A Rewarding Bear Season

Last June my hunting partner Garrett and I started scouting for Fall bear season. In total, from June through the beginning of August, we had 11 days of scouting under our belts. I have never gone into a bear season more prepared with oodles of options in front of us. Our first hunt was in August and we’d have another hunt in October. The lessons were thick, as were the emotions at the end.

The Plan

Our strategy for the August bear season was to glass in the morning, maybe put together a spot-and-stalk type of play, but then revert to calling after the fact. We had multiple bears located in locations that would allow us to do this, and were confident walking into opening day.

Josh Kirchner glassing for bears with his hunting partner in preparation for fall bear season

This plan was put in place around general bear behavior I have witnessed through years of bear hunting. In the mornings, the bears would likely be exposed on the hills feeding. From there, they’d usually retreat somewhere towards the bottom of a drainage to bed up for the day. So, if we could glass them up in the morning and make a move, great, but if not, all was good. The reason for that would be that we’d approach from above with a rising thermal and call down into likely bedding areas, or even areas where we physically saw a bear bed.

Big lesson here was you need to be flexible, because plans needed to change once we were inside of hunting season.

August

Opening day in August finally came and we were beyond stoked to execute our plans. What we were not stoked on was the amount of hunting pressure that showed face. It was unreal. Areas that used to be desolate were now crawling with people. Nonetheless, we still found bears. The situation at hand, changed our strategy, though.

Josh Kirchner glassing for bears from a tripod

With most of the folks bear hunting toting a rifle around, they were posted up all along the tops of the canyons waiting for a bear to come out. I’d be doing the same thing had we been gun hunting, but we were committed to getting this done with our bows. So, we had to adapt and that came in the form of hunting country the rifle hunters couldn’t effectively hunt, which was putting ourselves in the timber that couldn’t be glassed and calling.

By the end of the hunt, we called in 5 bears through the week and even had a few plays spot and stalk. The called in bears all winded us, which was a great learning experience on how to set up on bears in the future. The spot and stalk plays didn’t work out for one reason or the other. On one, Garrett got into 40 yards of a bedded bear, hit some shale, and that busted the bear out. On another I approached a bear, got into 50 or so, and the wind switched. Busted.

Did we arrow a bear? No, but this whole experience fired us up even more for the coming October season.

October

Garrett and I spent the better part of 6 days trying to get our buddy Brian a bear, but sadly, that didn’t work out. Mainly, it was hunting pressure, but also the food in the area had been a bit ahead of schedule, so the main concentration of bears had come and gone higher in elevation. The problem there was that the higher elevations had hound hunters working them due to the trees. Brian actually had a bear get shot very close to him by way of hounds one morning. Another bear literally got shot out from under us be a few hunters who moved in right across canyon from where we were. Bummer, but that’s how it goes sometimes.

Josh Kirchner hiking through the dark with his headlamp during bear season

When Brian’s time had passed and he had to head home, Garrett and I had a few days to pick the bows up. We ended up changing locations and sitting a spring that was loaded with bear sign. With all of the sign and feed we were seeing, it was just a matter of time before we crossed paths with one.

On the second evening sitting the spring a lone bear lumbered its way in for a drink and Garrett put a perfect arrow on her from 30 yards. I was so happy for him. Garrett had been bear hunting for 5 years with no tags filled. To watch this whole thing come together for him was nothing short of epic. A heck of a run and proof that with determination and with heart, you will reach your goals.

Watch the Film

As for me, I stayed committed to the bow as well, but I still have my bear tag. All is good, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m just stoked for Garrett and his success. My next archery bear will come. When? I never am sure, but I’m not giving up.

What’s Next?

The bear paw of the bear Josh Kirchner's hunting partner arrowed in October

All said, with scouting and hunting days, we spent 30 days in the field. It was incredible and I can’t wait to start scouting for next year’s spring bear season. Until then, I have a late archery bull tag that I’ll take to the field with in November. The stoke is high, as it always is. Hope you all are chasing your goals and getting after it!