Can't Wait to Bear Hunt the Snake

[shay mann]

Really looking forward to getting back into Snake River country. We've had some great hunts in there in the past.

Spring bear hunting is some of my favorite hunting around. Thought I would share some pictures.

Back in 2007, the first year that I hunted the unit, we had a blast. My buddy and I killed 2 bears within 1 hour of each other, on 2 different sides of the same canyon.

 

[shay mann]

2007 Spring Bear

My shot was about 40 yards, my buddy made a 30 yard shot on his boar.

 

[shay mann]

More pics

My other friend and I had to pack my bear down to the creek, and up the other side to get it out. It took 2 days to get our 2 bears out.

But we made a little camp on the creek bottom, and even tried some "over the fire" bear. Not too bad.

 

[shay mann]

2008 Snake Hunt

The next year, we went back in the same area. And had a great hunt. We went in a little earlier than the year before, had to deal with a little weather.

 

[shay mann]

2008 Snake Hunt

My buddy shot his bear. He was able to get two arrows in him. We hunted it from the top, but the bear died much closer to the bottom. Rough country.

 

[shay mann]

Pack out

The next day we came in from the bottom to get his bear out. It was a long 20 mile day, but it was at least on a trail.

 

[Buck Fever]

Great pictures and animals you shared!! Nothing like chasing the bruin in the spring time. Good luck!

 

[LCH]

Awesome post (so far?)... I can't wait to get back to Montana for my 2nd bear hunt.

 

[ida homer]

Sweet!!

Spot and stalk? What do you guys do with all of the hydes?

I am really getting into the spring bear thing, I've only killed 1, but I'm not sure I am to the point where I want to shoot one every year for 2 reasons. A, I want to have enough elk in the freezer to not have to eat bear, and B, the expensive taxidermy. Do you guys just tan them DIY? Euro the skulls?

As you know, in ID, you don't even have to take the meat. Although I'm not cool with blasting a bear every year and just leaving it lay for the crows.

 

[JohnCushman]

Great post!

 

[shay mann]

Sweet!!

Spot and stalk? What do you guys do with all of the hydes?

I am really getting into the spring bear thing, I've only killed 1, but I'm not sure I am to the point where I want to shoot one every year for 2 reasons. A, I want to have enough elk in the freezer to not have to eat bear, and B, the expensive taxidermy. Do you guys just tan them DIY? Euro the skulls?

As you know, in ID, you don't even have to take the meat. Although I'm not cool with blasting a bear every year and just leaving it lay for the crows.

Yeah, in that country it is all spot and stalk. For the hides we just skinned them, and put them in game bags. Then put them right in the freezer when we got home.

I took mine into the taxidermist to have it tanned. I boiled and whitened the skull myself. In Oregon we have to keep the meat. I don't mind the meat. I usually pressure cook it, or have it made into sausage.

 

[ccc23454]

i plan on trying spring bears spot and stalk next year or 2, only have hunted them in fall. great pics and looks like great time, some rough country... nice color on the bears

 

[Gerald Martin]

That's hard core. I can't wait for spring to get here. Great job on your hunts!

 

[MT.PERCHMAN]

Great bears !!
Thanks for the pict. My wife is driving me nuts ...she is the bear hunter in the family .
She would skip all other tags to bear hunt !!!
Hope we can share some good news this spring from the mountains of Montana.

MT.PERCHMAN

 

[Deleted member 20812]

Great pictures. When you had the tarp camp on the hillside were you melting snow for water?

That country has an amazing number of color phase bears. I have never seen so many blond and cinnamons as there are down there.

 

[kiwi hunter]

awesome pics,,liked the flycamp

 

[Kiwi]

That's full on. Looks like fun.

 

[shay mann]

Great pictures. When you had the tarp camp on the hillside were you melting snow for water?

That country has an amazing number of color phase bears. I have never seen so many blond and cinnamons as there are down there.

Yeah, we camped too high for any springs and too far down to the river. Had to pack in with a good amount of water. Had to melt us some snow.

 

[pabearhunter]

Beautiful pictures and a great hunt.

 

[earlybird]

Those are really cool pics. And an awesome feat taking spring bears with a bow. Thanks for sharing!! Beautiful color on those bears.