2025 spring bear thread

[Drake4]

Boar or sow?View attachment 371130

Sow….based off that 1 image

 

[brymoore]

Most other states have draw quotas for spring and fall bear. Really AK, MT, and ID (and by some measure WY) are outliers.

ID doesn’t have limitations on NRs except for two draw units. However, legislature has added verbiage to the draw unit description making the units open to anyone under certain circumstances. NRs can essentially hunt 100% of the state with OTC tags.

I’m all for more hunter opportunities but the swarm of NR bear hunters each spring is getting out of control. I hunted a gate last year that would normally have 2-4 total rigs parked. It had 12. I counted license plates states - TN, NV, PA, MN, etc. There was one other ID plate.

This year I’m driving and I see a horse trailer being pulled slowly by a truck. Another rig driving slow ahead. I look into the trailer to check out the horses as I drive by them. Llamas. First rig has NR plates. I know exactly where they’re going. I bet they have a hot tent, llamas and are going to hike five miles away from the gate to hunt bears. Sigh. Eastern NRs must watch the same YouTube videos to get the same idea on how to hunt the west.

ID needs to consider a restriction of 10% on NR bear tags too.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Boar or sow?View attachment 371130

 

[Mountain Mule]

My friend was in 520 the few days before it closed and witnessed two hunters "double up" on a sow w/a yearling. Pretty sad stuff.

In service between trips. I saw a handful of bears my last stint, just not the mature boar I'm looking for. I have a few more days to hunt before the shackles of work keep me from getting out for a bit.

 

[Sask hunter]

Big sow on my bait

 

[Sask hunter]

Boar or sow?View attachment 371130

I say boar squared off muzzle and big ankles. One thing I look for on big sows is paw size and ankle size. They will be noticeable smaller

 

[Sask hunter]

I’ll shoot sows for meat in the fall on purpose. Just like shooting does instead of immature bucks. But we have a different situation in Sask. too bad quota fills before the rut even gets going

 

[Pucky Freak]

I especially enjoyed @Pucky Freak’s “Are we upset because there are so many more skilled hunters than us?”

I especially enjoyed imagining you reading it. Ask a stupid question and flush out useful information.