Spring bear hunting is exciting and a great way to get out for the first real big game adventures of the year. Hunting bears in the spring requires some specific strategies. Here are some tips that will help you have more success while spring bear hunting.
1. Find areas of green grass. This is perhaps the most important theme to keep in mind when spring bear hunting. Spring bears are literally just out of hibernation. The first order of business in their lives is getting something to eat. Green grass is the earliest and most convenient food source for spring bears. Green grass is also critically important for bears digestive system and gut. They have to have it to help jump start their system.
2. Concentrate on southwestern aspects. Southwestern aspects will always lose snow and green up more quickly than other areas. Get out the maps, look for huge open areas with southwestern slops, draws for cover, and timber close by and you’ll increase chances of finding bears.
3. Glass, glass, and then start glassing. Good optics are important in the form of binoculars and spotting scopes. Spring bear hunting is all about covering ground and glassing open areas. Be patient. Set up with your back against a tree and give promising areas a hard, long look sometimes for hours.
4. Return if you see a good bear. Be sure to hunt a good bear several times. Spring bears in particular will hang around the same area especially if they have plenty of green grass. You may not see the same bear every day but there’s a good chance if you see a good bear and stay on it for a several days you will eventually get an opportunity.
5. Don’t shoot a small bear! Bears are very hard animals to judge regarding their size. It’s important to give a bear a long look in order to judge size accurately. Wait until a bear gets next to a stump or tree in order to get some perspective on its size. Bigger bears will also have bigger skulls and ears will be wider and appear shorter than on smaller bears. Bigger bears will also have thicker legs and proportionally a thicker and broader body. Most importantly, if there’s any doubt, don’t shoot. You can always hunt another day.
6. Don’t shoot a sow with cubs! Killing a sow with cubs is an inexcusable mistake. Again, when hunting spring bears it’s important to be patient. Watch a specific bear for as long as possible in order to give enough time to for cubs to show up. Generally speaking cubs will never be very far from the sow. Especially if they are cubs of the year. That said, cubs could be snoozing in the cover just ten yards from a feeding sow. Unless you wait and give the situation some time, you’d never know they cubs were there.
By keeping these tips in mind while spring bear hunting in Montana you will increase you’re chances of success and avoid a costly and unnecessary mistake as well.
If you have any questions about spring bear hunting or would like to book a Montana spring bear hunt with give us a call anytime. 406-295-4872
