Justin Nelson has been hunting spring bears in Idaho for 15 years. While he loves the challenge of backpack-style, spot-and-stalk hunts, he also runs bait sites most years.
It is always difficult for die-hard mountain hunters to pick a favorite season or species, but for Justin, spring bear is a top contender. It is a hunt he always looks forward to and one where he has found incredible success.
As the "bear guy" on the Exo staff, we asked Justin to answer questions that were submitted from the Exo community...
It’s my first year bear hunting in Idaho. Any advice?
If I’m spot-and-stalk hunting, glassing is my top priority. I want to be set up in the morning or late evening in a position that gives me the best view of a hillside. If I’m baiting, it really comes down to choosing the right site—dark, timbered areas near water, with careful attention to wind direction.
What are your “giveaways” or what do you look for at first when identifying the sex of a bear?
I look at the head shape. Females tend to have a more triangular profile, while boars are usually more square. You can especially see the difference where the face meets the snout—boars have a more blocky, squared-off transition.
What is the best way to move through the country to cover/glass an area? Walk the ridges or the bottoms?
Unlike deer and elk, bears don’t have great eyesight. Because of that, I usually take the path of least resistance—most often along the spine of a ridge.
How do you manage your time during each day? The long days can be hard to be out all day.
Most bear activity happens in the early morning and late evening. Midday is when I’m usually moving to new spots to set up and glass. If I’m already where I want to be, I’ll either look for sheds or grab a quick midday nap.
Are you doing longer backcountry trips or day trips from the truck and staying mobile at this point in the year?
Since I’ve been hunting bears for a long time, I usually commit to longer stays in areas I know hold bears. If I were new to bear hunting or exploring unfamiliar spots, I’d be much more inclined to stay mobile.
What should the plan be early season when there is only snow way up high?
I usually start right around the snow line. There are times bears will be lower, but most of the time they’re at or just below that edge. In low-snow years like this one, it gets tougher because that zone expands, giving you a lot more ground to cover to find them.
What are your go-to calling tactics?
I’ve never personally tried calling bears. I do remember watching an old video from Wayne Carlton where he successfully called bears using a distress call. The big takeaway was having a bear already in sight and being close enough to make it work.
What offers better terrain for bears — brushy rimrock or open hills close to timber?
I like hunting steep, rugged terrain—avalanche chutes, thick brush, and a mix of timber. I also make sure there’s water nearby, since spring hunts can get hot. Most of the time, the nastier and more remote the country, the better the chances it holds bears.
What is the most overlooked gear item for spring bear hunts?
A backpacking camp chair is a must for me. There’s a lot of downtime and glassing, so staying comfortable really matters. I run Crazy Creek chairs.
What habitat features do you look for on maps?
When I’m e-scouting, I focus on spots that let me glass as much country as possible. I’m looking for an elevated perch that gives me a clear, wide view. Bears don’t stay out in the open for long, so I look for areas you can clearly see that are right next to timber or thick brush—that edge habitat tends to be the most productive.
What are your late-season tips for hunting bears in the last week of May?
Early or late in the season, my overall strategy doesn’t change much. I still focus on covering a lot of country and getting into the best glassing positions before prime bear movement times. If I’m hunting later in the season, it’s typically over bait.
Should we set a treestand on a bear that we have on camera? We have seen him multiple times at random hours.
It really depends on whether the photos are from a bait site, where the bear might be likely to return. If it’s a trail, wallow, or similar area, it gets a lot tougher—you’d need significant time and days of observation to try to establish a pattern for when he’s coming through again. But if it’s a bait site, I would absolutely hang a tree stand.
Do you prefer backpack hunting or a “run and gun” style from a basecamp?
Backpack hunting is my preferred method. I like waking up, having coffee, and getting right behind the glass. I feel more effective doing that than hiking back to a base camp every day and burning energy just to get in and out. I’d rather push into new canyons and cover several miles.
Is it worth hunting in the mornings for coastal black bears in Alaska?
I’ve never hunted bears in Alaska, but I’d have a hard time skipping the morning hours. On a destination hunt like that, I want to be in the field taking advantage of every minute. I typically see similar bear activity in the mornings as I do in the evenings.
What is your favorite handgun for bear defense, and what load are you shooting in it?
I only carry a pistol for bear, lion, or wolf when I’m archery hunting. I’ve never had any close calls with black bears, but when I do carry, it’s a Glock 19 loaded with G9 Defense Woodsman Defense 9mm +P 124-grain solid copper rounds.
There is little snow in the mountains this year. What are your predictions on where the bears will be? Stick to the snowline still?
On a recent trip, I saw one bear at around 3,000 feet and seven more between 4,000 and 6,000 feet. Even with that spread, I’d still focus most of my time around the snow line or just below it.
Do you shoot more bears with or without a mustache?
Right now it's about 50/50… but I’m convinced the mustache is due for a breakout season. Thinking about signing it to a long-term deal.
What’s your glassing setup this year?
Aziak Backcountry Lite, Aziak Vantage Panhead, Swaro NL Pure 10x42, SLC TA Bino Adapter paired with Kestrel Ring Adapter.
Best time of day to find bears?
Evenings have been best—5 pm to dark. If there’s still light, I’m capitalizing and making a move instead of trying to turn that same bear up the next morning.
Is seeing other animals (deer, elk, etc.) in an area you’re hoping to spot bears a bad sign?
Not necessarily—most of my go-to bear spots also have plenty of deer and elk around.
If you kill a bear every year, what do you do with the hides? Mine are piling up!
Biggest dilemma with bear hunting… If I didn’t like eating bear meat so much, I’d probably get way more selective and only chase the most mature bears. As it is, most of mine end up soft-tanned and hang on a coat rack. I have already spent way too much on full rugs.
More Bear Hunting Resources...
- Spring Bear Hunting Gear List
- Start Hunting Spring Bears — The Basics You Need to Know
- "ONE DAY DOUBLE" — Recapping Our Spring Bear Hunt
- DIY Alaska Black Bear Hunt (A Listener Story)
- "No Bait, Just Bears." Black Bear Hunting Tactics with Douglas Boze
- Author & Bear Expert, Douglas Boze, Answers Your Bear Hunting Questions