RE: Montana Spring Bear Hunting
 

Well, how did everybody do? See any sign?

RE: Montana Spring Bear Hunting
 

Muley,
I saw SNOW,SNOW and more SNOW,cut one set of tracks head'in down small bear.I will try a diffrent part of the Belts this com'in Saturday,it's going to 60 all weak and may be can get a little higher.Hope I don't need the chain's again.:D
BBJ

RE: Montana Spring Bear Hunting
 

BBJ, that is my problem as well, getting into the good bear areas this time of year. If the snow doesn't shut me down, the FS has access roads locked until June 1, the day after season closes here. I think they need to back spring bear season up by a couple of weeks. I don't really have access to the big boars up high.

Montana Bob, If you read this how is the hunting up the West Fork? Never bear hunted in there but it seems like promising country.

RE: Montana Spring Bear Hunting
 

Went out sat. apr.30 up the ninemile drainage.I took my 13 yr. old nephew and a couple of tree stands.We seen a set of fresh bear tracks in the snow and packed up a small creek and found some nice trees to climb.We set our stands for about 3 hours and called a big red fox in and then heard a shot down the canyon we both thought someone killed a bear that we were calling in that crossed the road.About 2 minutes later we heard another shot and thought they were just finishing it off.Then all of a sudden we heard multiple shots and probably over 200 to follow.I was furious and hiked back to the truck and took the chains off and seen 3 guys camping out out of a camaro and a tent target practicing in a prime bear area.They waved and I waved back with a finger and went up the road.We seen some more fresh tracks about a 400lb'er and then another set about a 900lb'er plus following a set of moose tracks.Im glad I had my .454 casull strapped to my side and my .300 wsm.Grizz tracks and no black bear, a sow and a 11/2 -2 yr old cub to boot.We walked in a ways and set up and called for about an hour and nothing.We headed out to another spot to glass.Nothing.I had one more spot where I have seen lot's of bears so we headed there.We walked about 2 miles and set up and called nothing.Walked some more and called and nothing.Finally I smelled Elk urine real strong and looked around and seen a big dark spot on the hillside starring at us.I glassed it and it was a big old Bull moose with a dark body and a grey face and two big balls for antlers.We hiked on in there was a lot of fresh grass and clover on the old grown up logging road and we were sure we would see a bear.After about 6-7 miles we headed back down and watched the moose on our way out. when we got to the first place we called from there looked like a pothole in the road that had toe and claw marks comming out of it as we got closed Danny put his head down to look at the fresh grizz track and said I didn't know they were so big It's front paw is bigger than my head we finally got out of there at dark and seen a lot of deer and elk down low about seven nice bulls just starting to get there antlers.I think the grizz are eating the black bears where I like to hunt.I know we were followed by one for about a half mile that we could see of his tracks.
Elkshed

RE: Montana Spring Bear Hunting
 

Muley,
Did the West Fork last year and again to much snow.I went into The Magruder Corridor and Nez Perce, Saw Moose and Elk but no Bear. Besides all the Bear I have ever seen around these parts are pretty small. I think most get their Bear in the Fall around here as the local taxidermist always has 50 or 60 going in when I stop by and they have some size to them.
Belive it or not if I get home anytime soon I am going to head over to Bear and Elk Creek, up around Garnet. I have seen Bear there plenty of times off the road. Also up McCormick Creek up Nine Mile has a nice supply of Bear and the snow is usually mild as it is not as high as around here.
If I don't score in the Spring I am heading over to my buddies place on the Clark Fork in Turah for the Fall. He has Apple trees and every year around the middle of October for about 2 weeks his place is overloaded with the things. Each one of his 4 daughters have gotten Bear from the front yard. It's not really a challange with a rifle but I will take out my stick and string and sit in a stand and wait over one of the apple trees.
His front yard is littered with little piles of moldy applesauce and the bonus is the inlaws own one of the bars in Turah.

RE: Montana Spring Bear Hunting
 

Elkshed, thanks for the good story, damn I love hearin others peoples hunt stories when I know the area their hunting.

Montana Bob, I've seen bears up 9 mile as well. I have also seen bears up the chalet bearmouth area, lots of roads back up in there. Got run off by a sow with cubs 2 years ago north of Clinton up in that area. I have work and football practice t,w, th, f, and games on Saturday. I'm off from work Sunday and Monday with no games or practice, so maybe then I'll hit it.

RE: Montana Spring Bear Hunting
 

Well I went out to the 9 mile area again and had a pretty good hunt,But no Black bears.Not even a track,I trapsed up and down the mountains through the brush and thickets I found 2 whitetail sheds and one is a perfect 5X and thick you can barely wrap your fingers around the base.
I found a good looking bear area lots of fresh green grass and lots of water and timber I glassed for hours and decided to set up and call.I called for about 45 min. and when I stopped for a minute I thought I heard the tail end of an elk bugel.It turned out to be a pack of wolves about 3-4 as far as I could tell.I squeeled on my call some more and they let out a bunch of short howles and yelps It sounded like they were killing something on the hillside,or mating.I got about 50 yards from them but the wind was wrong I yipped on my call like a coyote but nothing.I had my camera in one hand and pistol in the other.They finally shut up and that was the last I heard them.This was May 4th wed.
I think Im going to hang it up until the fall unless something starts moving.
Elkshed

RE: Montana Spring Bear Hunting
 

Elkshed, if you get a chance maybe head to Plains area. If it wasn't so far thats were I would be heading. I have seen some huge bears up in that area, and lot's of them too. If you decide to give it a shot, PM me and I will give you some areas your sure to see some bears, with my schedule, I simply do not have the time to head up there. Also, if your not hunting on Saturday, head down to Loyola-Ram stadium and watch the game. We are playing this Saturday trying to get our record to 3-1 after last Saturdays spanking we took. It will be some hard hitting fun tickets are only 5 bucks and kids get in free!