Hunting the opening week of spring season - Idaho or Montana

[gtriple]

Due to some other life plans, the only week that I can go spring bear hunting next year is opening week through the 22nd of April. I would be spot and stalk hunting. Obviously a lot depends on the weather conditions leading up to the season, but what has other people's experiences been like opening week?

Are the bears typically awake and/or out of their dens enough to be hunted?

Is a truck with chains usually enough? What about snowmobiles or ATVs?

Would it be better to target the areas that open season earlier than April 15th?

Any preference for MT vs ID?

Feel free to PM if you don't want something public.

 

[mike.adams.467]

You will need to pick an area that is pretty low in elevation, if you want to access it by mid-April. Most forest service roads will still be snowed in at that time.

 

[Shimmybro3]

That's probably too early for NW MT (Region 1).

 

[TheTone]

Highly area and winter dependent as others have said. One of the areas I’ve hunted in the past has basically been snow free in early March and I’ve seen bears out on different years mid April has been really snowy and miserable still.