Endangered Grizzly Bear Photo Thread

[rogerthat]

So Peter Panda had a podcast covering how doable the unlimiteds are and also one pimping duckworth wool.. some guys..

Anyone that’s buying duckworth is not for wild sheep. Pete is a moron

 

[winmag]

Apparently your soul is a small price to pay for some likes and follows. Who knew?

 

[bigsky2]

Anyone that’s buying duckworth is not for wild sheep. Pete is a moron

Never seen anyone get off on killing stuff as much as that guy.

 

[520 Road Sow]

He did another podcast on it or is this one from earlier?

 

[Wind Gypsy]

He did another podcast on it or is this one from earlier?

The earlier one with Shinabarger, it was brought up again recently in this thread so it reminded me of that duo of podcasts that dont seem to be in the best interests of MT sheep hunters.

 

[TheTone]

Never seen anyone get off on killing stuff as much as that guy.

Cam Hanes?

 

[Southern Elk]

Cam Hanes?

Ted Nugent

 

[520 Road Sow]

The earlier one with Shinabarger, it was brought up again recently in this thread so it reminded me of that duo of podcasts that dont seem to be in the best interests of MT sheep hunters.

I could listen to Tim's stories on repeat.

Its interesting that more people hunted the unlimited units in the 70s and 80s compared to today. Even with all the talk, the online information, podcasts, social media or even recently videos on youtube.

Now obviously that can change but the amount of participation really hasn't followed the same trends as other western hunting adventures.

I just hope that things maintain and these opportunities continue to live on for future generations. It's pretty unique to say the least. There needs to be more opportunities though..... maybe even from other states.

 

[Wildabeest]

I could listen to Tim's stories on repeat.

Its interesting that more people hunted the unlimited units in the 70s and 80s compared to today. Even with all the talk, the online information, podcasts, social media or even recently videos on youtube.

Now obviously that can change but the amount of participation really hasn't followed the same trends as other western hunting adventures.

I just hope that things maintain and these opportunities continue to live on for future generations. It's pretty unique to say the least. There needs to be more opportunities though..... maybe even from other states.

That’s because all of that coverage lets them see what they are really getting into. It ain’t for the faint of heart.

 

[rogerthat]

That’s because all of that coverage lets them see what they are really getting into. It ain’t for the faint of heart.

And grizzly bear density continues to increase which despite minimal encounters weighs heavy on my mind at all times.

 

[YoungGun]

I could listen to Tim's stories on repeat.

Its interesting that more people hunted the unlimited units in the 70s and 80s compared to today. Even with all the talk, the online information, podcasts, social media or even recently videos on youtube.

Now obviously that can change but the amount of participation really hasn't followed the same trends as other western hunting adventures.

I just hope that things maintain and these opportunities continue to live on for future generations. It's pretty unique to say the least. There needs to be more opportunities though..... maybe even from other states.

There was no 7 year wait then, and the Spanish Peaks were unlimited. I think it is more appropriate to look at the last 20 years- the numbers have sky rocketed, and the actual participation versus just having a tag in the pocket has gone much higher.

 

[MTTW]

There was no 7 year wait then, and the Spanish Peaks were unlimited. I think it is more appropriate to look at the last 20 years- the numbers have sky rocketed, and the actual participation versus just having a tag in the pocket has gone much higher.

Wasn't 302 also unlimited as well? Same with the north half of 300 which is now 304.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Congrats to your hunting friend @theat that's pretty awesome. Hope to hear the story of it someday.

Can't wait to see what the future holds for this season. More stories I hope! Keep grinding guys!

Sounds like Lamb Lane might have produced in 303 yesterday or the day before. Can't wait to see what that one is.

303 is pending closure now.

 

[520 Road Sow]

There was no 7 year wait then, and the Spanish Peaks were unlimited. I think it is more appropriate to look at the last 20 years- the numbers have sky rocketed, and the actual participation versus just having a tag in the pocket has gone much higher.

Could be, I guess I'm not fully understanding the difference.

But I see your point. Probably also important to note that 501 and 502 were a combined unit as well. Even still tag numbers were right around high 80s to 100 plus. Even with the 301 and 302 districts in the ul category right?

 

[YoungGun]

Could be, I guess I'm not fully understanding the difference.

But I see your point. Probably also important to note that 501 and 502 were a combined unit as well. Even still tag numbers were right around high 80s to 100 plus. Even with the 301 and 302 districts in the ul category right?

I believe so- I just think in the last decade or so there's a lot less casual hunters that pick up the tag "just in case", and a lot more dedicated folks out there. And, just as with all hunting, we've all become a lot more effective at killing the animals we're hunting, UL rams no exception. It wasn't that long ago most of these units wouldn't close until late, if at all. That's changed drastically in the last 5 years. I love a good Shinabarger story, and there's no doubt he's put himself on his rams through effort, hard earned knowledge that has led to an intimate knowledge of the Beartooths, and his skills as a hunter. I just cringe to think that Podcasts will be followed with a video someday soon. We will love these hunts to death.

 

[theat]

I believe so- I just think in the last decade or so there's a lot less casual hunters that pick up the tag "just in case", and a lot more dedicated folks out there. And, just as with all hunting, we've all become a lot more effective at killing the animals we're hunting, UL rams no exception. It wasn't that long ago most of these units wouldn't close until late, if at all. That's changed drastically in the last 5 years. I love a good Shinabarger story, and there's no doubt he's put himself on his rams through effort, hard earned knowledge that has led to an intimate knowledge of the Beartooths, and his skills as a hunter. I just cringe to think that Podcasts will be followed with a video someday soon. We will love these hunts to death.

Couldn't agree with you more. The last thing these hunts need is more publicity. I've been hunting that country for over 20 years and it used to feel like an actual wilderness experience. I would still run into other hunters every few days, but the past few years its multiple hunters every day and orange and camps setup on every highpoint and ridge. I have also been finding garbage stashes that are from hunters much more often. I'm to the point that I hope the FS keeps the road in closed for good. The extra distance of hiking up that boulder field of a road should thin out the numbers a bit.

 

[YoungGun]

Looking at past data from 1994-2001 for 500 & from 1985-2001 for 501 there really hasn’t been a huge shift in the numbers of permits issued and actual hunters. There’s some odd years where they only issued single digit permits, and some way back in 1987 (for example), where they sold 109 in 501. It was 106 in 501 in 2021.

Looks like 6 years of no harvest in those respective time periods for 500, and 2 for 501. Average closing date for 500 has been Nov. 1. Average for 501 has been Oct. 27.

All that said, I’ve heard every unit across the board does seem especially busy with hunters.

Maybe it's a recency bias on my end as far as permits issued goes, although some data shows otherwise. But there is certainly more hunters, who are more effective, in these units year after year. I think anyone who has been hunting any one of these units over the last 10 years will say the same. And the amount of data available online, has exacerbated the issue, as more hunters are operating off of better information, stated or otherwise (background of photos), than they were 10-15 years ago. And although folks may feel coy about the data they are putting out there, each little nugget of a 197 pg thread, social media post, or of multiple podcasts, adds up over time, and lives in perpetuity. I'm just as guilty of it and will own that. This hunt is a general hunt, that gets talked about in some circles like it's a once in a lifetime or limited entry hunt, and my opinion is that it threatens the long term viability of the opportunity.

 

[520 Road Sow]

Probably should just tell the Admin to delete this thread then. I'd be fine with it.

 

[winmag]

Probably should just tell the Admin to delete this thread then. I'd be fine with it.

You know, at this point, I'd vote for that.

 

[520 Road Sow]

@Big Fin what say you... delete the unlimited thread and give it a proper send off.