Spring bear hunt vs record snow pack

Gorilla · Apr 4, 2023

How was the opening weekend of the spring bear hunt?

I was driving Highway 6 over the weekend and was stunned at how much snow is still on the Nebo unit. Glad I did not draw my bear tag this year.

It got me thinking...How do bears survive the huge snow pack so late in the season? Do they know to stay den'd up longer? Or do they just come out on schedule and head to a lower elevations to find food?

If it is the later, I suspect we will start hearing about bears wondering in to mountain towns looking for food. I saw a bunch of deer and elk road kills. Maybe the DNR should round up all the road/winter kill and drop them off in the foothills so the bears have something to eat when they come out of hibernation.

schoolhousegrizz · Apr 4, 2023

I know bears are vulnerable to starvation in the spring when they can't get to food.

rmanwill · Apr 5, 2023

Not sure, but up north by Canadian border where I have hunted bears for past 30 years they are not coming out for another month on a normal year.

We always figured on hunting for 10 days starting on the weekend closest to May 20th. Much earlier and not many out and really tough hunt. This is spot and stalk hunting.

Deer1975 · Apr 5, 2023

rmanwill said:
Not sure, but up north by Canadian border where I have hunted bears for past 30 years they are not coming out for another month on a normal year.

We always figured on hunting for 10 days starting on the weekend closest to May 20th. Much earlier and not many out and really tough hunt. This is spot and stalk hunting.

Idaho?

JPickett · Apr 6, 2023

I always want to go waaaaaaay to early. And every time I tell myself why the hell did you go to early again?

Needless to say I’m obviously going to go see if I can get to my bait site this weekend….

Weiserbucks · Apr 7, 2023

Received a video of a nice bear today from a hound hunter I know, there's at least one bear awake in my area.

elknr · Apr 7, 2023

We haven’t even went yet. Waiting for snow to start melting

JPickett · Apr 7, 2023

Weiserbucks said:
Received a video of a nice bear today from a hound hunter I know, there's at least one bear awake in my area.

Unit your in should be pretty good earlier especially if you can get on some if the private ground. I may be doing just that for a spot and stalk again this year

Weiserbucks · Apr 7, 2023

Snow level is fairly high considering the storms we've had recently, I think this year is going to be great for spring bear at the mid elevations early on. I'll be after them next week once I get some time off.

schoolhousegrizz · Apr 8, 2023

Weiserbucks said:
Snow level is fairly high considering the storms we've had recently, I think this year is going to be great for spring bear at the mid elevations early on. I'll be after them next week once I get some time off.

What would you consider mid elevations?

Weiserbucks · Apr 8, 2023

schoolhousegrizz said:
What would you consider mid elevations?

About 3500-4000 feet. Some units are buried but the areas I hunt are melting off quickly.

JPickett · Apr 8, 2023

I was actually able to get up to my bait site this morning!! Guess I’ll be getting out next week after all

schoolhousegrizz · Apr 8, 2023

JPickett said:
I was actually able to get up to my bait site this morning!! Guess I’ll be getting out next week after all

Check your PM, thanks.

HAP · Apr 9, 2023

JPickett said:
I was actually able to get up to my bait site this morning!! Guess I’ll be getting out next week after all

What elevation are you hunting at? Not sure I can get to mine yet.

JPickett · Apr 9, 2023

HAP said:
What elevation are you hunting at? Not sure I can get to mine yet.

3800 ft. It’s on a south slope though with a south approach. North sides of all the hills up there are buried. I’m pretty lucky that I got a really good private access to my bait site that’s kept clear

HAP · Apr 9, 2023

JPickett said:
3800 ft. It’s on a south slope though with a south approach. North sides of all the hills up there are buried. I’m pretty lucky that I got a really good private access to my bait site that’s kept clear

Thanks for the reply. Good to know. I imagine my area is still snowed in, need to make a call to local gas station in that area and get a snow report.