Montana Black Bears: Overlooked & Waiting

Hunting black bear over bait is a thrilling experience. Watching a huge bear stroll within bow range will make your knees shake and heart pound. These close encounters make the hours of sitting in the treestand all worthwhile. Bait hunting also allows the hunter to judge the bear’s size and let’s you set-up for a good shot, which is especially important in bowhunting. But if traveling to a Canadian province and forking over a couple grand to hunt black bears isn’t your bag, consider black bear hunting, Montana style. Now this doesn’t mean hooking-up with an expensive guide or outfitter, what I am referring to is a Do-It –Yourself spot and stalk for these mountain roaming bruins.
Montana is a state that does not allow baiting so when it comes to hunting black bears, one of the ways to collect a trophy is to spot and stalk.

Now sneaking up on any animal is challenging, especially when bowhunting. I have been fortunate to harvest whitetails, mule deer, antelope, turkeys and black bears all by using spot and stalk techniques. But I feel just important than the actual spot and stalk, is the locating of your game. The more game you locate, the higher success you will have because of the multiple opportunities.

Of course the first step to hunting is acquiring the license. In Montana, a bear tag can be purchase over-the-counter for $350 and must be purchased prior to the opening day of the season, which is usually around mid-April. The spring season runs through mid to late May and this tag is good for both the spring and fall seasons. All bear hunters are also required to pass a Bear Identification test prior to hunting. This is a free test offered online by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department.

So, now you have all the requirements, where do you go?

Montana has millions of acres of public land and bears can be found nearly everywhere in the state. A phone call to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks will help direct you to high-populated areas, but in reality, black bears can be found anywhere in good numbers starting from Beartooth Mountains and going west.

Living in Montana for several years, allowed me to study and research black bears and with help of the Fish, Wildlife and Parks department and big game biologists’, I have complied some information that I would like to share. Keep these in mind when you start searching for your big-game bear.

Black bears start to den for the winter, in mid to late October. This timeframe can depend on food sources and weather conditions. Less food sources and hard, early winters may force bears to den earlier than normal and on the flip side, mild winters with lots of food allows bears to den later. Earlier denned bears will start showing up earlier in the spring.

Bear dens are usually located on north facing slopes to allow more snow to cover the entrance of the den. The dens are usually made from burrows, caves, hollowed-out trees or rock crevices. These dens are usually found on slopes of 20-40 degree incline and are at elevations of 7,000 to 9,000 feet. This is very important to keep in mind when looking in early spring for the early risers.

Bears begin emerging from the den in March or early April. They will first feed on tender green grasses in open parks. Glassing these feeding areas at the fore mentioned elevations should produce bears sightings. The grasses consumed by bears help their digestive systems to become active. Female black bears usually give birth to cubs in January and February. Cubs will accompany the mother when feeds outside the den, however they usually are in cover or trees for protection. It is illegal to harvest a female with cubs, so make sure the bear you are seeking is not a mother with cubs. Take time to observe the bear and its actions.

Once a bear is located, patience becomes key.

First you must identify the bear, is it a grizzly or black? It is a female with young cubs? What is the best approach? Which way are the winds or thermals (evening or morning)? Bears must be approached on the down wind side but I also try to get on the same level/elevation as the bear. If changes in the thermals occur, this parallel approach allows easier adjustment to keep the wind in your favor.

Spot and stalk is not a ‘one try and success’ its more like 1 in 5 tries will get you a bowshot at a mule deer, maybe 1 in 10 for antelope and whitetails. For black bear, I think they land in that 1 out of 5-10 range for successful stalking. Of course the more you do it, the more successful you become and knowing where to look will definitely increase your success rate.

Long distance glassing requires long distance hiking, so toting high quality; lightweight equipment is also a key to success. Mathews bows fit these categories well. Most of the new bows such as the Mathews DXT or Reezen weigh around 4 pounds. They are easy to handle while stalking and carry speed and accuracy for the big jobs such as mountain black bears. In Montana, there is no restriction on bow or rifle and both can be carried into the field. Any light weight equipment is a big plus when trekking through mountain valleys and high meadows. Remember, the rule has changed on black bear meat. It can no longer be left in the field, the meat is now considered consumable so the loins and quarters must be packed out along with the head and hide.

In these days of financial belt tightening, the opportunity is still there for a low cost, exciting and challenging black bear hunting. Montana is often an overlooked source for quality bears, however with a little homework, a little legwork and a little luck you can have a trophy of a lifetime.
 
Photo One  – This grizzly bear shows the classic identification signs. Notice the curved nose and hump on the back. Never really on color alone.

Photo Two – One of the most enjoyable camps for me is in the mountains. Partnering with fellow bowhunters is not only fun, you can cover more ground while glassing for bears.

Photo Three – Bear ID is very important when hunting where grizzly and black bear territoies overlap. I took this cinnamon-tan black bear after spotting him from over a mile away, then closing this distance and making sure he was a black bear.