jnicholes

So, it looks like I’m going on a 2021 Idaho spring black bear hunt after all. I’m really excited.

For the unit I’m hunting, the season starts April 15 and ends June 30.

Currently planning and figuring out what I need, will keep you all updated.

Jared

mrbb

well again best of luck
just remember spring time, bears have cubs, and that can change how one needs to watch what they shoot, trying best to not shoot females,a s cubs do NOT always be next to them, or come into bait with there mom's<

sows have different shapes ansd sizes, so its not easy, but many making the effort can me the life of the cubs or not

jnicholes

Thank you. I’ll do research on identifying females then. Don’t want to shoot one. Besides, taking females with young is prohibited in my state.

Bocajnala

Glad to hear you'll be able to get out.

Looking forward to following your hunt on here.

-Jake

jnicholes

OK, I figured out my to do list.

I need: Bear tag
Bear baiting permit
100 grain .243 ammunition

Money for bait (donuts work best in my opinion)

Money for gas

An SD card to phone adapter so I can read my trail camera in the field

I also need to fix the lid on my bait barrel. The bear from last season damaged it.

I also need to make the hole in my bait barrel a little bigger and more square shaped.

I also need to sight in my scope.

I need to learn to identify females and males in the field.


I have no problems doing/getting the resources I need. Have a good paying job, and I can afford everything.

Bocajnala

Don't put off getting the ammo until last minute. Most of the country is having difficulty finding even the regular normal hunting stuff.

I had to pay $55/box recently to get some ammo for a rifle I bought recently. But it took a while for me to even find the stuff. Nothing was in stock locally. Thankfully a couple members on another forum were able to help me out.

-Jake

mrbb

I agree right now ammo might be a bigger obstacle than you think
and odds are its going to get MUCH worse before it gets better!


as for making larger holes in barrel, a jig saw can do it, as can an angle grinder with a thin cut off wheel
as well as other tools

but try to not make too sharp of edges or you c n be harming the bears your not after!
filing down edges is recommend by most I know that use them!

or cutting and them rolling edges over so not jagged and sharp!

and just a thought for you
if your using a 55 gallon drum, you can use a shop dolly to move them about,
use a ratchet strap to secure barrel to it, find one with BIG wheels and they will roll a lot easier thru terrain!
you can remove dolly once where you want it
or chain it up with barrel!

jnicholes

Thanks, I will make ammunition my priority, then. Don’t want to miss the season because I didn’t have ammunition!

jnicholes

Bad news.

I called five stores today to see if they had 243 caliber 100 grain ammunition.

All five stores didn’t even have 243 ammunition.

I’ll keep looking, but if I don’t find ammunition by the time the season starts, I may have to cancel the hunt.

SportsmanNH

There is plenty of 243 ammo on gunbroker. Yes its inflated prices for now.
But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Start an account on Gunbroker.com
Sometimes you still get a deal even in this craziness. There are 19 pages of 243 ammo for sale on the site
Look at it this way. What would you rather do. Pay $50 more for a sure thing on gunbroker or get all stressed out calling store after store for hours. Or drive all over the place wasting time and gas trying to find some ammo that if the store had some would be inflated price anyway..
Pay the Piper , sight your rifle in , go on your bear hunt. Good Luck On Your Hunting Trip !

https://www.gunbroker.com/Ammunition...h?Keywords=243