2020 Spring Bears Thread

[Dunning Kruger]

Praise the Lord! Idaho just green lighted us. Time to fill up the Tundra and the beer cooler.

They started selling to non residents again?

 

[Red Fox]

They started selling to non residents again?

Yes May 16th at 10am

 

[dk88]

I saw about a dozen last weekend in the beartooths but most were on private, there was still snow in my normal spot. I did See this sow and really wish it had been a lone boar, it’s the lightest color black bear I have ever seen.

 

[520 Road Sow]

Beauty

 

[Id-Dave]

Finally some action on a new bait. Hopefully they will spread the word.

 

[MTPUBLICLAND]

 

[amo16]

Was out the last 2 days and couldn't turn up a bear for the life of me. The hiking activity has really picked up in the area and the sightings have really decreased. Going to try some other spots next weekend.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

4 bear night tonight, one I would’ve been happy to bring home but he did not oblige, I believe 6’ ish range and the hair was super.

 

[Marshian]

I joined my friend on his bear hunt and we got within 100 yards of this sow and cub. Fun watching them together for 20 minutes

 

[RidgeRoamingRichard]

Nothing but elk and deer in the Gates. Had a great time and burnt a lot of boot leather.

 

[SaskHunter]

I sealed the deal on a massive Sasky bush colour phase!

Measured it at 21 7/16 last night, this bad boy deserves its own thread. Jeezus Lawd!!!

Edit: Henry Kelsey official score (no drying period)

 

[MTLabrador]

 

[Nambaster]

I sealed the deal on a massive Sasky bush colour phase!

Measured it at 21 2/8 last night, this bad boy deserves its own thread. Jeezus Lawd!!!

21 2/8”?!?!?! that thing would be one of that largest bears ever harvested in Idaho. I can’t even imagine how big those Canadian bears get. Congrats!

 

[El Jason]

It looks like I’ll be revisiting the question of what bears do in the rain. One wet forecast this week.

 

[El Jason]

View attachment 140689

How did the Hammers work?

 

[520 Road Sow]

It looks like I’ll be revisiting the question of what bears do in the rain. One wet forecast this week.

I love bear rains

 

[MTLabrador]

How did the Hammers work?

Wish I could tell you, but a 127 LRX in my friend’s 6.5 CM put him down hard. It was an adventure of a trip, starting with the shiny new triggertech I put on my .280 seizing up. My dad happened to be driving through the area and delivered his .308, which I carried for the hunt. I talked my friend into trying the spring bear thing, and we were both laying prone on the bear when I told him to shoot. First bear hunt ever and he killed a 5-6 year old boar... It was a long grunt out of a gnarly canyon in the dark.

 

[SaskHunter]

21 2/8”?!?!?! that thing would be one of that largest bears ever harvested in Idaho. I can’t even imagine how big those Canadian bears get. Congrats!

The Henry Kelsey Big Game Provincial record is 22 14/16. Lots of big bears in the Boreal Forest and Canadian Shield.

 

[Nambaster]

I sit here with calipers thinking I was only 1/2” away from making state minimums on 2 different bears. Well, 1/2” is a lot of BEAR! 1/2” in skull measurements probably equates to 100 lbs in body mass measurements. I am a newbie to bear hunting but I feel that truly big bears have to have genetics, feed, and age cumulatively. That extra half inch is going to be hard to spot from 100 yards. My solution... Just keep shooting bears.

 

[Irrelevant]

I sit here with calipers thinking I was only 1/2” away from making state minimums on 2 different bears. Well, 1/2” is a lot of BEAR! 1/2” in skull measurements probably equates to 100 lbs in body mass measurements. I am a newbie to bear hunting but I feel that truly big bears have to have genetics, feed, and age cumulatively. That extra half inch is going to be hard to spot from 100 yards. My solution... Just keep shooting bears.

that is exactly what I didn't want to hear. My in-the-field big headed boar is a full inch and a half shy of the B&C minimum! I guess I need to shoot more bears to better calibrate my eyes.