***OFFICIAL*** 2023 SPRING BEAR THREAD

[LowCountryBuckeye]

This will be my first time spring bear hunting. I wasn’t able to get away until the end of May. I was worried I would be way too late. But after the winter in SW Montana, I am starting to think things may work out.

 

[Sask hunter]

This will be my first time spring bear hunting. I wasn’t able to get away until the end of May. I was worried I would be way too late. But after the winter in SW Montana, I am starting to think things may work out.

Rut will be on then!

 

[LowCountryBuckeye]

Rut will be on then!

That’s what I’m expecting. My “hope” is that sows will still be concentrating around green up Since they will be delayed leaving the den. So I will be looking for green patches just below snow line. Hoping to catch a boar on the prowl for a good time. I have punched tags for a mule deer and a pronghorn. and I have four bear tags sitting in my desk drawer from previous fall hunts. hopefully this hunt will change the streak.

 

[Sask hunter]

Set both my usual bush bear baits. Forgot to take pictures of the second spot. I’ll be back Friday to check and as soon as a big one hits it’s game on!! Need to bring my popcorn barrels next trip. Figured they could wait as I haven’t popped any yet. Been too busy skinning beavers

 

[Sask hunter]

Took a week but first action on my farmland bait. The grass just started to green up and tree buds are just starting to pop so things should pick up now. This little guy hardly hit the bait must have just got up and started moving

 

[NAHMINT]

Great photos !!
my best laid plans ....right....
son in laws mother/in her 80's passed out and in hospital couple days ago,then my best friend, just a kid, 73 had a 'jammer on saturday, and he too in hospital.couple weeks.....issues with couple breakers in electrical box/ sparky will be here in early A.M. next time,I am just going to leave a note for wife and slip away without advanced notice !!

 

[Deleted member 28227]

Hey you western privileged slackers stop posting on the political threads and go kill some bears, it’s May 1st and nary a bear on the ground.

 

[Mountain Mule]

From my adventures this last weekend. I tred to go for the brown color phase and ended up getting winded at 23 yards with no shot presented. May just have to take the rifle out this next weekend. Any tips for judging bears from afar (black phase was ~2 miles out)?

 

[Scott85]

Was going this weekend but I think I’ll go scouting closer to home.

 

[Mountain Mule]

Was going this weekend but I think I’ll go scouting closer to home. View attachment 274342

Saturday and Sunday are perfect days for bear! They'll be feedling like mad whenever the rain does break.

 

[PaulRevere]

Spotted this guy last night. Headed after him tonight. Hopefully he shows.

 

[SaskHunter]

Dang, late to the partayyyy. Haven't set my bait yet. Hopefully can escape this weekend and get that done!

 

[Falcon75]

Hey you western privileged slackers stop posting on the political threads and go kill some bears, it’s May 1st and nary a bear on the ground.

I agree. I think whoever posts the 1st bear killed should get to start official bear thread for next year. Also I would like if knew state, elevation, weather, time, ect in posts like a fishing report.

 

[EYJONAS!]

Hey you western privileged slackers stop posting on the political threads and go kill some bears, it’s May 1st and nary a bear on the ground.

PATIENCE grasshopper

A guy doesn't wanna premature yet on a 520 rd sow.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

PATIENCE grasshopper

Boooooooooo!

 

[EYJONAS!]

View attachment 274432

Boooooooooo!

 

[ccc23454]

Locally Forest service has decided to not open gates on access roads schedualed to open 1 may and told nobody! No alerts, no signs, nothing on website (no closure notice) and when called last week "be opened on morning of 1st" so after sitting at gate with others for 6 hours yesterday i drove 20 miles to cell service to learn this! The only places i have ever seen blackbears this early is behind those gates. Hopefully they dont drag this out, this is ridicous and was 80 degrees today and greening fast where i hiked a block of blm.

 

[EYJONAS!]

Checked some stuff today. I bet there's a solid ft still in the open area and two ft in the trees. Gonna be a bit, a friend's brother went to one of the early spots only to find 2 griz.....

@PaulRevere Is gonna show us how it's all done tonight.

 

[Drake4]

My group of buddies have killed 2 good boars in the last week.

 

[Flatbrimmer]

My group of buddies have killed 2 good boars in the last week.

Pics or it didn’t happen bud, you know the drill