Idaho fall bear

[Mountain Mule]

As some of you know, I have had shoulder problems this year (shoulder dislocation in April) and it will likely not be ready to roll when general archery season opens here in Montana. Not because I cannot draw my bow, but because ethically I don't feel I have practiced enough to take a poke at an elk. For this reason, I have been planning a rifle spot and stalk bear hunt in Idaho for the Aug. 30 opener while I give my shoulder more time to prepare for later archery season in Montana (I hope to be out by mid-late September).

As of right now I have been looking into the reduced bear tag zone in Idaho. I hunted spring bear in Montana fairly hard, but I never found a bear worth harvesting (mostly young and sows, not a single definitive boar) despite seeing 19 bears in about 23 days of hunting. I know that finding berries this time of the year will equal finding bears. I plan on scouting this next weekend for 3-4 days before heading over for a week-long hunt coinciding with the opener. I will prefer backpacking into a zone but I am open to covering more ground in a day-hunt format. I have worked in Idaho on various wildlife projects, but they have all taken place in the spring and summer, so my fall experience there is limited. I have also never hunted in a bear when it comes to competing with people baiting, other than hutning farther from the rig (which i typically do) what else should I take into account with fall baiting?

I am making this post to get some general advice for fall bears as I havent hunted them in the fall before and to do a write up on my hunt. I am also willing to give advice on elk/deer in Idaho or Montana, as I have ungulates mostly dialed, but the zones I hunt don't contain many black bears. Please DM if you have advice on general zones, I don't want to blow-up any spots.

Thanks!

 

[TexanSam]

I cannot help you with Idaho, but I relocated to Montana for work recently and have a fall bear tag in my pocket. Feel free to dm if you want as I'd be willing to share any info I come across.

 

[El Jason]

I’d look for some high elevation huckleberry fields. The berry crop this year is huge, with a lot of low level berries. Bears will take their time working to the upper reaches I think.

 

[Mountain Mule]

I’d look for some high elevation huckleberry fields. The berry crop this year is huge, with a lot of low level berries. Bears will take their time working to the upper reaches I think.

This is the exact plan. Likely hike ridges where I can cover many basins with glass and focus on the best looking ones the last couple hours of light.

I have located many fields in Montana and Washington, but the fields must look different on imagery in Idaho from what I've seen, so locating them via satellite has been rough. Im hoping boots on the ground this weekend will help ground truth some spots and I can adjust my plan from there once I find a few.

 

[El Jason]

This is the exact plan. Likely hike ridges where I can cover many basins with glass and focus on the best looking ones the last couple hours of light.

I have located many fields in Montana and Washington, but the fields must look different on imagery in Idaho from what I've seen, so locating them via satellite has been rough. Im hoping boots on the ground this weekend will help ground truth some spots and I can adjust my plan from there once I find a few.

What general area are you looking at?

 

[Mountain Mule]

What general area are you looking at?

12/17, but im open to travel since I have the time this year and I expect bears to have more weight than usual with the berry crop.

 

[El Jason]

12/17, but im open to travel since I have the time this year and I expect bears to have more weight than usual with the berry crop.

Check your PMs

 

[Bill Zent]

With archery deer, elk, and bear seasons almost all opening on July 30, (depending on unit) could make spot and stalk bear a little more challenging.

 

[Mountain Mule]

A few bears from this spring. Hoping to find a decent boar. Leaving thursday after work to scout a few spots, keeping it light and hiking into a few different access points to get large veiws of the terrain for the evenings.

 

[Nambaster]

If spot and stalk is your method of pursuit. I would recommend hunting the more sparce and steep country. If you head north the vegetation gets too thick for spot and stalk. Mid state is about where you want to be.

Late summer/early fall the big boars will sometimes hole up in a spot where they don’t need to move. They assert their dominance over a small area where feed is plentiful. Focus on North facing slopes with pines. Sit opposing hillsides and watch under the foliage. I usually spot movement when they get up to scratch.

Look for open hillsides, then look for thick vegetation that concentrates around water. Those are the pockets where they will sit tight. You’ll find piles and piles of bear scat when they really get comfortable.

 

[Mountain Mule]

If spot and stalk is your method of pursuit. I would recommend hunting the more sparce and steep country. If you head north the vegetation gets too thick for spot and stalk. Mid state is about where you want to be.

Late summer/early fall the big boars will sometimes hole up in a spot where they don’t need to move. They assert their dominance over a small area where feed is plentiful. Focus on North facing slopes with pines. Sit opposing hillsides and watch under the foliage. I usually spot movement when they get up to scratch.

Look for open hillsides, then look for thick vegetation that concentrates around water. Those are the pockets where they will sit tight. You’ll find piles and piles of bear scat when they really get comfortable.

Sent you a PM