Any Bear Sightings?

[MT backcountry hunter]

String Music

We were south of town to, we got lucky that it blew over us. Saw some cool new country atleast. Trip was good and worked out some kinks in my system atleast.

[wolftalonID]

IMG00090-20110419-1147.jpgIMG00094-20110419-1226.jpgIMG00098-20110419-1257.jpgIMG00100-20110419-1422.jpgIMG00101-20110419-1422.jpgI went out Tuesday up the Salmon River Road. Got way in there and up the switchbacks going into Burgdorf. I got to see the hills crawling with whitetales, and only a few Mulies. Saw a few elk with the help of my binos. Looked and looked as far as I could for hours and never saw even sign of a bear. However it was fun to get out of this snow, see some country I have not set foot in, and dream of the day I can let that arrow fly at those whitetales.!!

[MT backcountry hunter]

Looks like you guys have alot better weather than we do. More snow tonight for us. That country looks great. I was thinking about buying a bear tag this year or next for Idaho,sounds like Idaho has a good bear population.

[wolftalonID]

Well, Where I live, the snows not yet gone, and today its done nothing but blow snow anyway. That area is about an hour and half north of me near Riggins. Riggins is a much lower elevation, and warmer area of the state altogether. I was advised by the F&G dept to head up there this time of year as the snow here makes it hard as ever to get into bear country, and some of the bears here are still sleeping, and not up yet due to snow.
However, I didnt see any down there either, but being a bit optimistic still its more that I only spent the day there, and not much more time.
Yes we do have a decent black bear population, if it was legal to shoot them here in town, we have about a dozen or so problem bears every year taken out of town and relocated.

[Bitterroot Bulls]

MT Backcountry Hunter, it is going to be a while before the high country opens up around Bozeman, eh? I was visiting the folks in Gateway last week, and oh man did it look snowy up Bear Creek and in the Spanish Peaks! My old favorite bear haunts are definitely still snowed in there in Gallatin country. Good luck, I hope you find a bruiser!

[MT backcountry hunter]

Bitterroot,

Bear creek is plum full of snow. We were in the spanish peaks a couple of weeks ago and found a bare hillside but its armpit deep snow every where else.

[MTWillie]

Took this on Saturday with my phone. It was a sow with 3 cubs with her. I got within 10 yards before one of the cubs spooked and they all took off.

cinnamon.jpg

[MT backcountry hunter]

Nice man. Her having 3 cubs is a good sign that the bears are healthy. Looks like no snow around deer lodge. Not here in bozeman. Keep us posted.

[MTWillie]

There's still plenty of snow, just not down as low as I was. Once you get up to the Forest Service roads, it's still close to not being able to drive through.

[Stringmusic]

The snow continues to come down, but don't let that stop you from looking in the lower country. Bears can be found on any part of the mountain (or hill).

Spent some time down in the Custer National Forest near Ashland this past weekend and came across a good size bear track down really low. Never saw the bear, but i'm guessing from the tracks around a 5ft bear. Got the blood pumping!

May should be a better month. Lets hope.