BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

foxhunter · Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 7

I am in the process of putting together a DIY hunt in MT. I was wondering if anyone could help with finding a good spot ,and any other information a first timer would need to know.
I was considering a national forest south of Great Falls and was wondering if there would be good bear numbers there?

numbnutz · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 154 Location: portland,oregon

are you doing a spring hunt?

foxhunter · Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 7

My nephew and I was thinking spring of 09. Which is normally better spring or fall. Our thought with the spring was A western trip with low hunting pressure and especially to shake the cabin fever.

numbnutz · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 154 Location: portland,oregon

I live in oregon, and out here spring is alot better, in the spring i hunt below the snow line near water and food sources, bears will be looking for spring grasses and such. I'm not to sure how the hunting is in montana but here there are plenty of bear and typically low preasure. also out here we cant use bait/hounds so its gottin a lot harder, but calls and spot and stalk works pretty good

Romey · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 186 Location: Montana

Hides will be better in fall.

foxhunter · Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 7

Thank you for the help. I think now I need to get the regulations from the state and some topos.

Sage of the Sage · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 107 Location: Butte, MT

By South of Great Falls you might be talking about the Bob Marshal? Or perhaps the Snowy and/or Little Snowy Mountains? I was hunting in the Little Snowies once and came across an area with some heavy bear sign, but that was about it.

A lot of grizzlies in the Bob Marshal. I've never hunted there myself, but that's about all I've ever heard about that area. A lot of people I know that like to hunt bear tend to go up around Libby, Kalispell, or Columbia Falls. There are bears all over the state, but I hear the northwest is where the highest concentration is. Good luck. I've never had much luck down in the southwest, but they're around.

foxhunter · Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 7

The area I was talking about was the Big and Little Belt Mtns, but that was just a place to start. Is the OTC tags valid for the entire state or by units? I'm sure that info is in the regulations but its been a busy week and I haven't checked on that.

mthunter · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 2 Location: northwest Montana

I could help a little. From Libby and live in Kalispell. I'm new to the site so bare with me. This year wasn't good beause of the snow. Its still here and coming down still. A lot of roads are washed out also. But if you where to come I would say come the last two or last week of the season if it is the spring. It all depends on the year on the hide. If you get to the bear to late he could have started to rub.

Don Fischer · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 2071 Location: Antelope, Ore

Welcome to BGH mthunter.

I was stationed at lakeside in the early 70's and there were a lot of bears around there. But I was back there several years ago to visit my sister and the area has become awfully civilized. Some of the best places then were "Blacktail Mt" behind Lakeside, The "Swan Range" (hwy 83 south out of "Big Fork"), the Yaak Area northwest of Libby (probablly to much snow in the spring), the Northfork of the Flathead River going to Pole Bridge.

mthunter · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 2 Location: northwest Montana

yes there is alot more private land than in the 70's. With a lot of the California additude. there is bears up the south and middle fork of the flathead. The Yaak is very brushy but lots of bears. Both kinds and all colors.

JB Erdmann · Joined: 02 Jul 2008 Posts: 6 Location: NW Montana

I'll chime in here as well, with a first post. I too like mthunter live in Kalispell, our area does produce good bear results. I am looking forward to the fall bear season as this will produce a much better hide on the bear. Still got to watch for rub marks etc on the bears.