Spring Bear and Snow

[KFhunter]

tracked ATV would be nice this spring bear hunt   

[Rob]

If a road is technically open, but blocked by snow, is there any reason you cannot take an ATV down that road?

Also, do you need a "street legal" ATV to go down a FS road that is blocked by snow?

[bearpaw]

If a road is technically open, but blocked by snow, is there any reason you cannot take an ATV down that road?

Also, do you need a "street legal" ATV to go down a FS road that is blocked by snow?

Depends if where you want to use the atv is open to atv use. Most of Idaho is wide open, Washington not so much.

I don't think so, but I think specific road designation will determine that. There are FS paved highways?

Someone else might have more specific details.

[andersonjk4]

Pretty interesting map.  Looks like most of the area is right at average snow pack.  Some isolated areas with greater than average.  I sure hope I have the problem of dealing with access for spring bear.  Good luck everyone. 

Link: http://tinyurl.com/y24qndtw

[X-Force]

Thanks anderson. I was looking for that map.

[KopperBuck]

I like it when there’s access problems, keeps the crowds down. We hunted W Blues down here two years ago - lots of access problems. We had the place to ourselves. The next year I drew it and made the mistake of taking the last week off (I live in the unit so I hunted a bunch before that week). There was lots of access and people everywhere. We use 4 wheelers and have tracks if needed.

The mountains around here are doing extremely well as far as pack. Gonna be a late spring. There’s over 11ft at Tollgate. But no one drew tags either. Buddy with 5 pts didn’t draw. Creep is starting to catch up.

If you’re concerned about access make sure to take time off late and you’ll be fine. We still saw as many bears with more people, just a better experience.


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[bearpaw]

Does the map indicate overall snowfall for the winter? I'm thinking it does.

I think it could be somewhat deceiving for determining spring access because most of the snow is new snow, we had almost no snow and almost all rain in December and January, I had to cancel cougar hunts, but this new snow is all on the ground now, none of it has melted or headed downstream. I was in 5 feet and got stuck turning around, uuugggghhhh, I don't know how much snow is up high, we can't get that far on the snowmobiles.

[andersonjk4]

From what I can tell the map is the current snow water equivalent as compared to the 1981-2010 average. 

[boneaddict]

Crystal got 7 feet in 4 days or something like that.   I realize thats a different "climate" but the snowpack is real.   Looking at the Blues where many bear hunts will take place, Id bet there are going to be real problems with drifts blocking access.    I have over a dozen 5 foot deep drifts on a quarter mile stretch of my drive to my house.   Theres alot of snow and much of it has been moved around.  Snow drifts are not fast melters either.  The blues got much of the same wind that hammered us

[bearpaw]

From what I can tell the map is the current snow water equivalent as compared to the 1981-2010 average.

Gotcha, if it includes rainfall a lot of that has already gone downstream.

February Averages: https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Washington/snowfall-february.php

Normally we get most snow in Dec and Jan, we don't get much snow in Feb and I usually expect snow to start melting off in late Feb. This year most of our snow has come in Feb and the forecast is calling for more snow off and on until March 7, then a mix of snow and rain for another 5 days after that. In spite of the total snowfall being about average, this late winter trend this year is what's going to make a difference in spring access into the mountains around here unless there are a lot of Mar/Apr rains.

[Bango skank]

Even with a lot of spring rains melting off the snow, access can be rough.  Spent 3 days here in early may last year.

[bearpaw]

   nothing fun happening there...

[D-Rock425]

 

The bears won't be out until late June with so this snow. Everyone should go in and change their submission to points only for this year.

[KFhunter]

Even with a lot of spring rains melting off the snow, access can be rough.  Spent 3 days here in early may last year.

Quite the adventure!

[Bango skank]

Even with a lot of spring rains melting off the snow, access can be rough.  Spent 3 days here in early may last year.

Quite the adventure!

Oh come on, it was only 4 rigs that got stuck.  Im sure i can do better than that this year if i put my mind to it.