Spring brings the start of fishing season, new growth, and turkey hunting. It is also a great time to hunt black bears who have just emerged from their dens. While Michigan does not currently have a black bear season, it can be a great time to travel to one of the great western hunting states that do. Canada is usually a great option for spring bear hunting, but the border has been shut down to recreation due to the Covid-19 pandemic since last fall and I wouldn’t bank on it reopening in time for Spring season 2021. Many US states sell over-the-counter (OTC) tags to non-residents which is great because you can plan a trip on short notice and not have to worry about drawing for a tag. Out west, your main method of hunting is going to be spot and stalk which can be a blast compared to the ambush-style hunting we do primarily in the midwest. The Following states are open to spring Bear hunting:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Idaho
- Montana
- Oregon
- Utah
- Washington
- Wymoning
Of those states, the following offer Over The Counter Tags to non-residents:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Idaho
- Montana
- Wyoming
Spring bear hunting tends to have good hunter success rates due to the lower hunter pressure during spring in most places. Bears are out of their winter dens and hitting food sources heavily to put the weight back on that they lost during hibernation. While the bears during spring will not be as large as bears during the fall, you can still get a ton of meat and a good-sized rug off a 200-pound spring black bear.
Start planning now and you could be climbing through the mountains and hunting bears in just a few months.
