OTC Bears

[dave_halsey]

Last year four of us set out on an adventure to northern Idaho on a " OTC Bear Hunt"... The four of us had absolutely zero experience bear hunting so needless to say we didn't have much luck. We did learned a lot of the hunt on what to do and what not to do. With over the counter bear hunts(or any other otc hunt for that matter)I expect it to not be the greatest hunt ever but im curious to how other states ( colorado, Wyoming, montana)are with the otc bear hunts in the spring? Im a pretty big fan of hunting away from roads and working for a true giant rather than a decent road kill.

 

[338 dude]

Watching this!

 

[Dean2]

All bear tags in Canada are OTC, most places it is good for two bears. Best way to ensure you find a large bear is to hunt over bait. This gives you enough time to assess the bear and ensure you aren't shooting a sow with cubs. You can spot and stalk for a big bear but then location is everything. The biggest bears are not typically way back in. They are predominantly found where the best food is and that is usually on Salmon Rivers on the west coast, or where there is forest land butting up against farm land. River bottoms going through farm land is another good area that produces large bears.

The B.C. coast and Islands, and the Northern parts of Alberta, Sask and Manitoba all produce Boone and Crockett bears on a regular basis.

 

[dogz]

can't speak to Colorado, not sure if they have spring hunts or not. Wyo, Mt and Idaho all have them and one can put together a really good hunt with a bit of prep work. Timing of the hunt is of most importance! Once you have the proper time to go for the area you've chosen then patience to do a ton load of glassing is where it's at.

Find a good place to glass from, and plant your hiney down and glass for hours on end!

When you get these two things sorted out, then you're on your way to a fantastic hunt.

 

[dave_halsey]

can't speak to Colorado, not sure if they have spring hunts or not. Wyo, Mt and Idaho all have them and one can put together a really good hunt with a bit of prep work. Timing of the hunt is of most importance! Once you have the proper time to go for the area you've chosen then patience to do a ton load of glassing is where it's at.

Find a good place to glass from, and plant your hiney down and glass for hours on end!

When you get these two things sorted out, then you're on your way to a fantastic hunt.

That was of our biggest problem we ran into. We where too early up in northern Idaho and the bears just weren't up the mountain yet and we had no way of getting down to the salmon river breaks. I think next time we might try to catch a ride up river from riggings and stay a few days. Or just go over into hells canyon.

 

[Ross1147]

Not sure what time of the year you are looking to hunt but California is OTC and the bears are starting to outnumber the deer. Season starts in August when deer season opens and runs until Dec 31st. It closes if they reach a quota, but that hasn't been reached since they outlawed hound hunting. Last year I was backpacking in the marble wilderness and we saw bears everyday. I know California isn't very high on most people's list to hunt but the more people we can get in here killing bears the better off the deer herd will be!

 

[HARPERC]

.......All bear tags in Canada are OTC......

Certainly love bear hunting in Canada, don't know 100%, but aren't non residents required to have a guide? Also until the borders open I'd be leery of booking anything, and get trip insurance.

No spring hunt, but the season opens August 1, and 2 bear limit for Washington.

 

[Dean2]

Certainly love bear hunting in Canada, don't know 100%, but aren't non residents required to have a guide? Also until the borders open I'd be leery of booking anything, and get trip insurance.

No spring hunt, but the season opens August 1, and 2 bear limit for Washington.

In Alberta you can hunt with a Resident as long as the resident gets a hunter host license. Cost is about 25 bucks. Hunter host does not charge for services, usually a friend, relative etc. I have hosted quite a few buddies that I hunt with in Germany, Poland and Hungary. We have hunted bear, birds, Whoitetails and Bull Elk, which are all OTC tags. Other Provinces change fairly often so you would have to check each one if interested. The point is, Bear tag is easy to get, you don't need to enter a lottery and there is a Spring and Fall season.

 

[rogerstep]

If you do decide to ever come back to Idaho and catch a jet boat from Riggins to go up river
for bear, just the jet boat ride is worth the price of admission. Be sure and bring the camera.

 

[ofbandg]

If you are a serious Fall bear hunter, find where the berries are. Bears congregate where the food is and late season ripening berries or abandoned farms with fruit trees bring them in. Fish runs bring them in as well but these bears don't taste quite as good. You can find bears any time of day as they get closer to denning but a couple hours before dark is usually prime time. Bears, especially big bears, follow a routine until it's disturbed. Look for sign of big bears, especially scat piles, and if they haven't eaten all the available food nearby they will be back. Be careful, it's difficult to tell the sows from the boars at times so take time to look them over.

 

[dogz]

Pretty sure he's talking spring hunting

 

[Outdoordan]

I highly suggest bringing two barrels with you. There are areas in Idaho where a nonresident can get tags for $34. Place your barrels in a good looking spot the day you get.there. Set trail cams and put in plenty of bait. Spot and stalk hunt for 3 to 4 days. Go back, check baits and cams. If you have good bear activity, hunt bears by sitting on slope about 100 yards away in the direction the.bears aren't coming from. Pay VERY close attention to wind. When you first set baits, make sure you set with wind in mind.
Hunt the bears at the time the cams say they are showing up, and spot and stalk other times.

 

[Outdoordan]

Also, please realize you must get a $30 bait permit.

 

[HARPERC]

......In Alberta you can hunt with a Resident as long as the resident gets a hunter host license.......

Thanks!