Idaho spring bear questions

[Longfield1]

I’ve been looking to make a scouting trip over to Idaho for archery elk this year and was looking if I can hunt at all. From what I saw on Idahos fish and game website is bear hunting is OTC and in certain areas the tag is a reduced rate of around 50$. I know I missed the application for controlled hunts but really just looking for OTC.
Is OTC spring bear in Idaho correct?

[Wolfdog2314]

Yep 

[Longfield1]

One more question, is the snow up above 4K melted by the April opener? I would think the snow pack would hang around till mid summer.

[pashok23]

Wait till mid May. Much more chances for a bear.

[Machias]

One more question, is the snow up above 4K melted by the April opener? I would think the snow pack would hang around till mid summer.

Depends on what Unit(s) you're going to hunt, but more than likely no.  What Unit(s) are you thinking of hitting, maybe I can help you out some.

[Karl Blanchard]

I’ve been looking to make a scouting trip over to Idaho for archery elk this year and was looking if I can hunt at all. From what I saw on Idahos fish and game website is bear hunting is OTC and in certain areas the tag is a reduced rate of around 50$. I know I missed the application for controlled hunts but really just looking for OTC.
Is OTC spring bear in Idaho correct?

OTC is common but there are limited entry units so you'd need to look at the specific unit you're going to scout to see if it is open for OTC hunting and also if it is a full price tag or a reduced price tag.

[Rob]

What unit were you thinking of hitting?

[Longfield1]

I have a elk tag for the panhandle A for the fall so i was thinking of hitting up area 6 for bear and scout for elk.

[Rob]

Gotcha.  I am hunting 1 for the first time so I am in a similar boat.  I plan to start scouting very soon and hunt hard in Mid May

[SpicyTacos]

From my experience in unit one Idaho. Plan a couple days to scout while you hunt. Go in May. Look for sign. If you find fresh bear *censored*. Stay put. If you don't. Get out a call and rip on it. Also have bear spray and your prefered flavor of caliber handgun. Large with many rounds. They come in fast when you least expect it. Be prepared for brown bear to rip your ass apart when calling. Other than that have a great time.
Best bear hunting I've had is in Idaho. And it all happened when I least expected it. Have no expectations and you'll get one. Fun.

[Longfield1]

From my experience in unit one Idaho. Plan a couple days to scout while you hunt. Go in May. Look for sign. If you find fresh bear *censored*. Stay put. If you don't. Get out a call and rip on it. Also have bear spray and your prefered flavor of caliber handgun. Large with many rounds. They come in fast when you least expect it. Be prepared for brown bear to rip your ass apart when calling. Other than that have a great time.
Best bear hunting I've had is in Idaho. And it all happened when I least expected it. Have no expectations and you'll get one. Fun.

I plan on bringing my plated Dirt bike and really just exploring the area and enjoying the beautiful country. I'm hoping to have around 6 days mid may to put some miles on the rubber and boots.

[huntnnw]

One more question, is the snow up above 4K melted by the April opener? I would think the snow pack would hang around till mid summer.

ID varies drastically from N ID to S ID and everywhere in between

[huntnnw]

Gotcha.  I am hunting 1 for the first time so I am in a similar boat.  I plan to start scouting very soon and hunt hard in Mid May

snow pack has greatly increased in the clearwater and panhandle regions as of late. just 2 weeks ago some areas were hovering around 40% snow pack. Today many are 70%+ you wont be getting around much above 3,500' right now unless tracked

[luvmystang67]

I find generally the snow clears on south facing slopes in north Idaho pretty early, maybe the roads are open to travel by early May, but every north facing switchback above say 3500-4000’ could have 3-5’ of snow and ice on it. If you want to be sure of getting around, mid June is usually safe. Mid May is usually hit or miss. The gradient then is somewhere in the middle. I wouldn’t not expect to be getting around or seeing bears easily in unit 6 until mid May at the earliest. Obviously this depends on the weather as well. April really is for Turkey hunting, not bear hunting. In unit 6 without bait I wouldn’t expect your chances are very good for bear, but you can give it a shot. I think spot and stalk bear hunting is FAR better in WA, when it’s open.  Idaho bears are very small and most are sitting on a bait barrel somewhere in the spring.


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[Rob]

I have my nephews coming May 18-23 to give bear a try in U1. 

I will be curious what the snow pack is like at that point.  Hoping we can get around - especially with the low snow fall this year.  I picked the dates based on my experience with spring bear in NE Washington.  I got my '21 spring bear on May 14th in the Kelly Hill unit- activity was really picking up that week compared to prior weeks, and all the roads were open/snow free.  My buddy got his on June 12th the same year.

I also hunted Sherman mid-May of 2019 for spring bear and the roads were open and snow free there as well. 

So fingers crossed!  For now I am just cyber scouting while I wait for the roads to clear a bit.

[Longfield1]

Thank you all for the tips and comments. Anyone whose hunted Idaho for bear have a better unit suggestion for spot and stalk? I don't mind paying full price for a tag.

[huntnnw]

Thank you all for the tips and comments. Anyone whose hunted Idaho for bear have a better unit suggestion for spot and stalk? I don't mind paying full price for a tag.

4 and 6 have lots of logging and there is gated roads in those units. Hike the gated roads and glass.

[bearpaw]

Without drawing a Unit 32 tag, I think Unit 1 is best place for spot and stalk, bait and dogs are not allowed in the majority of the unit, and its a top 5 harvest unit every year without bait and hounds!

[luvmystang67]

Not that it needs to be said, because bear paw knows best, but I would’ve said the same thing. Unit 1. For the same reasons. 


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[Longfield1]

Without drawing a Unit 32 tag, I think Unit 1 is best place for spot and stalk, bait and dogs are not allowed in the majority of the unit, and its a top 5 harvest unit every year without bait and hounds!

Wow that is something. I’m going to be using my bow so close shots only. I’ll have to look at unit one. Thank you.

[bearpaw]

If you are a spot and stalk hunter there is a benefit to hunting in an area where you are not in competition with baits and hounds. Of course you can find remote areas in many units, but Unit 1 is a large unit with a good bear population, there is a small portion of unit 1 by Priest River along the WA border that has a drawing for 15 fall hound bear permits, but there is no hound hunting in the spring.