2026 bears

[Bill Zent]

In mid June when there were lots of new born fawns I tried calling a bear one time. I have called coyotes since the 50's so did that type of calling. It wasn't five minutes and here came two coyotes, I got one and figured that saved some fawns. A couple days later I heard what sounded like someone calling on my ranch. It turned out I shot the mother and five young pups were hungry. I did not like that so never shot yotes when they may have young.
If I have any NR guests that want a bear I will try calling them again. I don't shoot any just like to watch them.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

Lunch sounds fun!

I've called in 2 bears, both blind calling. First time was exactly 30 years ago, bear came running in hard and I shot it at around 10 yards - a sow. I didn't see her until she was about 15 yards away.

Second time I was calling and calling for maybe 20 minutes, got up and put my backpack on and noticed a big bear sitting on it's ass watching me - about 90 yards away in the timber. I shot that one too.

I've only called a few other times, but i sure have a stack of "bear calls" in my box of calls at home.

 

[TexanSam]

Who wants to take a guess on what happened here? I see two sets of tracks. Look at the very bottom center for a size 9 boot for a size reference

 

[INMT]

View attachment 406764

Who wants to take a guess on what happened here? I see two sets of tracks. Look at the very bottom center for a size 9 boot for a size reference

I’m guessing being that you’re a texan, you shit your pants and ran the other way.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

View attachment 406764

Who wants to take a guess on what happened here? I see two sets of tracks. Look at the very bottom center for a size 9 boot for a size reference

Those are black bear tracks.

 

[Dan-06]

When and where is this lunch? I’m buying and just listening. Might even take notes

 

[TexanSam]

Those are black bear tracks.

Oh is that right? I went this whole time thinking that they were aardvark and pangolin tracks

Anyways, why is there two sets of them? One chasing another? Or just a frequently visited area?

I’m guessing being that you’re a texan, you shit your pants and ran the other way.

They didn’t do that in the Taylor Sheridan show I watched, anyways where’s the best place to buy a cowboy hat. I just bought a chic house near downtown Bozeman

 

[Jules Winnfield]

Alright, someone post up a photo of a bear taken this spring already.

I am going out this weekend even though the weather looks like shite, because who knows what will happen with the schizophrenic weather in MT right now, and it is better than not hunting and seeing what's out there.

 

[Bill Zent]

Too early for much bear action here, more bear on the move during the rut, at least the bigger boars as they tend to be on the move. Just my experience over many years.

 

[Marshian]

Alright, someone post up a photo of a bear taken this spring already.

I am going out this weekend even though the weather looks like shite, because who knows what will happen with the schizophrenic weather in MT right now, and it is better than not hunting and seeing what's out there.

I’ll be heading out tomorrow in MT

 

[Sask hunter]

4” wet snow overnight didn’t slow them down. Supposed to get another 4-6 tomorrow. Crazy weather

 

[Drake4]

Oh is that right? I went this whole time thinking that they were aardvark and pangolin tracks

Anyways, why is there two sets of them? One chasing another? Or just a frequently visited area?


They didn’t do that in the Taylor Sheridan show I watched, anyways where’s the best place to buy a cowboy hat. I just bought a chic house near downtown Bozeman

Looks like 2 bears walking the same path to me.

 

[Mountain Mule]

First one of the year. Hopefully more to follow soon. I have a lot of hunts scheduled this year in a lot of new zones. Pretty exciting stuff.

 

[Jules Winnfield]

View attachment 406809
First one of the year. Hopefully more to follow soon. I have a lot of hunts scheduled this year in a lot of new zones. Pretty exciting stuff.

You have given me hope!
I needed to see a bear on a hillside to keep me sane.

 

[Mato]

Good to hear about a few bruins being seen, keep in mind that far and away the best time is still to come..

As far as calls go, I'm absolutely convinced that most any call will do on any given day. You just need to find a tone, cadence, volume level etc that makes that bruin up and come in. Like I mentioned B4 about a third of them will pay you no freaking attention. I've been within 75 yards of a bruin and just howling on a call and the bear didn't look at me once! Heck I even used a peacock call once just to see if I could call in a bruin, and it worked (on at least one bear).

This is just one of the main reasons I like to watch the bruin (if possible) is that I can change things up until he gets to moving or I decide he's just not going to play ball.

Another thing is I go full tilt whaling on the call as hard as I can from the get go and I don't let up unless I want him to slow down so a shot can be taken (this can work well for archers). IE. once they break 50 yds just shut up and more than likely he'll go into sneak mode and hunt for you. Kind of like your lab working a pheasant.

I normally hunt alone or with my wife or one of my grandkids but when being serious about calling bruins I don't mind having another person along as then we can set up watching different directions as well you have a second set of lungs to keep calling and to keep the noise going as often when the calling ceases they loose interest fast. Then you have to get them going again.

I like to call for 30 minutes on the short end and 45 on the long. Just like calling yotes often times you won't know that they're working you until right at the end so don't be quick to give up.

I watched a couple you tube vids the other day and hunters would say like hmm I think I'm going to try calling, they sit down, make a couple of toots and say something like hmm no bears around I guess or this calling stuff really doesn't work. If only they really knew eh

Please keep in mind for me it's the making a critter come to me that I love and the closer the better (5 yards is my closest so far), shooting them isn't that high on my list anymore (old fart I guess). Point being often times I call on bears that a good rifleman could easy sit down and take out if they so choose. Different strokes I guess, so get out there and work on calling in a bruin.

 

[Seahawkfan]

Been going to southwestern Montana to spring bear hunt for over 20 years. Missed a few for kids sports and life events. Going back this year and looking at snow levels I thought with access being better more bears would have been harvested by now. In the areas I’ve hunted in the past seems like the lack of snow would get you to places in most years you wouldn’t be hunting until June without a considerable hike in. Question is how does the lack of snow benefit or hurt spring bear hunting? I’d imagine the bears probably aren’t as concentrated as years with more snow.

 

[CowboyLeroy]

Fires around the okeefenokee in 06-07 displaced a ton of bears, this year's fires are far bigger, and dont seem to be slowing down any time soon. Maybe even LeRoy will be able to contribute to this thread this year.

 

[Mountain Mule]

Seeing lots of grizzlies awake/out and about already. Remember to be bear aware out there. The sow with her three yearlings I recently saw wouldnt be fun to run into when youre being too quiet.

 

[Spedray]

Been going to southwestern Montana to spring bear hunt for over 20 years. Missed a few for kids sports and life events. Going back this year and looking at snow levels I thought with access being better more bears would have been harvested by now. In the areas I’ve hunted in the past seems like the lack of snow would get you to places in most years you wouldn’t be hunting until June without a considerable hike in. Question is how does the lack of snow benefit or hurt spring bear hunting? I’d imagine the bears probably aren’t as concentrated as years with more snow.

We have been getting snow every week here around Bozeman. I have seen a few bears but they have been super low still. Plenty of time left in the season.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

Been going to southwestern Montana to spring bear hunt for over 20 years. Missed a few for kids sports and life events. Going back this year and looking at snow levels I thought with access being better more bears would have been harvested by now. In the areas I’ve hunted in the past seems like the lack of snow would get you to places in most years you wouldn’t be hunting until June without a considerable hike in. Question is how does the lack of snow benefit or hurt spring bear hunting? I’d imagine the bears probably aren’t as concentrated as years with more snow.

Snowpack where I’ve been since early April is crazy unusually nonexistent. It’s going to make it a tougher than normal bear season because this year when bears would normally be in early to mid May, might still be there.. but this year they can feed all day and night in the north facing timber at the same elevations they’d typically be on the nice green southeast facing slopes. They’ll probably still be around the same places and active more the same times, but sightings are going to be harder to come by.

Some places are excellent early (April) and bad late (June) and others the opposite. I’ve taken really good bears opening week and the last week.

There’s not a “date” where things are just best. It depends on 1) the place and 2) the weather.

If there is ever a year to hunt early in SW MT it’s this year.

Although I always go start to finish every year and have since the late 80s, what my indicator is on when to go every day (I live in Bozeman), is when I have to mow my lawn.

Today is the earlier I’ve ever mowed my lawn since living in Bozeman since 1986.

I got a text a few minutes ago from the guy I usually hunt with..