Smokehouse
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First bear hunt w/o dogs. Anyone have any tips? Hunted in the south, but just moved to Mt last fall. I hear the bears are small but plentiful. Any advise or related experience appreciated.
Spring Black Bear in western Montana
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JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone
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Depends on what you call small... Here in Washington, Blackies average 250 pounds, but 400 pounders aren't uncommon. I've heard of many Blackbear in Montana being quite a bit larger than that.
I can't say for Montana, or spring Bear hunting. I've only seen and taken Bear during summer and fall here in Washington. Lowland/foothill Blackberry area's are usually good in August. Watch out for Grizzlies. Find an area with good Deer populations. Remember, they're Omnivores. They eat just about anything from grass, to roots, grubs, insects, honey, Grouse, and Deer. I would start just around the snow line and work a bit up or down for sign. Forested areas, or clear cuts that have stumps with bugs and bees. I would think that where that big forest fire was a few years ago, that ought to have some good vegitation inviting to wildlife about now. Marshy area's with forest floors that have plenty of roots and grubs for Bears to forage. Blackies in Washington are most often seen mid summer in the 3-5,000 foot range where Blue berry meadows are plentiful on the south facing slopes. But there are Bears in the low lands too. (it's just easier to see them from afar if they're in mountain meadows) -Else it's like hunting Blacktail Deer down low. In the brush.
Nope, no hound or bait hunting here either.
-Steve
I can't say for Montana, or spring Bear hunting. I've only seen and taken Bear during summer and fall here in Washington. Lowland/foothill Blackberry area's are usually good in August. Watch out for Grizzlies. Find an area with good Deer populations. Remember, they're Omnivores. They eat just about anything from grass, to roots, grubs, insects, honey, Grouse, and Deer. I would start just around the snow line and work a bit up or down for sign. Forested areas, or clear cuts that have stumps with bugs and bees. I would think that where that big forest fire was a few years ago, that ought to have some good vegitation inviting to wildlife about now. Marshy area's with forest floors that have plenty of roots and grubs for Bears to forage. Blackies in Washington are most often seen mid summer in the 3-5,000 foot range where Blue berry meadows are plentiful on the south facing slopes. But there are Bears in the low lands too. (it's just easier to see them from afar if they're in mountain meadows) -Else it's like hunting Blacktail Deer down low. In the brush.
Nope, no hound or bait hunting here either.
-Steve
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When I have hunted in Western Montana, we mostly drove roads and glassed clear cuts, but the majority of the bears that I have seen have been eating grass on the logging roads, you can cover a lot of ground and see alot of country.
Good Luck and Be Safe!
Good Luck and Be Safe!
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Bears will be feasting heavily on fresh grass shoots. Like the guys above have posted that is what I'd be doing as well. Lots of glassing and looking for torn up ground freshly torn up rotten wood stuff like that. Find a place that has a decent bear population and glass any likely looking feed plots early in the AM and late in the PM. During the heat of the day cruise the timber and look for bear sign.
Trophy judgment is tough on bears especially loners. Look for a bear that has a thick neck and shoulders and one that looks like it has small ears in relation top it's head. A bear with a short square snout and a "divit' between the muscles on either side of the head is generally going to be a bruiser as well.
A bear with big floppy "dog" ears and a skinny long face is most likely a youngster.
Sounds like fun. i wish I were going with you!
Trophy judgment is tough on bears especially loners. Look for a bear that has a thick neck and shoulders and one that looks like it has small ears in relation top it's head. A bear with a short square snout and a "divit' between the muscles on either side of the head is generally going to be a bruiser as well.
A bear with big floppy "dog" ears and a skinny long face is most likely a youngster.
Sounds like fun. i wish I were going with you!
What dates are you planning to hunt? If you are hunting in the Bitterroot Mountains close to Missoula. I hunted that area on the Idaho side late May 2006. Most of the time we were only about 15 miles from Montana border. Hard hunting still lots of snow and impassable roads.
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