The IDF&G biologist that I referred to actually stated that he believed bears in the Clearwater region may not hibernate, a surprising statement in my opinion, though one which I'm certainly not qualified to contest. I generally begin my preseason scouting in mid to late February and as I've stated in prior posts my season generally ends by late April. Aside from the issue of pelt quality there are other advantages in hunting black bears earlier in the spring season such as the ability to locate them more easily due to snow and the added benefit of fewer hunters and less competition. I learned my lesson a very long time ago regarding pelt quality. You can avoid rubbed pelts by not hunting black bears during the latter part of the spring season. Mange, well that's another matter which I unfortunately have encountered and which you'll eventually encounter in your hunt for spring black bears. It's good to see that you've been successful sighting bears, to me the most important and exciting part of spring bear hunting. Continue to focus your search efforts in the heavily timbered areas. Good luck on your hunt.
