Spring Bear
- Thread starter Fish
- Start date
Jon Boy
Active Member
Didnt hunt it last year but it was a bust for most east side tags. The snow pack didnt melt off until the last week or two of the season and the bears werent very active.
Jon,
I talked to the Dana Base the biologist for those units and he said most people come too early and the roads to the loged off areas and high ground are still snowed in. Its a long way from the west side so they never come back to hunt which lowers the success rate. Looks like those units will stay open to mid June. I hope to draw and combind it with some turkey hunting and maybe fishing. Plan to spend 8-9 days.
I talked to the Dana Base the biologist for those units and he said most people come too early and the roads to the loged off areas and high ground are still snowed in. Its a long way from the west side so they never come back to hunt which lowers the success rate. Looks like those units will stay open to mid June. I hope to draw and combind it with some turkey hunting and maybe fishing. Plan to spend 8-9 days.
Jon Boy
Active Member
yah I would suggest the last week of the season. What units are you looking at? Kelly hill and sherman would be my top choices for the NE
Jon Boy
Active Member
Ive never been drawn for a spring tag but have been along on one once before and hunted both of those units during the fall seasons several times. I moved to MT over the summer and lived in WA my entire life before that.
I think kelley hill will be easier to draw but I havnt looked at the draw odds in a while. Its just a unit that always seems to get over looked and in my opinion, it has better hunting.
Also, there are a ton of turkeys of their so like you said it would make an awesome combo hunt.
I think kelley hill will be easier to draw but I havnt looked at the draw odds in a while. Its just a unit that always seems to get over looked and in my opinion, it has better hunting.
Also, there are a ton of turkeys of their so like you said it would make an awesome combo hunt.
Jon,
Sherman, Aladin and 49 degrees is the picks of the biologist a few years back. Success for kelly hill is only 20% but I don't relie to much on that. I will look up the draw odd for those units. A turkey would be iceing on the cake if I drew. Thanks for the advice.
How do you like living in MT. I can retire this year and MT or WY are interesting to me. I will miss the bird hunting in WA if I moved but the rest isn't so good.
Sherman, Aladin and 49 degrees is the picks of the biologist a few years back. Success for kelly hill is only 20% but I don't relie to much on that. I will look up the draw odd for those units. A turkey would be iceing on the cake if I drew. Thanks for the advice.
How do you like living in MT. I can retire this year and MT or WY are interesting to me. I will miss the bird hunting in WA if I moved but the rest isn't so good.
Jon Boy
Active Member
Its great over here! Only thing thats missing is the ocean and the salmon runs. Having said that I doubt ill ever live in WA again. Bird hunting is good over here as well. And the big game season is unreal compared to WA haha
Jon,
Talked to the area biologist eariler today and he said if it were him he pick Sherman and aladin although Kelly hill and Douglas look good also. He said there is not as much public land in Kelly hill. All these units have between 3-4 % chance to draw. As with all WA special tags, I'll need a lot of luck.
Moving when your 60 yrs old is a little scary and I don't know if I can put up with the long winter in MT, but Im getting a little tired of living in Bothell. I would have to move to a place that I can flyfish and big game hunt. I don't mind driving to bird hunt. My budy lived west of Jordan in the breaks. He was able to sponsor me for deer. Shot some very nice bucks on his place. Awesome hunting compared to WA. He sold it last year and I'm real bumed about it . Even getting a small 3 point in WA is never a sure thing.
Enjoy MT.
Talked to the area biologist eariler today and he said if it were him he pick Sherman and aladin although Kelly hill and Douglas look good also. He said there is not as much public land in Kelly hill. All these units have between 3-4 % chance to draw. As with all WA special tags, I'll need a lot of luck.
Moving when your 60 yrs old is a little scary and I don't know if I can put up with the long winter in MT, but Im getting a little tired of living in Bothell. I would have to move to a place that I can flyfish and big game hunt. I don't mind driving to bird hunt. My budy lived west of Jordan in the breaks. He was able to sponsor me for deer. Shot some very nice bucks on his place. Awesome hunting compared to WA. He sold it last year and I'm real bumed about it . Even getting a small 3 point in WA is never a sure thing.
Enjoy MT.
Jon Boy
Active Member
The deal with kelley hill is there isnt alot of "public land" its mostly paper company or timber company which is why its over looked. Which ever you put for will be good aladin 49 degrees huckleberry and sherman are all good hunts. Good luck to you in the draw