black bear hunting 101

[chris K.]

I plan to hunt next year for the first time  for black bear. I was planning to hunt in Montana spot and stalk style. This is the way that I want to hunt, I would rather not use bait not that I see anything really wrong with this practice, I just would prefer not to use bait. I was just wanting some opinions on my choice of destination to hunt black bears for the first time. I plan to use my #56 Whip R/D longbow made by Dan Toelke that I have been pretty accurate shooting at around 18-25 yards. Please feel free to set me in the right direction.

[knife river]

chris, I hunted spring bears in Montana for five years and Idaho for a couple.  There are folks here with lots more experience and success than me, but I'll tell you what worked for me.  I hunted NW MT and the ID panhandle.  I looked for green, grassy meadows close to cover and water.  Glassed for bears in early morning and late afternoon in the meadows, then made stalks.  During midday I scoped for bear scat out in meadows -- if the grass is low enough you can see the piles, and there'll likely be more bears there that evening.  I tried to go very early, as the boars leave the denning areas earlier than sows with cubs.  Just be careful about the bear you stalk:  grizzlies are in that country and you sure don't want to fool with a sow with cubs of either species.  Good luck!

[chris K.]

I was planning to this next year, really the only thing that I do not like about the thought of hunting in Montana is the expense. The cost for non-resident hunters is really expensive. Not counting the cost in fuel to get there. I plan to do a lot of glassing while I am up there. I know that there is going to be things that I could only dream of seeing here in Indiana. I am sure I will look pass the expense if I am successful, but then again seeing the beauty of the country in an area that I may only see once or twice in my lifetime, I guess you really cannot put a price on that at all.
  I have already taken your bear regonition test online, I felt pretty stupid when I did miss one of the questions, but in my defense the picture on my monitor was not the best at the time I took the test. My plan is to go in the area of Ronan, Mt. for my hunt. Thank you for your insight on my future hunting expo.