Today was such a great day to be in the mountains that I simply have to share it.
Next Friday, May 1st, is opening day for our general bear season here in Wyoming. I never miss opening weekend. I love hunting of all kinds but I am truly obsessed with chasing black bears in spring. This morning was the first chance I’ve had to get out and do some scouting.
I hunt bears in a variety of places near my home in the northwest corner of the state. Though I baited bears many years ago, I now prefer to hunt them using a spot and stalk technique. My favorite locations include several very steep canyons that are in close proximity to a traditional spring migration corridor for elk.
Spring is getting a late start in my neck-of-the-woods and the elk have been sticking to the valley floor longer than usual. This morning I found that the migration has finally started in earnest.
Over the course of a 12-mile stretch, I was treated to the sight of nearly a thousand elk. They were scattered across the slopes and down in the canyons engaged in every phase of migration from staging at the mouth of the corridor to full-speed-get-after-it in some of the bottlenecks.
This is the kind of experience most folks would attribute to the Serengeti plains! I am truly blessed to live in such a place as this.
Throughout the course of the morning I also saw plenty of mule deer and even had a close encounter with a young cow moose in thick timber.
It was pretty obvious, though no surprise, that winter is still king in the high country. Though I didn’t gain much elevation today I did traverse several miles of terrain that was covered in snow, some of it still three feet deep.
While glassing the upper elevations it was clear that I wouldn’t be getting above 9.000 feet for some time to come. The snow on high is much deeper and will not be gone any time soon.
Traveling over snow, especially under spring conditions can be tricky in this part of the world. When I first started across the snowfields this morning, the top crust was hard as rock. As the intense Wyoming sun did its work the consistency of the snow changed. In fact, it was because of the snow that I finished my day as early as I did. By the time I made it back to the truck what had been white concrete had taken on the characteristics of soft sand. It is an amazing transformation to witness.
I’ll never forget an experience several years ago when I waited too long to start back. I was on much deeper snow and the change had come on quickly. Rather than getting soft on top, the snow crust simply became brittle.
When I fell through in one particular location, I didn’t come to a stop until I was chest-deep in white powder. I can only imagine what it must have looked like as I struggled to get back on the crust and make way off the mountain. Such are the subtle dynamics of the northern Rockies.
As I arrived back at the truck today, clouds had settled in over the highest peaks. It was snowing again on top while the base of the canyon was filled with run-off both cold and deep, the geese were noisily defending their nesting sites, an orchestra of song birds were filling the air with music, and a lone osprey circled above a wide pool looking for lunch amid the swirling waters.
It’s hard coming back to civilization.
No, I didn’t see any bear today but that’s okay. It truly is early in the season and there’s plenty of time for the hunt. Besides, I wouldn’t want to use up all my luck on the first day of scouting.
One thing is for certain now that I’ve been out, I won’t be worth a plugged nickel in the office all next week…
Hello Dan,
William and I were not hunting bear but we did get out and hunt antlers. Even though the Elk Refuge is closed to the general public. The National Elk Refuge allows the Boy and Cub scouts to go out and pick up antlers. These are to be auctioned off at the town square later. William ( 10 years old ) was a trooper and kept at it for 2 1/2 hours. Picked up four five point antlers. GL on your bear hunting.Dennis
Good to hear William found some racks. Tell him I’m proud of him!
I’m beginning to see the pure thrill of spring bear hunting – and especially spot and stalk. This is the second year in a row my brother has drawn a tag to hunt them where dogs and bait is not allowed, and the bears are thick!
I’ve never experienced spring in the big mountains – but I can imagine! Interesting you’ve had a tough winter over there as our winter started out dumping snow, but hardly got any snow after mid January. The mountains are almost completely clean already. In fact we crossed a DRY streambed Saturday. That’s flat ridiculous.
Tom,
Thanks for visiting and commenting! You’ll have to join me sometime for a run through these hills. I just love this place, and spring is the best! Gotta admit, though, spring in the high country here is going to be a little while coming!