TheMadCatter
Well-Known Member
Idaho can be a tough state to hunt for black bears and I found that out this year. I left May 10th after finals were over and headed out on my 21+-hour drive to Northern Idaho to start baiting bears.
I have never been mentally tested so much on a hunt. I spent 14 days total hunting and trying to bait these black bears.
The biggest obstacle of the hunt was trying to get black bears to hit my baits. Normally I have grease fires but since it rained just about every day I couldn't seem to get the fires started. I spent days hiking in bait to un-hit bait sites praying bears would find them and it just wasn't working. I had an outfitter try stealing my bait spot after he found it last year, the road I normally hunt was closed due to a giant wash out, and another spot I baited last year was full of snow.
Luckily I was able to harvest a fantastic bear! One that is VERY large for the area. But not after blood, sweat, and maybe a few tears of frustration were shed. I missed a smaller 5 1/2' #175-200lb bear on day 5 after hiking 4,500+ vertical feet and spending most of the following days trying to locate more bear sign.
On the 10th day of hunting, I decided to go out and sit on a un-hit bait and see what was coming by because I had lots of sign all around the bait but nothing would hit it. I sat down at 2 pm after baiting and took a few naps. I woke up and a few minutes later I see a black object 200 yards out sneaking through the timber. I knew it was a bear. He worked his way along the ridge in the timber near me and he walked into the same clearing of trees I shot my bear in last year. I shot this bear within two feet of where I shot my bear 365 days before. It was intense! Laying on the ground was a 6' 4" bear that weighed A LOT and had a big noggin' on him (18 7/8" skull)
33690998_10213519624799754_2578148454085689344_n
I had some help from an odd place. While I was going back in to pack out my bear a couple stopped me and asked if I could take their picture. I was near a backcountry hiking trail where I parked and some small talk later they asked if they could come watch the process. They had never seen anything like it and loved the experience. They even packed my bear out for me! It was a blast and can't wait to go back again next year. I passed a few smaller bears and then finally decided to leave.
I'll add a video soon!
Here are a few views where I hiked.
33766975_10213519623319717_3399274526666653696_n
33811093_10213519629679876_8186263371901829120_n
33813099_10213519626399794_121511273413214208_n
33873801_10213519633919982_2003745334714433536_n
Yellowstone...
33870854_10213519618479596_464339948141543424_n
Near Cody, WY
33780706_10213519618759603_1763680139159273472_n
I have never been mentally tested so much on a hunt. I spent 14 days total hunting and trying to bait these black bears.
The biggest obstacle of the hunt was trying to get black bears to hit my baits. Normally I have grease fires but since it rained just about every day I couldn't seem to get the fires started. I spent days hiking in bait to un-hit bait sites praying bears would find them and it just wasn't working. I had an outfitter try stealing my bait spot after he found it last year, the road I normally hunt was closed due to a giant wash out, and another spot I baited last year was full of snow.
Luckily I was able to harvest a fantastic bear! One that is VERY large for the area. But not after blood, sweat, and maybe a few tears of frustration were shed. I missed a smaller 5 1/2' #175-200lb bear on day 5 after hiking 4,500+ vertical feet and spending most of the following days trying to locate more bear sign.
On the 10th day of hunting, I decided to go out and sit on a un-hit bait and see what was coming by because I had lots of sign all around the bait but nothing would hit it. I sat down at 2 pm after baiting and took a few naps. I woke up and a few minutes later I see a black object 200 yards out sneaking through the timber. I knew it was a bear. He worked his way along the ridge in the timber near me and he walked into the same clearing of trees I shot my bear in last year. I shot this bear within two feet of where I shot my bear 365 days before. It was intense! Laying on the ground was a 6' 4" bear that weighed A LOT and had a big noggin' on him (18 7/8" skull)
33690998_10213519624799754_2578148454085689344_n I had some help from an odd place. While I was going back in to pack out my bear a couple stopped me and asked if I could take their picture. I was near a backcountry hiking trail where I parked and some small talk later they asked if they could come watch the process. They had never seen anything like it and loved the experience. They even packed my bear out for me! It was a blast and can't wait to go back again next year. I passed a few smaller bears and then finally decided to leave.
I'll add a video soon!
Here are a few views where I hiked.
33766975_10213519623319717_3399274526666653696_n 33811093_10213519629679876_8186263371901829120_n 33813099_10213519626399794_121511273413214208_n 33873801_10213519633919982_2003745334714433536_n Yellowstone...
33870854_10213519618479596_464339948141543424_nNear Cody, WY
33780706_10213519618759603_1763680139159273472_n
