ABOUT OUTFITTER:
This HFA-Endorsed Outfitter has been guiding big game hunters in Montana for more than twenty-five years, with an experienced crew behind the operation. The species list covers elk, mule deer, whitetail, mountain lion, and black bear. Hunters can choose between private ranch hunts and backcountry horseback hunts, which is an unusual range for one outfit and means the trip can be matched to what a hunter actually wants. Fair chase is the standard on all of it. The stated goal is simple enough, getting hunters in front of the game they came for, and after all that time the crew is still doing it out of a real attachment to the country rather than habit.
HUNT DETAILS:
Two versions of this bear hunt are available. Both are built on the same method. Bears feed heavily on fresh green grass, and the main approach is glassing from a high vantage point, picking apart south-facing slopes and avalanche chutes until a suitable bear turns up. Once one is located, the work becomes closing the distance for a shot. Guides also still hunt old grassy logging roads and creek bottoms where bears feed. Shooting distances run anywhere from one hundred to four hundred yards, so hunters should know their rifle. The backcountry version puts hunters into a camp reached on horseback, and from there nearly all the hunting is done on foot. The lodge-based version has hunters traveling to the hunting area each day, again working mostly on foot. Either way, physical condition has a direct effect on success. Hunters in good shape cover more country and see more bears, which is the whole equation on a spot and stalk hunt like this.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
The backcountry hunt is based out of a well-equipped wall tent camp, with a dedicated cook tent, separate sleeping quarters, and a shower house, which is more comfort than most bear camps offer. All meals are prepared and provided by the outfitter, so nobody is cooking or hauling groceries. The camp sits in some of the most scenic wilderness country in Montana, and the evenings there are a real part of the trip rather than just somewhere to sleep. Hunters booking the lodge-based version stay off the mountain and travel to the hunting area each day, which trades immersion for comfort and a shorter morning.
LICENSE INFORMATION:
Over-the-counter licenses are available online through the Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks website. You will need to coordinate with HFA or your outfitter prior to purchasing to ensure you purchase the required tag and licenses.
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