Montana bears are coming out

Big Fin · Apr 17, 2014

Rather than spend the evening hitting the "Refresh" button and waiting for my elk drawing results, decided it better to take a short drive and a nice hike in search of a bear. I learned two things:

1) I am in tax season shape, not hunting shape.

2) If you look for a bear on your side of the river, you will not see one, but if you glass for one second on the side of the river you lack waders to cross, a really nice chocolate bear will graze in view right where you first put up your spotting scope.

He was safe today, but he will be one I might try to shoot in the coming days. Not huge, but definitely a mature bear, with a wonderful color and I suspect his coat is as good as it gets. Watched him for some time and saw no cubs, which confirmed my first impression of him being a boar.

Given how hard this winter has been, was very surprised to see any bears at this early date.

I've gotta get my butt in shape, or I won't have to worry about shooting a bear this year.

Jon Boy · Apr 17, 2014

Heading out to Gardiner tomorrow to look around and see if I cant stick a bear. Good luck to you Fin.

Lawnboy · Apr 17, 2014

Nice bear Randy. Sure wish I could of been there sucking wind up some steep hillside. I'm carrying a nice "food baby" that needs to go.

ashersdad · Apr 17, 2014

Looks like a good one Randy. Good luck.

L. I. Yankee · Apr 18, 2014

Lawnboy said:
Nice bear Randy. Sure wish I could of been there sucking wind up some steep hillside. I'm carrying a nice "food baby" that needs to go.

Food baby....these days it looks like I'm carrying twins.....

LCH · Apr 18, 2014

That's awesome to see. I am Montana-bound in 20 days.. If I see a bear like that across a river, I'll be going for a swim :hump:

1_pointer · Apr 18, 2014

Thanks for the pic! I sorta hate this time of year as I've never made the time and $$ available to try a spring bear hunt. I'm pretty sure at this point that I will be changing that tune in 2015...

Summitthunting · Apr 18, 2014

I really want to know how getting your newly acquired rug back onto your side of the river goes. Colorado sucks when it comes to bears.

dihardhunter · Apr 18, 2014

Good looking bear Randy. Just curious...what are your waders of choice? I've seen you pitch them across the river near your truck so you can complete a full loop hike on OYOA episodes before?

MinnesotaHunter · Apr 18, 2014

In 18 days, the truck will be loaded, and I will be MT bound.

Big Fin · Apr 18, 2014

dihardhunter said:
Good looking bear Randy. Just curious...what are your waders of choice? I've seen you pitch them across the river near your truck so you can complete a full loop hike on OYOA episodes before?

If it's not too deep, my preference is hip boots. I really don't like to get above my waist in a fast flow river full of spring run off. But, since beaver/muskrat trapping destroyed my hip boots this last month, I probably could have waded without them with the same level of dampness.

For waders, I have some Simms Gore-tex waders. They are almost bomb-proof, very comfortable, and light.

If Lawnboy was not so busy making money, he could have gotten close to this bear, or at least closer. I had asked him to go with, but his empire is growing to the point where he may as well sell his firearms.

I would have given him hand signals of how to get to the bear. He being younger and more athletic, the task of fording a cold stream would have been less of a hinderance for a guy such as him.

Raining like crazy today, so no bear hunting tonight. Supposed to be nicer tomorrow, but that just means the hills will look like a hill of orange ants, with all bear hunters out getting their first effort in for the season. Probably be next Monday or Tuesday before I go again. Next time I am bringing waders, or an energetic guy who does not mind getting wet in an effort to shoot a near winter-coated chocolate bear.

My goal is to shoot the big blonde one I have seen in this area a few times over the last four years. I see him more in the fall than I do in the spring. If I see him this spring, I will shoot him, no matter how fast and deep the river. I always think he is a grizz, when I first see him, based on size and color, and the presence of grizz in this general area. But I can assure you that he is just one big old blonde boar. Who knows, he might have died of old age and I could be hunting for a unicorn by this time.

thecrittergitter · Apr 18, 2014

Well Randy, if it makes you feel better, I just felt like I got done hunting for a unicorn myself

elkdiesel · Apr 18, 2014

Big Fin said:
If Lawnboy was not so busy making money, he could have gotten close to this bear, or at least closer. I had asked him to go with, but his empire is growing to the point where he may as well sell his firearms.

I had the same problem with Lawnboy this morning! A mans got to have priorities!

Big Fin · Apr 18, 2014

thecrittergitter said:
Well Randy, if it makes you feel better, I just felt like I got done hunting for a unicorn myself

Does that mean we will not be seeimg pics or reading a story of the hunt?

MToutdoorsman · Apr 18, 2014

I'm kinda getting the itch too. I was going to wait til later in the season but with this nice weekend coming up I might have to hit the hills a little bit. Bear hunting and me don't get along. I've never killed one for that matter.

I just bought my tag today so gotta wait til sat evening or sun. I did have a chance to talk to a bear expert at the region 3 office for a while. Really nice guy. He gave me some pointers and places to look at.

Good luck Randy. Hope you get him.

---- · Apr 19, 2014

I checked in on a spot last night that I've seen bears use right after they get out if theirs dens in the past. Took me about a half hour classing to turn up this dark black bear. I was too far away last night to tell what it was, might hike in tonight to try and get a better look.

sbhooper · Apr 19, 2014

That bear country looks like some tough stuff. I would sure like to do that one more time before I get too old. I hunted them a time or two in New Mexico, but was in no hurry to kill anything, as I figured that I would never leave there-WRONG! I blew a couple of golden opportunities and left it at that.

Do you guys ever try to call them with a predator call? I called one in from a mile away one time and just plain blew it.

dustinf · Apr 19, 2014

I'm heading to Montana in a few weeks as well.

Hopefully, there are a couple left for the Hunt Talker hunt...

recon6036 · Apr 19, 2014

I really need to put a western bear hunt on the "to do" list. Sure wish I could have joined the HuntTalk crew this year!

Montana bears are coming out

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