2012 bear hunting thread - 04/18/12
I figured I would start an "official" bear hunting thread for this season. 
Anyone been out yet? Seeing any bears at all?
Anyone been out yet? Seeing any bears at all?
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/18/12
Well about a month away and taking the wife to Wyoming in hopes of getting her first bear!
The days are getting longer
The days are getting longer
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/18/12
Leave tomorrow for Idaho.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/18/12
Going to Ak. in about a month.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/18/12
Leave for AK on May 8th. Good luck to everyone!
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/18/12
I'm stuck in Afghanistan at the moment, but I'll be home (Alaska) on R&R leave in early May, and I hope to watch my son bag his first black bear this year. I hear they are already out of their dens.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/18/12
Going on May 17th... Feels like a lifetime away right now.
Travis
Travis
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/18/12
Cutting firewood Saturday and hunting that evening and Sunday.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/19/12
Headed to Idaho for 11 days on May 18th. Can't get here soon enough!
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/20/12
Took a walk last night, didn't see a bear but I stumbled on an elk that had been killed by wolves.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/20/12
Originally Posted by tipmover
Cutting firewood Saturday and hunting that evening and Sunday.
Best of luck.
Travis
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/20/12
Prince of Wales May 25 to June 2
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/20/12
Colorado tree huggers don't allow spring hunts yet they get upset when they got bear in town all summer. idiots
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/21/12
Going bowhunting blacks with the Hoyt tomorrow PM and Sunday AM. Grizzlies follow when the slides green up in 3 or 4 weeks! Can't wait to get out again. Vacation time coming!
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/21/12
Originally Posted by tipmover
Cutting firewood Saturday and hunting that evening and Sunday.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/21/12
Busy with work and bow shoots until the weekend of May 11th. Then I will hunt my ass off until the season is up.
Then it'll be time to fly-fish and go to bow shoots until bow season opens. Then once rifle season is over, its winter. Which is time to watch TV, drink beer in front of the computer, and man-whore.
Then it'll be time to fly-fish and go to bow shoots until bow season opens. Then once rifle season is over, its winter. Which is time to watch TV, drink beer in front of the computer, and man-whore.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/21/12
![[Linked Image]](http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/Mark_Dobrenski/spring12bruinhunting.jpg)
I was out on the hill tonight, this pics for Shrapnel. Porn star glasses and all. Me thinks that Scenar has a pic sort of like this rolling around as well...grin
Great night to be on the hill.
Going to new territory tomorrow morn. I love to see new country, just can't hunt the same places over and over much anymore.
Dober
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/21/12
i really need to try and hunt a yogi one of these days.....havent even given it a try yet....
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/21/12
And...don't forget you need to fly feesh for pike as well... 
Just a friendly reminder...grin
Dober
Just a friendly reminder...grin
Dober
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/21/12
my 2 best spots are snowed in right now , but the snow will go, the elk will move in to calf and the bears will follow , cant wait.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/21/12
Originally Posted by Mark R Dobrenski
I was out on the hill tonight,
Good for you! BTW, who is that old dude in the pic???
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/21/12
thats not a old dude
thats "grey" camo !
thats "grey" camo !
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/21/12
"grey camo" I luv it!
I called it "cana camo"
Dober
I called it "cana camo"
Dober
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/21/12
Originally Posted by Mark R Dobrenski
I was out on the hill tonight, this pics for Shrapnel. Porn star glasses and all. Me thinks that Scenar has a pic sort of like this rolling around as well...grin
Great night to be on the hill.
Going to new territory tomorrow morn. I love to see new country, just can't hunt the same places over and over much anymore.
Dober
Mark, your lookin waaaay to modern for a Mashburn owner!
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/22/12
Scouting most evenings this week, then six straight days of serious hunting starts on Friday. Only need one boar to volunteer.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/22/12
Originally Posted by Mark R Dobrenski
And...don't forget you need to fly feesh for pike as well...
Just a friendly reminder...grin
Dober
Just a friendly reminder...grin
Dober
bastid.......
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/22/12
Tracks in front of the cabin this morning
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/22/12
Originally Posted by Mark R Dobrenski
I was out on the hill tonight, this pics for Shrapnel. Porn star glasses and all. Me thinks that Scenar has a pic sort of like this rolling around as well...grin
Great night to be on the hill.
Going to new territory tomorrow morn. I love to see new country, just can't hunt the same places over and over much anymore.
Dober
Did the forest tremble in fear when you put those glasses on? Or did it just swoon?
Travis
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/22/12
Dober Diggler? Shoulda' shaved a mustache, to complete the look.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/22/12
Shot a nice black bear at 12 yards last night with the Hoyt. He was feeding on clover and willow and aspen buds along an old logging road that crosses a real steep timber cut. He fed toward me for about 150 yards. I stood still tucked into some willows along the edge. At 25 yards I drew the bow but no shot doe to a few willows between us. He finally saw me and kept coming to investigate the camo blob! I couldn't hold back at 12 yards as he was coming right up to me. He made it 40 yards down the steep hill through the slash. My wife and I recovered him this morning as it got dark right after I shot last night. He was fat as heck for a spring bear and should be fine eating. I suspect he was about 275# live weight based on 95#s of red edible boned meat we got off him. His skull green scores about 19".
Black bears are numerous, an under-utilized species in BC and a great archery animal. I love spot and stalk hunting, whether I am stalking the bear or in last nights case........the bear stalking me!
Black bears are numerous, an under-utilized species in BC and a great archery animal. I love spot and stalk hunting, whether I am stalking the bear or in last nights case........the bear stalking me!
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/23/12
Nice job Kurt!
Travis
Travis
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/23/12
+1! Congrats, Kurt.
p.s. forgot to add that in the OP that this thread requires pics!
p.s. forgot to add that in the OP that this thread requires pics!
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/23/12
My cousin and I are headed to Montana this week to do some bear hunting. We are leaning toward hunting in the area north of Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls but since neither of us have been to Montana nor done any bear hunting, we are open to suggestions and would sure appreciate any advice we could get. We will be bringing my wall tent to stay in. I have talked with a biologist over the Thompson Falls area and will be back in contact with him but he is not over the area above Kalispell. We are both in our 60's but in good physical shape so hiking down and hunting along closed off logging roads won't present any problems. We are not limited on time and will stay as long as we want/need to. Thanks in advance for any information you would be willing to share as it will be greatly appreciated. Also, if anybody is interested in hog hunting, we have plenty of them and would be glad to accommodate you if you were interested. Ronnie, my cousin, has Brazos River Outfitters out of Knox City, Texas and has a place for hunters to stay and plenty of hogs to hunt. We would sure be willing to trade a hog hunt for some help with our bear hunting. Thanks again, Gerald Johnston, Burkburnett, Texas 940 636-1272, 940 569-4555.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/23/12
Originally Posted by Kurt52
Shot a nice black bear at 12 yards last night with the Hoyt. He was feeding on clover and willow and aspen buds along an old logging road that crosses a real steep timber cut. He fed toward me for about 150 yards. I stood still tucked into some willows along the edge. At 25 yards I drew the bow but no shot doe to a few willows between us. He finally saw me and kept coming to investigate the camo blob! I couldn't hold back at 12 yards as he was coming right up to me. He made it 40 yards down the steep hill through the slash. My wife and I recovered him this morning as it got dark right after I shot last night. He was fat as heck for a spring bear and should be fine eating. I suspect he was about 275# live weight based on 95#s of red edible boned meat we got off him. His skull green scores about 19".
Black bears are numerous, an under-utilized species in BC and a great archery animal. I love spot and stalk hunting, whether I am stalking the bear or in last nights case........the bear stalking me!
Black bears are numerous, an under-utilized species in BC and a great archery animal. I love spot and stalk hunting, whether I am stalking the bear or in last nights case........the bear stalking me!
Props for waiting until he was 12 yds away. Not sure i'd be that patient.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/23/12
Originally Posted by coyotegj
My cousin and I are headed to Montana this week to do some bear hunting. We are leaning toward hunting in the area north of Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls but since neither of us have been to Montana nor done any bear hunting, we are open to suggestions and would sure appreciate any advice we could get. We will be bringing my wall tent to stay in. I have talked with a biologist over the Thompson Falls area and will be back in contact with him but he is not over the area above Kalispell. We are both in our 60's but in good physical shape so hiking down and hunting along closed off logging roads won't present any problems. We are not limited on time and will stay as long as we want/need to. Thanks in advance for any information you would be willing to share as it will be greatly appreciated. Also, if anybody is interested in hog hunting, we have plenty of them and would be glad to accommodate you if you were interested. Ronnie, my cousin, has Brazos River Outfitters out of Knox City, Texas and has a place for hunters to stay and plenty of hogs to hunt. We would sure be willing to trade a hog hunt for some help with our bear hunting. Thanks again, Gerald Johnston, Burkburnett, Texas 940 636-1272, 940 569-4555.
I know you can stay as long as you need. But I would really urge you to wait another week and a half at least. If you can hunt from May 10 to the end (31st) you are gonna see a ton more bears. Pretty dang slow right now. I went out again today, didn't see a bear.
Just some friendly advice. Just not greening up too much in the woods right now.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/24/12
Originally Posted by drahthaar
Originally Posted by coyotegj
My cousin and I are headed to Montana this week to do some bear hunting. We are leaning toward hunting in the area north of Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls but since neither of us have been to Montana nor done any bear hunting, we are open to suggestions and would sure appreciate any advice we could get. We will be bringing my wall tent to stay in. I have talked with a biologist over the Thompson Falls area and will be back in contact with him but he is not over the area above Kalispell. We are both in our 60's but in good physical shape so hiking down and hunting along closed off logging roads won't present any problems. We are not limited on time and will stay as long as we want/need to. Thanks in advance for any information you would be willing to share as it will be greatly appreciated. Also, if anybody is interested in hog hunting, we have plenty of them and would be glad to accommodate you if you were interested. Ronnie, my cousin, has Brazos River Outfitters out of Knox City, Texas and has a place for hunters to stay and plenty of hogs to hunt. We would sure be willing to trade a hog hunt for some help with our bear hunting. Thanks again, Gerald Johnston, Burkburnett, Texas 940 636-1272, 940 569-4555.
I know you can stay as long as you need. But I would really urge you to wait another week and a half at least. If you can hunt from May 10 to the end (31st) you are gonna see a ton more bears. Pretty dang slow right now. I went out again today, didn't see a bear.
Just some friendly advice. Just not greening up too much in the woods right now.
It might be an idea to head a little further south for the first week or so you're here. The area around Missoula is greening up pretty nice, we get a little earlier springs than that NW corner. You mentioned Thompson Falls, I would think that that would be pretty good hunting for the rest of April until the rest of the state really starts to green up.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/24/12
Originally Posted by coyotegj
My cousin and I are headed to Montana this week to do some bear hunting. We are leaning toward hunting in the area north of Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls but since neither of us have been to Montana nor done any bear hunting, we are open to suggestions and would sure appreciate any advice we could get. We will be bringing my wall tent to stay in. I have talked with a biologist over the Thompson Falls area and will be back in contact with him but he is not over the area above Kalispell. We are both in our 60's but in good physical shape so hiking down and hunting along closed off logging roads won't present any problems. We are not limited on time and will stay as long as we want/need to. Thanks in advance for any information you would be willing to share as it will be greatly appreciated. Also, if anybody is interested in hog hunting, we have plenty of them and would be glad to accommodate you if you were interested. Ronnie, my cousin, has Brazos River Outfitters out of Knox City, Texas and has a place for hunters to stay and plenty of hogs to hunt. We would sure be willing to trade a hog hunt for some help with our bear hunting. Thanks again, Gerald Johnston, Burkburnett, Texas 940 636-1272, 940 569-4555.
As a VERY general rule, the area you're thinking of going to has the highest density in Montana, but fairly small sized bears, at least in my experience. Thats not to say there are not big blackies there, just that an average bear there is smaller than say, the Big Hole. There are also a lot more "black" black bears there as opposed to color phase black bears. Just an FYI for ya. Its been my experience that the further S and E you get in Montana, the less black "black" bears get.
You also better make damn sure you ain't sight'n at a Griz in that part of the state. Good luck.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/24/12
I forgot to add, the area west of Hwy 93 is now open until May 31. This is the first year for that. There are going to be a PILE OF BEARS killed west of Kalispell this year. That area is full of bears that just haven't been really touched for years because the season ending on May 15th. Working in the woods over there last summer, I saw lots of BIG mature boars.
FWP is concerned that griz are going to get busted unintentionally at a higher rate over there, due to this change, so if ya go over there be careful. Dog Hunter said a mouthful about the griz. They are all over.
FWP is concerned that griz are going to get busted unintentionally at a higher rate over there, due to this change, so if ya go over there be careful. Dog Hunter said a mouthful about the griz. They are all over.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/24/12
can attest to large numbers of Grizzlies in that area.
be on the lookout. have fun. be in that area around the 16 th of May
be on the lookout. have fun. be in that area around the 16 th of May
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/26/12
Looks like now that it will be Saturday the 28th before we can get on the road to Montana. Even then, we aren't gonna get in any hurry. I have decided to leave the four wheeler at home since it will enable us to have the entire bed of my Toyota Tacoma to carry some the necessary stuff to camp comfortably. I have attempted to add a picture of our 2006 camp in Colorado. We still don't know where we should set up camp, or for that matter, we're still not sure of where we will be hunting. North of Kalispell still is one of the better areas as far as I have been able to find, but we are not set on any one area. Even though we are not in a hurry, I hope to be in the NW corner of Montana, somewhere, around May 2nd to May 5th. Thanks for all of yall's advise so far. It has eased the pressure to get up there ASAP, even though I had already decided that getting in a big hurry to get up there or to get back home was something I was not going to do.
Description: Elk Camp in Colorado, 2006
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/26/12
Good job leaving the quad at home. It wouldn't have (legally) left the main road anyway.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/27/12
Save me a few MT boys, I'll be along with my stickbow in Sept.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/27/12
Took a LOT of glassing when we were not socked in over in Idaho, but we spotted 2 nice bears. Might as well have been on the moon from where we were.....Next week maybe.
Question for Dober, Pat or Greenhorn- One of the bears looked to be 2 tone, but in a way I have never seen. Had a verticaly, crisp line where dark chocolate turned to black on the back half. Just behind the shoulder. Almost like someone held it from the nose and "dipped" it. I don't think it was hair loss, but maybe? Was over a mile away, and even with a Zeiss, I just couldn't tell. Thought it very odd.
Seen plenty that are black legs then chocolate as up toward the spine, or vice versa, but never front to back.
Question for Dober, Pat or Greenhorn- One of the bears looked to be 2 tone, but in a way I have never seen. Had a verticaly, crisp line where dark chocolate turned to black on the back half. Just behind the shoulder. Almost like someone held it from the nose and "dipped" it. I don't think it was hair loss, but maybe? Was over a mile away, and even with a Zeiss, I just couldn't tell. Thought it very odd.
Seen plenty that are black legs then chocolate as up toward the spine, or vice versa, but never front to back.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/28/12
Those guys know FAR more than me, but I have seen something close. What I saw was caused by mites they get in the den. Mostly it is just the head rubbed off while in the den. This one may have just had it bad and had his shoulders rubbed too.
There were 4 bears in the clearcut last year when I shot mine. One was a GIANT but his head was rubbed near bald, poor bastard. A real wide load, bumble butt. I hope he gets over it and looks better this year.
There were 4 bears in the clearcut last year when I shot mine. One was a GIANT but his head was rubbed near bald, poor bastard. A real wide load, bumble butt. I hope he gets over it and looks better this year.
Re: 2012 bear hunting thread - 04/28/12
1st bear I shot-in Idaho-had a pretty bald face. Just from eyebrows down. Had dark, crusty skin.
That was my initial thought on this bear. Can't be sure. The line was right through the middle of the rib section of the bear, and looked very distinct.
That was my initial thought on this bear. Can't be sure. The line was right through the middle of the rib section of the bear, and looked very distinct.