Spring Bear Hunting

Spring black bear hunting is one of the most misunderstood and hardest hunts in the West. In this episode of the Rokcast, Jaden sits down with Joe Kondelis, founder of the American Bear Foundation, to break down what it actually takes to find and hunt black bears in the spring. From early failures and lost bears to dialing in habitat, green-up, and timing, Joe shares the hard lessons that turned frustration into long-term success in the bear woods. They dig into what makes good black bear country and how spot-and-stalk and still-hunting strategies change as spring progresses.

The conversation also dives deep into black bear conservation and why hunter advocacy matters now more than ever. Joe explains Wyoming’s bear quota system, groundbreaking research on bear movement and harvest vulnerability, and why mature boars are harder to kill than most hunters realize. They wrap up by talking utilizing bear meat, bear fat, and how bear hunters can use a ton of the animal. Plus, they talk about how organizations like the American Bear Foundation help protect future bear hunting opportunities. This is a practical conversation for anyone planning a spring bear hunt this winter, or wanting to better understand bears on the landscape.

Spring Black Bear Hunting

Links:

You can discuss this episode with Jaden here

Previous articleTT#71 Trail Goods Company – Partnering with Hunters for Epic Adventures
Robby Denning
Robby Denning started hunting mule deer in the late 1970’s, only missing one season in 35 years. At 25, he gave up the pursuit of all other big-game to focus on taking the best bucks possible. He began hunting the West on a DIY budget hunting an average of 30 days a year for mule deer. Robby loves the hunt as much as the kill and the entire process from research to scouting to hunting. He’s killed four bucks over 200 inches in the last 15 seasons, mostly on easily-obtained tags. He owns a public-land scouting service and runs a private-land outfitting business helping other hunters in their pursuit of deer and elk. Robby has scouted and hunted literally thousands of square miles of mule deer country and brings a wealth of knowledge about these experiences with him. To him, the weapon of choice is just a means-to-an-end and will hunt with bow, rifle, or muzzleloader – whatever it takes to create an opportunity to take a great mule deer. He is also the author of "Hunting Big Mule Deer" available on Amazon. Robby believes all of creation is from God for man to manage, respect, and through which to know its Creator