Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Wyoming spring bear

I’ve been wanting to give this a try . Southern Wyoming is somewhere I’d like to do some scouting for future elk hunts , and I’d like a crack at a spring bear. Some trout fishing too.
I may have to go solo but I’ve thought about it for the last few years and I’m not getting any younger. Thoughts on south Wyoming chances of spotting bear ?

I live here and have had some success with bear hunting, but overall Wyoming does not have a large bear population! I see this as a difficult challenge…..unless you can hunt for several weeks!

I think that you’d have a higher probability of success in Idaho or Montana….but, that’s just my opinion! memtb

I’ll second that

Add in the baiting situation and a spot and stalk is probably going to be pretty tough.

Fall would be a lot more productive. Spring scouting is vastly different then fall..

I know you’re right , Wyoming is closer , and again I’d like to look over future elk ground. I’m afraid my days of hunting elk in colorado are about over. Thanks for the input. Was wondering if it was feasible for a weeks chance with bear

As long as there is a secondary motive for the trip……you won’t be dissapointed! 😁 memtb

Spring bear here is tough to spot and stalk since we don’t have a huge bear population. Also the weather and how much snow is left on the ground can make access difficult in early spring. Nice thing about a spring bear tag is it’s also good for the fall.

Fishing in streams is still poor due to spring runoff. I live down in that area, and as others have said, a poor chance. Lots of baits are out in this country, and once the bears come out, the quota often fills in the first nice weekend. As others said, Montana offers a better chance for what you are looking for.

Lots of bears in Southern Wyoming, plenty of them but as stated baits sights are taken and most quotas get filled fast.
You could spots and stalk near another bait sight without sitting over it and do ok. Might make someone mad though, lol.
We see bear sign every year elk hunting, they are here.
Not known for big bears but some area have big ones. Problem bears near some cabin areas too.

And as stated above, access can be iffy in Spring due to snowpack, fishing too is hard high high water.

Thanks for all the feedback . I was afraid that may the situation, but that’s why I asked. Was hoping to kill 2 or 3 birds with one stone. I’m interested in elk hunting that area , but it sounds like a summer trip and fishing may be the way to go to scout . I guess I may have to try Montana for spring bear to scratch that itch but I can’t do it all in one year.
I’ll turn 60 in the spring and the list of things I want to do I’m afraid I’ll run out of legs and lungs before it’s all done

Experienced spot & stalk bear hunters don't ''track-up'' the area - they use good binos and spotting scopes instead of boots. Good luck on your trip and keep yourself healthy - eat right and get plenty of low impact exercise.

This. Have some decent optics and spend time looking at the zones where snow is receding and things are starting to regenerate. Another possible one is walking on gated public national forest roadways. Those roads have grassy banks and bears also use them for travel.

If you want to do fishing in streams and rivers then summer and fall will be the time for that because of runoff.

Good luck on your trip