Bear Hunting Location Quesiton

[Kiwi]

I'm conscious that I ask a for a lot of help and promise this will be last request for a while!

I have become a little obsessed with bear hunting and am looking at a bear trip in spring 2017 to target bear. I'm not asking for honey holes (although these would be welcomed haha) but am looking for info on the best place to hunt spring bear.

At this stage looking at Oregon, central Idaho and may be western Montana. Not really worried about getting a monster bear but love wild remote landscapes. Open to any of the western states. Have looked at Canada but prefer the USA.

Planning to talk to biologist and will continue to read harvest success rates etc.

Any advice on a good location would be greatly appreciated. Happy to help anyone who is planning a New Zealand hunt.

 

[LCH]

I'm 0-2 in NW Montana, but I wouldn't hesitate to try it again. I've seen elk, moose, grizzly, whitetails, and mule deer when I've been looking for black bears. Just not in the right place at the right time for blackies.

I'm giving N. California a go this year, but that's a fall hunt. Alaska is also in my near future (hopefully), but I know aliens are required to have a guide.

I think you'll find the solitude / wild places regardless of which state you choose.

 

[glass eye]

Have you considered our fall hunt ? Aug-Oct would be your spring and wouldn't take away from your roar and tahr rut hunts. N. California has a large black bear population and wilderness areas.

 

[Kiwi]

Sounds like you've had a great time hunting LCH. Good luck on N. California. I think Alaska would be an amazing place to hunt.

Hi Glasseye, I have looked at a fall hunt but from what I've read I thought the spring hunting had much higher success? This year I plan to hunt elk & deer (if I get that tag) in WY and I have looked at the possibility of try for a bear as well but 3 species is probably pushing it. But if I do tag out on elk and deer then I may try for a bear too - may be in central Idaho or Greys River area in WY.

 

[Joe Hulburt]

Non resident spring bear tag in Oregon is only $15.50. You still have to buy a hunting license which I think is $150. Some tags are OTC (first come first served). Some are limited draw that can be had with 0 points. Most eastern Oregon units require some points.

No bait, no dogs but electronic callers are allowed. Mostly just spot and stalk but with enough bears that most people who put in an honest effort can kill one. The SW OTC tags have the highest success rates.....I'm not personally familiar with hunting down there but it's pretty straight forward. Glass green up areas and look for black!

I would say head to SW Oregon and hunt old burns of clearcuts. I've never hunted bears in another state though so I am biased.

 

[Kiwi]

Thanks for the tips Joe. That is a cheap tag!

 

[Gut Shot]

Southeast Alaska.

 

[glass eye]

Southeast Alaska.

He's a DIY hunter from New Zealand and Alaska requires foreigners to hire a guide for all big game species.

 

[Poke 'Em]

It depends on what you want to do. Do you want to sit over a bucket of garbage and wait for a bear to wander in after the dinner bell goes off? Then Montana is out. If you want to spot and stalk, you obviously can do that anywhere, but I'd opt to do it in a place where the bears aren't trained to congregate around buckets of bacon grease.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

^^^Agreed. You really miss out on a huge part of the spring bear experience if you sit over a bait.

 

[Kiwi]

My preference would be mountain spot and stalk with my bow, but with no experience I will probably use a rifle. Definitely want to hunt for the full wilderness experience.

AK would be great but as Glasseye says a guide is needed and I can't afford one.

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

just like joe said,,sw Oregon could be a good option for ya,,,be aware of possible gate closure issues as a lot is timber company lands,,theres still some public areas,,,had decent luck down by galice some years back,,,Oregon only has a 3% nr allotment for spring bear,so id get the tag otc the day they become available.

 

[brymoore]

My preference would be mountain spot and stalk with my bow, but with no experience I will probably use a rifle. Definitely want to hunt for the full wilderness experience.

AK would be great but as Glasseye says a guide is needed and I can't afford one.

If you want the full wilderness experience, hunt the a Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho. It's a two bear unit. I would recommend the Big Creek area (unit 26). You can fly into one of the airstrips and backpack hunt.

 

[Kiwi]

Thanks Dan.

The Frank Church looks like a great spot, love the idea of flying in! I did look at trying to get an elk tag for the unit and a elk / bear combo would be great.

 

[brymoore]

Thanks Dan.

The Frank Church looks like a great spot, love the idea of flying in! I did look at trying to get an elk tag for the unit and a elk / bear combo would be great.

I'd hunt in the spring if bear is your priority. I wouldn't hunt unit 26 for elk.

 

[MikeBeaudette]

Kiwi check your pm on your eastmans hunting forums acct please

 

[Kiwi]

I’m looking at another bear hunt next fall in ID or MT or both.

I’ve noticed that MT has an archery season for a week before rifle opens. From what I’ve learnt earlier in Sept is better so an advantage using the bow as you get to hunt a week earlier. But is there also an advantage hunting with a bow as there are less hunters in the field? Don’t really know if bear hunter numbers is an issue in MT. Any advice appreciated!

 

[Twolftg]

I’m looking at another bear hunt next fall in ID or MT or both.

I’ve noticed that MT has an archery season for a week before rifle opens. From what I’ve learnt earlier in Sept is better so an advantage using the bow as you get to hunt a week earlier. But is there also an advantage hunting with a bow as there are less hunters in the field? Don’t really know if bear hunter numbers is an issue in MT. Any advice appreciated!

I have hunted mostly spring but when I went out in fall to try and fill my unfilled tag I went the first week of fall rifle. I was suprised at the amount of archery elk hunters out and about. From my research I think most fall bears are incidental to resident elk hunts.

 

[MT.PERCHMAN]

The parking lot wont be full of fall Bear hunters almost guaranteed. Most guys here hunt for a freezer full of Elk meat in the fall . I have seen bears in both spring and fall . Your traveling here so if the Non Resident fee for a Bear is affordable then get one and give it a try for sure !!

MT.PERCHMAN

 

[OzzyDave]

US$350 for MT fall non resident bear tag - I have an unfilled one from September adventure. I had an afternoon tracking a BIG boar up and over a a ridge - I called it a mountain but the locals called it a ridge. Made it very easy in the 3 inches of snow on the ground. Never did catch up to him. He went down the other side to where my buddy was hunting elk so I back out.