Spring Bear Hunting

[T43]

Still a lot of snow up high, I'm headed to the regional F&G office next week to get signed off on bowhunter ed. I figure I'll grab a bait permit while I'm there and then start trying for my first critter with a bow.

[wolftalonID]

I spent all day out today on west mountain between McCall and New Meadows. Saw lots of whitetale, one coyote that dodged a bullet and one badger that didnt! lol.
No bears. I think I am going to head up the southfork area next to see whats along the river.

[rcrosby]

Today I was glassing this steep drainage and again it is loaded with elk. I have glassed so many elk it is just insane at this point. As I was about to glass another area something caught my eye that just cried out, bear!!! About 300 yards from the elk was a nice black bear. Finally!!!

He was completely across this large canyon but I watched him feeding in the spotting scope for quite a while. Once he got within a couple hundred of the elk they all took off.

Right before dark I was glassing again and right ontop of a large rock is a HUGE cinnamon phase bear. I couldn't close the distance before it go dark but that bear is in my sights. I really want to get him. I will be back every chance I get to try and seal the deal with that bear.

So finally some progress!!!

[T43]

Good news! I have some time off coming up so it's good to know they are out. What elevation were you at?

[rcrosby]

The area was between 4500 and 5000. Do you have a unit 32 tag?

[T43]

Nope just a general tag. I'm looking at the 8000 - 9000 foot elevation range in the area I'm headed so I figure they should be hungry and on the prowl when I get up there.

[MT.MAN]

Hey Ryan,
I was very busy this weekend with the kid's camp. It sounds like you finally found some bears. Good Luck.

[rcrosby]

Thanks Scott I hope the camp went well it sounds like an awesome deal!

Just pulled myself out of the hole again I have been chasing these bears in. Couldn't find the cinnamon. I found the jet black bear again only a few hundred yards from where he was yesterday. I got to about 475 yards facing a cold swim to cross a way swollen and normally named "little" creek and one hell of a pack out. I am well known to be very dumb about where I shoot animals and what I go through. But after watching this bear for over an hour and even trying to see if he would respond to a fawn distress call I figured there has to be something easier than this.

I am going to keep him in the back of my mind and rethink and try and find a couple of other bears. I had my 6 and 4 year old with me on Monday when were first found the 2 bears and they tried to stay up late tonight to see the bear I was going to bring home. I would really like to have them with me if I can. I broke my 6 year olds heart in deer season when I passed on a 4x3 with her with me.

[NRS]

I saw a couple that arent quite there yet. Heres the pic.

[wolftalonID]

Cubs are so dang cute...like puppies. Can I keep em?
Can you imagine trying to convince a wife why you brought one home? LOL