With deer season in the rearview mirror, it’s time to plan your hunting adventures for the upcoming year.  No doubt you will continue to hunt whitetails or mule deer, but what about a spring bear hunt?  Spring black bear hunting is legal across Canada and in several Western states.  Idaho has so many bears that you can get two tags in certain areas.

Keeping Sharp

If you like bowhunting, winter can be cruel to your skill.  Winter has a way of keeping bows on the hanger and slowly robbing you of your top form.  Additionally, you may have put on a few pounds beginning with a huge Thanksgiving meal that morphed into an abundance of holiday treats and beverages.

A spring bear hunt will keep you ambition focused and motivate you to keep your shooting skill and body in tip-top shape.  Additionally, black bear hunts are often more affordable than Western deer or elk hunts and in a few cases you can hunt on your own.

Bear Camp Fun

Hunting in the Northern Tier of the US and Canada is often done in late evening as darkness doesn’t fall until after 10:00 pm.  As a result, most camps sleep in leisurely or fish during the day with a hunt not starting until late afternoon.  Bears are most active just before dark so that you need to be at your best and not suffering from the lethargy that can occur from sitting a stand all day.  Returning from the hunt, many camps have great bonfires and fire-side meals with lots of comoraradie.

Rifle or Bow

Most states and provinces allow bear hunting with gun or bow and some optimistic sportsmen take both, hope to fill a tag with each.  This post by Bernie Barringer gives you a taste of three methods of bear hunting.  Check it out and start practicing:

Spring or fall, bear hunting has it all, but the opportunities presented by a spring bear hunt can be amazing, with sightings of dozens of bears per week a common occurrence. Here are three great options for bear hunting this spring.

Is a Spring Bear Hunt for You?