East Kootenay Black Bears

[riflebuilder]

I am getting ready for bear season to open. The perfect excuse for a good drive in the mountains. Just woundering when most of you start seeing Blackies?

[Trapper]

usually the middle to the end of may is the best time

[Kody94]

In the mountian valleys (like the main side drainages off of the Elk and Flathead rivers), I usually plan on the last two weeks of May, first week of June, as primetime. Have had luck earlier in low snow years, and late snows have resulted in May being pretty slow. But on average, the last two weeks of May are pretty hot. Bears are out, and the slides, riparian areas, roadsides and cutblocks are just greening up. In June, spot and stalk is sometimes a little tougher as everything is green and the bears more spread out. Still prime-time for hounds though!

Cheers,
4ster

[model88]

Like SSSSter said, last 2 weeks May, first week of June. Look for south facing slopes greening up. Once everything is getting green it makes things that much tougher.

88

[blaker_99]

Hey just wondering if you woud reccomend any general areas for spot and stalk hunt with compound bow? We have done a lot of archery bear hunting here in the Okanagan but my brother and I are eager to take a nice blackie with our compounds. Thanks a lot guys and if anyone is interested in coming up this way PM me and we'll talk areas etc cheers.

[.308win]

From about the second week of May is usually when I start to see good Bear numbers.

Perry

[hunter1947]

I have seen black bears right now when out in the lower elevations. But the best time when they are all out would be the first to second week of may.