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Around here, it's my opinion that they begin to seek female companionship around the 27th of May. Peak of the rut I can't say 4 sure but tween there and mid June (which is when our season ends in parts of our state).

The good about the rut in our area is you see some big bruins that you might not be seeing. Then the down side is that if we don't get on them and kill them that night, often time we don't see them again. At the rut time of year I'm speaking.

Dober


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Gonna take my 9 year old son with me this year. He's been along for ducks/geese, coyotes, rock chucks, and even spent a memorable morning with me in the antelope blind a couple of years ago, but this will be the first time we really get after it together.

I am SO freaking excited to take him that I can't stand it. In fact, I can't remember the last time I was this excited for a hunt of any sort.

It will be spot and stalk, but he's a tough little dude and I really think he'll do just fine. Truth be told, he's probably in better shape than me right now.


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Yeah my 2 year old G-son and his sister who's 4 will be seeing their first bruins this spring. My oldest G-son who's 12 has a desire to bounce a bruin so we'll see.

Now, I just gotta find one of the furry buggers...grin

Dober


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[Linked Image]


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Originally Posted by Mark R Dobrenski
Thats a honker of a bruin Tony!

Idaho? Spot n stalk or bait?

Thx 4 sharing

Dober


Grazie. Spot and stalk outside Golden BC. Was really chasing grizzly. He really has a beautiful thick coat. Looking forward to seeing the rug. They were late coming around due to the large amount of snow still remaining mid-May.

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Since bear hunting is mostly a sit and glass deal (at least for me), what optics do you guys use and/or favor for bear hunting?

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For most of my work I use 7x42 SLC's, I also use my 15x56's quite a bit as well. For micro mgt of heads at range I like a big spotter (Leo 12-40) and for hiking I carry my 20x50 Leo hardbody. It's older than dirt but one of the very best spotters going for my eyes.

Lastly, we use a pair of 6x30 Yo's quite a bit and I've a small pair of Vortex (10x26 or something like that) that I carry when I know a death march is inevitable and I have an intended volunteer in mind.

I'm all about glassing, glassing and glassing.

Last piece of gear I use for glassing is a piece of Latigo about the size of a large pizza that I use for a pad to sit on while glassing. Keeps my backside dry and out of rocks, stickers etc and keeps me glassing more.

Couple of buds carry Crazy Creek chairs and love them as they have a back rest.

Dober


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Bears make for a great father-son hunt. Spot and stalk, Washington:
[Linked Image]

My son got his one afternoon, I tagged mine the next morning. A friend got the glossy black sow. It was great!
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]



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Originally Posted by bearstalker
Since bear hunting is mostly a sit and glass deal (at least for me), what optics do you guys use and/or favor for bear hunting?


I roll with Steiner Peregrine 10X42 binos and a Swarovski 20-60X65 HD spotting scope. They're expensive, but worth it.



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For glassing, a pair of Vortex 15x56 Kaibabs, for evaluating I use my Leupold 12-40x60 HD spotter, and I always have my 8.5x52 Minox in a bino vault on my chest.

Dober - What are your thoughts on bear activity the first week in June this year in re: to that area I hunted last year? I'm assuming the snow is going to be gone a lot earlier this year than it was last year?

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Check on NOAA's website. There's a lot of good info on snowpack there.

In my part of the world, its going to be early this year.


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lieca 10x 42s and a 3" thick butt pad ( got a boney butt)
spotter is a 1983 era swarovski.
fawn in a can and a dying rabbitt always in the pack.

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Ranger-that's gonna be model perfect! Looking forward to seeing ya this year if it works out. The new lil micro area I found is gonna be a rock star of a place, I can feel it.

Be a great place for your boy, or you....grin to plant a 7' coal black tip to tip bruin.... wink

Dober


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The excitement is building - planning is well underway. Just ordered up a batch of those Rapala lures we had such good luck with last year. Now if we can just manage to have nice weather!

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I'll be there to help you rip some lips..... wink

Dober


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Originally Posted by bearstalker
We still got a bit to go before they start popping out here. Already been going through the gear pile. grin


Yeah, I'm hoping that I don't end up having to escort clients on snowshoes during the first part of May. Hoping it's going to become unseasonably warm during March and April.

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I know I'm not one of the Montana guys, but I hunt withing a mile or two of the state line on the Idaho side.

I hunted hard in 2008. No shot. In 2009, two chances, didn't get a shot with my really bad eyes. (Stalking with the help of a friend. When it was time to shoot, couldn't find the bear in the scope.) Last spring (Day 37 over the three years?), I decided if it was at least a five and a half footer, or a color, I'd shoot if I Had the chance. When I saw this guy I could tell he was young, but I thought he was really pretty.

He lost a little getting rugged. Hi is now 5 foot from nose to tail, and five four from claw to claw. Now, I'm regretting it a little. Since I have two larger rugs on the wall, I should have let him walk. Oh well, his coat is nice and I love the spring hunts. I got him back from the taxidermist Tuesday.
[Linked Image]

And yes, I know many of you would have done your rug with the mouth closed!

Anyway,about 60 more days for me...


The never-ending flight
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Originally Posted by IDMilton
I know I'm not one of the Montana guys, but I hunt withing a mile or two of the state line on the Idaho side.

I hunted hard in 2008. No shot. In 2009, two chances, didn't get a shot with my really bad eyes. (Stalking with the help of a friend. When it was time to shoot, couldn't find the bear in the scope.) Last spring (Day 37 over the three years?), I decided if it was at least a five and a half footer, or a color, I'd shoot if I Had the chance. When I saw this guy I could tell he was young, but I thought he was really pretty.

He lost a little getting rugged. Hi is now 5 foot from nose to tail, and five four from claw to claw. Now, I'm regretting it a little. Since I have two larger rugs on the wall, I should have let him walk. Oh well, his coat is nice and I love the spring hunts. I got him back from the taxidermist Tuesday.
[Linked Image]

And yes, I know many of you would have done your rug with the mouth closed!

Anyway,about 60 more days for me...


Sorry to hear that you regret killing an animal. That's too bad.

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Yea, I know I sound ungrateful. I think he is beautiful and I had a great time hunting, but I do regret I didn't let him walk and have another year or two.

Since none of us are hunting spring bear so we don't starve, this is hunting for fun and trophies. (See comments about "ground shrinkage" and hoping for bears that square 7 feet.) My comment that I am "regretting it a little" for not holding out for a larger bear is my being honest, but I understand it may sound disrespectful to the animal and will make an effort to not harvest another bear I'm not 100% on.

You've NEVER wondered if you should have waited for another animal after you've shot? I'm not trying to be argumentative, just to understand. Two years ago I took a spike elk. Seconds after having shot, a big bull came in. I regretted shooting the spike when, if I would have waited, I could have taken a shot at the big bull.

I thought the vast majority of hunters have had similar experiences.


The never-ending flight
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Originally Posted by IDMilton
Yea, I know I sound ungrateful. I think he is beautiful and I had a great time hunting, but I do regret I didn't let him walk and have another year or two.

Since none of us are hunting spring bear so we don't starve, this is hunting for fun and trophies. (See comments about "ground shrinkage" and hoping for bears that square 7 feet.) My comment that I am "regretting it a little" for not holding out for a larger bear is my being honest, but I understand it may sound disrespectful to the animal and will make an effort to not harvest another bear I'm not 100% on.

You've NEVER wondered if you should have waited for another animal after you've shot? I'm not trying to be argumentative, just to understand. Two years ago I took a spike elk. Seconds after having shot, a big bull came in. I regretted shooting the spike when, if I would have waited, I could have taken a shot at the big bull.

I thought the vast majority of hunters have had similar experiences.


Possibly they have. The only time I've ever noticed someone who was regretful, was when a client mistakenly shot the wrong bull moose of three that were responding to a call. He got over it, though. Took him about two days to subside that regret. As for me, personally, I've never regretted killing anything. But, I've somewhat regretted not killing something when I had ample chance to do so.

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