Idaho spring bear (ahem)

[tomh]

While I would like to be able to say that we both got a bear, I have to say that the weather here really has not been cooperating. At this rate the season will be over before we can even access our hunting area. Today we took a quick jaunt over the pass to see how far it had melted up the mountains, and found blizzard conditions in the valley. Not too encouraging.
Here are a few pics, and yes we had fun anyway.

 
the road was closed--not a good sign. even worse when the sign is buried in snow.

 
I honestly did not think I would have had to break out my overwhites for this hunt, but there you go

 
heres a spot about5 miles back down the road, where there was not much snow, and absolutely no bear sign, which seemed to make it perfect spot to attempt a burn

 
mmmmm, jello and marshmallows and syrup, yum. forget the bears this is dessert. if my fiance asks how all the burned black stuff got in the bottom of our pot, you don't know nothin'!

Time to invest in a Ski-doo I reckon....

Anyway the day ended early when our butts got cold and wet. And I predict we will probably do it again   :D  

THE END

[SOS]

Think I misread the title, you said, Polar Bear Hunt?

[Jesse Minish]

The way it is going I am just hopeing that the snow will be gone in Sept. for elk!!

[Beepy]

Where are ya lookin', that looks an awful lot like the area I frequent up out of Avery...

[tomh]

I think anywhere over 2800' looks like this!

Jeez Jesse way to be positive! You know that it will be snowing by September. Better be watching the garage sales for snowshoes!!

[Jesse Minish]

Hey at least we wont have to worry about the meat going bad when we get one down.

[Brian Krebs]

I got a bait out; but I have not checked it yet.

Its still snowy here; and where I normally bait; I cannot get within 3 miles of it due to snow.

 The bears did go to bed hungry; so I am hopeful!
It does warm up some in the day; enough that bear tracks tend to melt - and they are walking ON the snow; not pushing down into it as its almost solid in places.

 The side of the Salmon river still have 5 feet of snow on them.. off to photobucket.

[tomh]

Hey Brian we were wondering how it was down by you. We could not even get close to where Jesse normally baits, so we are kind of at a loss as to where to try.
On a side note, a guy told us the other day that since there is so much snow, the bears sometimes will never wake up and die in their sleep. It sounded like a myth to me, have you ever heard this?

[Brian Krebs]

snow next to Salmon river..my german wirehair 'Odin'.

 

snow on side of Salmon River

 

snow is packed as far up road as we could go.

 

But the bait was put out with high hopes  

 

[Greg Skinner]

Here in Grangeville we have had either snow on the ground in the morning, snow showers most of the day or both all except 5 days of the month of April.  One day we have spring, the next 6 or 7 is back to winter.  The turkeys are strutting in spite of it all, but I wouldn't have a clue how to access bear country without putting the tracks back on my 4-wheeler.

[tomh]

gotta watch out for that global warming fellas!

[Brian Krebs]

Tom
   I never heard about bears not coming out - they might well die if they did not get the needed food in the fall though.
 Bears are not considered by some to be true hibernators; they will come out occasionally and walk around for an hour or so  all winter long.
 Even though we have deep snow; and its still cold !!  I am predicting that by the middle to the end of May ( my season here lasts to the last day of June) the bears will be out and hungry  

[tomh]

I have to check but I think we are only good until the end of May. So hope fully it will have melted a lot by then, but from the looks of it--it aint looking too good!

[Brian Krebs]

I do enjoy the June hunt  

[LEOPARD]

Cool pics, looks like you guys still had fun even tho there weren't any bears!    Thanks for sharing!  

[tomh]

hey Brian, keep us posted on your efforts to get into higher country. P.S, I like your dog! Is it different than a Griffon?