Hunting Forum

Anyone have any spring hunts planned?

 I am going on my first bear hunt.  A friend and I have booked a spot and stalk hunt in Idaho in late April.  Needless to say I am kinda excited, OK I'm pumped.  I will have a wolf tag to go along with 2 bear tags.  It should be a fun time.  Now I just need to decide which gun to take.  The planning is almost as much fun as the hunt.

Hope everyone is having a great winter...

Heck, I've never even considered a Spring hunt... I'm jealous!!!

I haven't always worked seasonally, but even when I didn't there was always plenty of other stuff going on in the Springtime, hunting was never a consideration.

I wonder what kind of shape the wolf hides will be in by April? I'm sure that they're prime now, but I'm thinking that they may be in rough shape by April. A few years ago there was a wolf killed on the HWY less than a mile South of us. I don't remember the exact date, but remember that it was later in the season, March, or April. I stopped the check it out to confirm that it was indeed a wolf before calling the DNR. The DNR always want a dead wolf for research. It was one of the raggediest critters I had ever seen, though I suspect part of that was due to malnutrition. It was in pretty rough shape.

I know the wolf pelt might be poor but for 32 bucks for the tag I would shoot one just to help the elk. The outfitter encourages shooting the wolves to help the elk and deer in the area. I would be happy just to see them.

TGJ, you never mentioned when you were going hunting, but I looked it up and see that all of the Idaho Spring Bear seasons have opened.

Good Luck... Especially on that wolf!!!

Hunting report.

It was a great trip.  Worked our butts off hiking around in the most brutal country I have hunted in.  Only used mules one day and that only made another group of muscles sore.  I saw 7 bears and missed a nice one, still try to figure out how I missed.  On the last day as I was leaving the ridge, pack on one last look, I saw a bear and quickly got ready and shot it at about 180 yards.  It turned out to be a very small one but I was happy.  We saw lots of elk a few deer and a group of 5 sheep during the trip.  Everyone got a shot, good shot, and should have taken one but all missed.  One hunter did get a wolf but that was the only one seen.

 

That was the first hike up from the river. No trail and a lot of side hilling. Darn near killed me.

Some pictures.

Shepp Ranch.

The trip in.

Pretty awesome county. What part of Idaho?

44 miles east of Riggins, Id.

Frank Church River of no Return/Gospel Hump wilderness areas.

still try to figure out how I missed.

I don't know the details of the shot, but I do know that type of terrain can be very tricky to shoot in.

Sorry im late to the thread its been a busy "spring". Started with a cold and snowy turkey hunt but on april 24th I called a 18 lb 10.5 inch beard 1 1/4 spurs in for my brothers first bird, got it with his bow. Then on may 3rd it was the first day of my daughters season and her good luck struck again with a 20.5 lb 9 3/4 inch beard 1 1/4 spurs. Her first 3 yrs hunting and she tags out on first day each year! I closed out my season on may 16th with a hard fought 21 lb 10 inch beard 1 inch spurs I put down with my bow. Birds are still very active around here and it's gotta be because of our late start to spring. They werent hanging out in typical field spots, almost everyone i found were back in the hardwoods.