Grizzly's are out in Montana

[Pagosa]

I took my hounds out for the afternoon trying to find a cat to run and had my walker hound started going nuts while driving up a state parcel road around Jewel Basin by Bigfork. Once I arrived at the end point of the road I was turning around the truck and noticed some fresh boot prints in the snow. I got out and walked over to the boot prints, being surprised that anyone would be hiking up there on Easter Sunday. It turned out to be a large grizzly track. The back track was about 11" long and fronts were longer than my hand. I followed the tracks for about 50 yards down a gated road. The dogs were going crazy in the truck. I assumed the bear had traveled up the road leaving his scent for my dogs. It seems early for bears to be roaming, but they are out. So be careful out there on your spring trips to the woods in Montana.

 

[257 Wby Mag]

Damn that would be a interesting race. You ever ran one?

 

[shoots-straight]

This is why we have to pull our wolf traps the 1st of March. Although I think some areas the season could be extended some without any problems from Grizzly bears.

Running black bears with dogs is a no go in Montana, also because of this problem.

 

[Pagosa]

Damn that would be a interesting race. You ever ran one?

My dogs are not bear hounds (barely cat/coon dogs) it's to risky getting them killed and it's illegal. My dogs will boggie bark at bear, deer, etc, any pursuit I will tone/shock them. This bear was going downslope towards Echo Lake (lots of houses/trouble). With an ongoing drought it may be rough on them again this year.

 

[257 Wby Mag]

Didn't know if they'd start one by accident, sure it would get ugly...

 

[TRS_Montana]

I've heard the bears have been out around Yellowstone now for almost a month or so. Should make for some great early action in a couple weeks!

 

[Yellowstoner]

I've heard the bears have been out around Yellowstone now for almost a month or so. Should make for some great early action in a couple weeks!

Yep, they have been out for a while around here. Had one on blacktail plateau eating a bison carcass for almost a week straight.