first bear hunt, any suggestions?

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wyocarp ya got me, how about a Daisey Red Ryder bb gun that has extreme rust issues and the barrel has been cut to 1 inch?:)
 
brighamr,

where are you living in SW Montana? I too have just begun to bear hunt and perhaps we could go together. I live in Helena.

I went out on the opener but I think there was too much snow for the bears to have too much to eat in the area I went. I've heard that they do not come out in force until they have more food available but, as I said, I am inexperienced.
 
Hey Eliot,

I'll be hunting the bitteroot-selway wilderness, west of darby. I tried to get out yesterday, but could only get so far due to snow. I'm thinking the real chances will be in May after the bears wake up and start foraging.

If you're up for a trip west, I'd be happy to have some company!
 
I say 'go for it, but use your head'. One issue I like about solo ops is you have only yourself to agree with. I'm more of an Eastern guy but I'd think you would want to get away from human activity & keep watch over some more open slopes with some bear sign in the area. Leave your location with someone & expected return. When you leave your base, truck or camp, have a little gear to stay out overnight & return after dark if need be. I don't think I'd lug around a 3lb sidearm if I have my trusty rifle. I would want something if I was to pack gear or game either way without a rifle.

It would be an adventure even without cooperation from a bear. Maybe check out some varmint regs, marmot, coyote, etc..
 
Watch for bears to come out and graze in grassy spots in the morning and evening. And, Good Luck with the hunt.
 
I would suggest a good pair of bin oculars and a good long range rifle. Glass the southern slopes where the grass is the greenest. The bears will be eating a lot of grass when they come out of hibernation. A good bi-pod might come in handy also.Stay downwind. GOOD LUCK
 
brighamr

I will back in MT on May 3rd, after a vacation east. I'll let you know then. I think I could be persuaded to travel west for some bear hunting. Good luck till then!
 
I tried to get out yesterday, but could only get so far due to snow. I'm thinking the real chances will be in May after the bears wake up and start foraging.

As I said earlier, that's why, even though I am very excited every year to start hunting, I try not to get too serious until we get into May a little. Like right now, I have a new bear rifle and I'm excited but we got about 12 inches in town last night (I don't know what that means for the mountains).
 
Ya need the ex-wife along to carry around the sack of bacon sandwiches!

Just kidding, I'm not a hunter. I couldn't imagine what I'd do with several hundred pounds of dead, stinky bear. Or how I'd get it out of the woods. Or how I'd get in there to begin with.
 
.30-30 or similar will work fine on black bears. If you may encounter bigger species, you might want more gun. Shot placement is worth more than calibre, as with most animals.

Remember that bears can be curious. They don't see well, but smelling and hearing are very good. I've often whistled at a bear 50 yards away. Bear stands up to look, presenting a stationary vertical target.

Also, bears can really motor on flat ground or uphill. Downhill, they can be clumsy and even somersault if they try to run. Most won't try. Many that I've heart-shot went at warp speed for 100 yards or so on flat ground, then dropped "dead".

Finally, for any larger animal and especially if alone, if you approach a "dead" bear, do it from the rear / spine side. Never from the front or belly.

Stand at least 15-20 feet back, with the gun at your shoulder, safety off, and watch for chest rising and falling or other movement. First one I ever shot, I waited like this for at least 10 minutes. I was only 18 years old and forty miles from any help, and knew enough to be super careful.

Bears are inherently shy, but a wounded one with enough strength for one last paw swipe (at you) is the most dangerous one. They are very strong and smart.
 
I've never hunted dangerous game, but I would be concerned about not having someone watching your back while caping your kill. Sure seems like you will have a lot of scent in the air when you start cutting on your quarry. I am assuming you will be carefully bagging your trophy cape in plastic to contain the scent? Would not be good to be leading a parade of hungry opportunists back to camp.
 
Shot placement is worth more than calibre, as with most animals.

I totally disagree. I'll take the "big" gun every time.

Ya need the ex-wife along to carry around the sack of bacon sandwiches!

Maybe a salmon sandwich with a few slices of bacon would even be better. And the salmon should be ripe and the bacon should be covered in the grease from the skillet.
 
i'd suggest in a GPS locating beacon since you'll be alone. something similar to what back country skiers use for avalanche danger.

if you dont want to throw down the cash for one, there are some places that may rent them out.
 
In May start watching areas where deer and elk calve. Nothing brings in a bear faster than a newborn deer or elk. One year I registered and hunted a bait site in a "sleeper" area, a small old growth forest, with 2 drainages converging. Had seen tracks there previous Fall while hunting elk.
The back meadow was also a calving area for elk. This was a good spring bait site in the Bridger Tetons.. Had a huge blackie consistantly come in, leave scat, claw up trees up high, but only at night it seemed, because I never saw him. One week I changed my tactics. I baited the barrel the evening before. Then the following O'dark thirty. I parked way back on a 2 track, and walked a great distance to the stand. About shooting light he came, but from behind my stand, not the down the trail he had previously marked. I saw him out of my periphery vision, so I began turning around on the stand to set up my shot. I fell out of the stand, binoculars smacking me in the face all the way down, as I was grabbing at branches to slow my fall. I had forgotten to attach my harness, heehee.
 
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If your hunting alone go to your local sporting goods store and buy one of those "SPOT" beacons they are amazing cost like $100 and track your position and have the IMPORTANT help button. Plus when you get home you can look at how you traveled and use it to plan later trips.

As far as all the other hunting stuff sounds like you know your way around that part, I guess my only other advice would be to check out your area enough so you know if you can afford to wait for the big alpha or you need to take what you can.
 
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