Spring bear 2018 advice
 

Okay folks, never done a bear hunt, but after getting skunked on my 2017 big game season, I’m feeling itchy. So, as a total newb, can I get some insight on what a guy needs to know, needs to have, needs to prep for? I’ve hunted since my youth in the mid 90’s, so know a thing or two, but still lots to learn. Preferred area would range between the south west nanton and high river area, into kanaskis, or north into waiporous and the trunk road.

Many thanks in advance!

Following
 

Following. I saw my first bear ever in the wild this year but we’re chasing elk. And got skunked.
Went out last year spring and glassed for 2 days and didn’t see anything. Would like to hear what others do. Closer to the mountains for spring as they are waking up?? Or bear dens are everywhere I suppose.

I should add that I’ll be hunting zones that don’t allow baiting

following this as well. Probably will be looking at some mountain WMU's near Calgary come this spring.

Wait until some of the pipeline rightaways green up in the Spring. They are the first of the green grass/legumes to get going. Lots of pipeline rightaways in the West country to glass right from West of Cochrane and North to Nordegg and beyond. That's where I have had the best luck on spot and stalk.

Everyone goes out as soon as the season opens. But unless there is some green grass coming up your best to wait until May. Unless you find another food source. A few years back I shot a bear in April that was feeding on a winter kill moose. Spot and stalk is your best method. I usually only spot from 4 pm till dusk on clear sunny days. If it’s over cast and raining then any time is productive. Don’t expect to see dozens of bears. Many evenings that I go out I don’t see any. It’s a game of patience and persistence. Once you spot one let the stalk begin. Use common hunters sense. Up wind, quiet etc. Happy hunting. Spring bear meat is good to eat if they haven’t been eating garbage or baits or rotten dead animals.

Find where it greens up first, south facing hills, Pipelines, ditches Ect. Then wait for the dandelions to come out. The bears will be concentrated on the dandelions. After that food is everywhere for bears and the bears could be anywhere.

I have pretty good luck glassing south facing open slopes/cutblocks, walking logging roads(especially deactivated roads that grow lots of fresh dandelions and clover) that are clear of snow early, powerlines, and wet areas that get lots of sun and skunk cabbage comes up early. My hunting partner and I head out on the May long weekend for the first backpack trip of the year into a south facing road closure. It has lots of fresh growth both on the roads and cutblocks/meadows by then usually. We set up our camp at snowline and hunt down from there, we've used the same camp now for six years and I also use it for mule deer/elk hunting in the fall. My buddy hasn't seen a big enough one for him to bother packing out but I'm not so picky.
We hunt slowly into the wind(when we can) and glass likely looking openings, spot and stalk hunting. It's a blast since we're really not all that concerned about actually shooting something. Mostly it's a shakedown trip to see how our gear is doing and trying out any new stuff we picked up before fall comes around. I'd really like to be able to get right up into the alpine for one of our spring bear trips but the snowpack around here dictates otherwise. I could probably get into the alpine by the end of June but by then I'm usually too busy with family stuff.
I'm a big fan of spot and stalk bear hunting, not really into sitting in a stand for hours. I know cruising the roads you'll cover more ground and likely see more bears but I just like hiking, especially with my gun. Nothing like being in the mountains in the spring.

Where is here? I’m from invermere originally, have definitely hunted the kootenays

Creston, May long weekend still has lots of snow in the high country. Many if not most logging roads around here are still impassable the end of May once you gain bit of elevation. The closure we hunt is the highest I can get at that time mainly due to that fact that whole access is in the sun on south facing slopes,.