Spring bear is here! WooHoo

[Brandenbowhunter]

My second...most favorite season is here..I love spot and stalking spring bears...one thing I don't care if I get with a rifle or a bow...I am excited...next to archery antelope..this is one of my favorite things to do...may have to do with the fact we get to get out of the house for the first time all winter.
Spring turkey is entertaining...but bears....oh boy..now that is fun!

 

[TheTone]

I plan to put more effort in than I have in the past, I really want to get a spring spot and stalk black bear! Way less snow sticking around here this year, should make for some great conditions to be out trying for one.

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

I was out this weekend lookin but snow here is still as low as 2300 ft on the coast range,no green up yet here,i think i need to wait a few more weeks,,,found no scat or bear activity in my area.

 

[Brandenbowhunter]

Saw 200 head of elk tonight, and no bears. My brother checked another area...BEARs...yeah...going again tomorrow. We both had kids with us, his was out of range for having the 5 year old with him. I had my 4 year old and wife with me. The elk were fun to watch, calves were standing on hind legs and kicking each other. Saw a few bald bulls, have to go look for their head gear.

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

has the weather been good in montana? snow melting at what elavation so far?

 

[Brandenbowhunter]

Snow is still in some spots, but much less than the last few years.
Was out again tonight, found a dead moose..no bears!

 

[7MAG]

This is the first year that I've decided to make time for spring bear season. I must say that it's AWESOME to be able to get out hunting this time of the year! Been out a couple of times and have seen bears but haven't had enough time to get to them as I've spotted them a ways off.

 

[Brock-ID]

I went up on the 15th and glassed and didn't see any. I went out this morning and got my low spot bait in. Hopefully in about 10 days my father in law will be able to get one off of it.

 

[Sytes]

Snow is still in some spots, but much less than the last few years.
Was out again tonight, found a dead moose..no bears!

keep at it, Branden! Always good to hear of family involved. Have enjoyed your past pics / posts with your kid, etc!
I'll be living the bear hunt through your thread especially this year. Have my tags... who knows, maybe fall... I may be a camp cook this season, That is a goal that works for me! :

Best of success in your spring bear hunt!

 

[Lawnboy]

I may be a camp cook this season, That is a goal that works for me! :
!

If you are camp cook come fall then prayers are answered. Hope you continue to recover.

 

[Brandenbowhunter]

Sytes, I would love to have you as a Camp cook...give me a shout if you want an easy antelope hunt this year...I will tell you what unit and we can smoke one!

Out again tonight, not a lot of green grass. I had to take of Thursday and Friday night for my wife's 30th b-day...cool thing tonight was a couple of bulls still packing..watched them for a bit hoping some bone would fall..not that lucky.

 

[Brandenbowhunter]

Here is the bull I saw still packing...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=317d...DvjVQa1PpcFPfGT3-v-2yZqav2QDrGqXp961A0yhUsHk=

 

[dustinf]

I'm jealous, I'm going to be in Montana and Idaho this week. Problem is no bow, just cameras.

Due to lack of funding, the budget for a third out-of-state license was cut.

 

[Brandenbowhunter]

No trip tonight, buddy cooked us a turkey dinner and played ball with my son! Shot the bow though, try to go tomorrow!

 

[Sytes]

branden, what is the status...? Deciding on mounts or they evading ya?

 

[Brandenbowhunter]

I have some not so great news...I missed! Had a great stalk on a bear...bow range...got drawn...let the arrow fly...and fur! Not good! We had sat on the bear for a little bit, did not see any other bears...turns out there were two 100lbs cubs with her...so it was a good thing. Plus, my video dude double tapped the record button...but was a cool stalk, on an old log road, she was feeding on it when we finally got to her. We started out 1000 ft below the bears, spotted one bedded under a tree. Put on the stalk and I missed. Has been a fun season so far. Hope it keeps up, been using the mountain bikes a lot. Makes getting into the areas a lot faster and getting out easy.
Ran into a couple of motorized vehicles behind locked gates, happened a lot this year.
Oh well...on to try tomorrow!

 

[Brandenbowhunter]

Like I said, we have been putting on a lot of miles on the bikes and on the boots...seeing bears..and moose, which is great...wolves didn't get them all...here are a few pics from this year..so far

 

[Brandenbowhunter]

And before anyone points it out, yes we wear our orange, but I have talked to a few FWP officers about an area we hunt...lots of people on the main trail...so we don't put it on until we leave the trail...we got some grief a few years ago from some local hippies just makes it easier, not sure why that bothers them and bows and camo or a gun sticking out doesn't, but that is why.

 

[drahthaar]

Makes more sense to have the orange on the pack anyway, rather than covered by your pack.

 

[Brandenbowhunter]

I have to gone to putting one on both over my pack and under..then FWP can't say anything about it!...I always have the one on the outside of the pack during a rifle season...