in my back yard and a cool little mountain range. It’s a laughable idea anymore.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Bears are hands down more susceptible to the YouTube effect than any other species, and the difference in pressure the last 5 years has been absolutely insane. The quota districts fill depressingly fast, and a lot of places that aren’t on a quota probably need to be. There are people everywhere.

I always think I’m going to go explore the Pryors a bit if the quota stays open, since it’s right in my back yard and a cool little mountain range. It’s a laughable idea anymore.

One of these years, I plan on joining the NR hordes on a quest for Montana black bear.

 

[MTLabrador]

One of these years, I plan on joining the NR hordes on a quest for Montana black bear.

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Flathead Lake circa 2025.

 

[MTLabrador]

I’m probably a little more salty about the issue than I should be because I like to go bear hunt in the evenings close to home. It’s a fun way to get some exercise and watch some bears. It just so happens my two local mountain ranges are the most notorious road sow quota districts in the state.

 

[cgasner1]

He may still lurk amongst the shadows……..

That’s his job….he thinks he is Batman or something. But seriously I didn’t realize we had the problem we do until having a conversation with him about it one day

 

[Schutzhund]

Awesome bears Troll and Sask. Nice work.

 

[Bowhunt_406]

Found one today, but the wind shifted and got lost.

 

[ChaosOneZero]

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Few pictures to tie ya over

What a tank. Congrats, buddy.

 

[TheGreek]

One of these years, I plan on joining the NR hordes on a quest for Montana black bear.

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I made the trip to NW MT in the spring of ‘21 solo from Chicago. Not much hunting pressure to speak of. Didn’t see a single bear during the week. I pretty much chalked it up to being the worst bear hunter ever. Gorgeous country though.

 

[TheGreek]

I’m probably a little more salty about the issue than I should be because I like to go bear hunt in the evenings close to home. It’s a fun way to get some exercise and watch some bears. It just so happens my two local mountain ranges are the most notorious road sow quota districts in the state.

And I’m just over here wishing we had a spring bear season in CO so I could do the same.

Maybe I’ll put in a grant application for a spring bear season for this Bear mitigation grant program? Would certainly reduce human bear conflicts.

CPW offers $1 million in grant funding for human-bear conflict reduction

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is offering $1 million in grant funding to provide Colorado communities with resources to reduce human-bear conflicts through the Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Community Grant Program. Local governments, NGOs, HOAs, community groups,...

www.steamboatpilot.com

 

[Rack Daniels]

Pretty sure this is the bear I have been after the last two springs. Obviously a lot skinnier in April then later in the spring. Now to wait for season to open and the right wind and hopefully I can slip in and catch him

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Beautiful coat on him

 

[huntin24/7]

I don’t live in bear country in MT, but kinda sounds like it might be time for spring bear to become an LE hunt for NR in many units and probably for residents in several units too.