What area are you planing to hunt in...

I might be able to help you...Which area are you going to be hunting in...I live here in Montana and I couldn't hunt that entire week but I would be will to help if you are hunting some what near me...

 

I'll probably huntthat wkend 4/26-27, but this'll be my first bear hunt, so I don't think I'd be much help. I'm thinking about 106, but I haven't been able to get out to check the snowpack yet... Or maybe 108. Maybe even ID, haven't decided yet.
I'm surprised to hear you say your coming to MT for bear. I've heard a lot of MT residents go to ID so they can bait.
Best of luck to you!

 

yeah.. This is my first time also... I will most likely be in 103 106 or 107.. Flathead National Forest. I believe these are three of the only ones still open during that time period. I won't have time to bait anyways. I'm just looking for a good solid bear hunt. I have done some research, and from what I have found, it seems very do-able... If anyone else is interested, let me know!

 

Oh yeah, I'm sure it's do-able.. I wasn't trying to discourage you. Those should all be good districts for bears, especially in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. In the summer, I like to camp in a few spots up the seeley-swan valley on hwy 83 and further north in 106 at Hungry Horse Reservoir and there's always lots of bear scat around when we go hiking.

 

That is quite a ways north of me but...

My partner has hunted 106 for the last few years...He uses a Mountain Bike...He rides to the top in the morning and slowly works his way back to camp in the afternoons glassing clear cuts...It works great...He uses his rifle but he has been in bow range on several bears using this method...There are quit a few bears in that area...I agree you have a good chance...Make sure to get your tags soon...The cut off to buy spring bear tags is April 15 in Montana...

 

My partner has hunted 106 for the last few years...He uses a Mountain Bike...He rides to the top in the morning and slowly works his way back to camp in the afternoons glassing clear cuts...It works great...He uses his rifle but he has been in bow range on several bears using this method...There are quit a few bears in that area...I agree you have a good chance...Make sure to get your tags soon...The cut off to buy spring bear tags is April 15 in Montana...

I might be wrong, but I think that's 4/14 deadline. They cutoff the day before the season begins to prevent any "mishaps".

 

My bad..

April 14 is the last purchase day...April 15th is the opener...Good catch...I don't want to given out bad info...

 

Good Luck, there are tons of bears here. You might find more snow than in years past, it is still piling on this week. I am afraid we won't be able to get all the way up the south fork road by memorial weekend.

 

awesome! Thanks for the help....I am SOOOO EXCITED.... What IS the rule on carrying a gun for protection??? just curious, because im not gonna lie. the grizz does freak me out a little. I was looking at renting one of those ranger cabins in flathead for like $30 a night... does anyone know about these, or reccommend any that are in good areas?

 

no need to be freaked out, just have to be safe. I only mentioned it because bear attacks do happen here and you'll want to be prepared. I don't know what the laws are specifically, but I've never heard of a prohibition on carrying a sidearm while hunting... archery or not. And, other hunters will be using guns. Now, there's a lot of debate over whether any handgun caliber is adequate for bear, but I carry a sidearm & pepper spray just in case.

I don't know about the cabins in that area, but I rented one south of Drummond, MT several years ago. It was a very basic log cabin w/ a wood stove. Nice & warm & right in the middle of good deer country, so we liked it. Better make sure the road will be accessible in April though. There's still a lot of snow around at that time and if there aren't residences on that road it will most like not have been plowed all winter. You'll most likely need 4WD.

Other little tidbits.... For archery, MT requires bowhunter ed or a copy of an archery license from another state. And, I think orange is required during spring bear. all regs are avail at fwp.mt.gov along w/ an interactive hunt planner that'll show you topos of the areas you want to hunt.

This probably won't be reassuring, but here's a little eye candy. These pics are from oct 2007, taken near Lincoln, MT at the south end of the Bob Marshall. This griz was hit on the highway by a pickup truck.

 

Okay.... now... after having seen that... does ANYBODY want to go with me?? lol. Thanks for all the great info holger! Very much appreciated. So, is the Bob Marshall Wilderness within flathead? If there are bears there, then that is where i'm going

 

haha! I know man... those beasts are intimidating.
Dist 106 & 107 cover a good portion of the Bob and it sits just south of Glacier National Park. It's part of Flathead, Lolo, & Lewis & Clark Natl Forest.
I don't have a good map to show you, but here's some info from Flathead Natl forest:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/flathead/wilderness/Wilderness.htm

And,if you look at this site, select Region 2 & black bear, it's basically the big green area south of Glacier Park covering 106, 107, 280, & part of 450.
http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/planahunt/default.aspx

I don't know how accessible most of the wilderness area is in April. You'll probably want to talk to the ranger station about that and see if they'll point you toward some good bear feeding areas. Seems like there are a lot of avalanche areas there though, and I've been told that's a good area to start looking for the first grass that pops up.

 

here's an ok map, just zoom in to MT and you can't miss it

http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&error=404