Black Bear Hunts

WCOA spring black bear hunts are the most relaxing yet highest success rate and action packed hunts we offer. Black bear numbers in the Selway are at an all time high. Regulations allow two bear per hunter and baiting in Idaho.

The Selway has a wide variety of colored bear including black, brown, red, cinnamon, and blond. Over the years, our average bear has squared out at six feet with many being larger. This is a low hunting pressure unit. Our base camp is 65 miles from the nearest paved highway.

On these bear hunts you will primarily hunt over bait making it a hunt good for any weapon. By using baits, you will see more bear and be better able to judge the animals for sex, size, and color before shooting.

All hunts take place from one of our three back country bear camps. These camps are a 2 to 3 hour pack in from the Paradise Base Camp. We ride out 30 to 90 minutes to bait sites each evening from your backcountry camp. Generally 4 - 5 hours are spent sitting in a ground blind or tree stand. A guide is nearby to help skin and pack out your meat.

The later in the season we hunt the higher the baits are set. On our later hunts the bears have been denned up longer and are less likely to have rub marks on their hides. Not only does this higher elevation offer bears with beautiful, lofty hides, we also tend to kill some of the larger boars on these later hunt due to the breeding season that is taking place in June.

The weather is generally mild with temperatures ranging from the low 50's to mid 80's. On these hunts you will get to see the Selway in the spring with high water run-offs and mountain flowers in full bloom. This is an excellent hunt for all ages because it is less physically demanding than others. This hunt makes a wonderful mother/father/son/daughter or husband/wife combination. Non-hunters can come and enjoy the serenity of the Selway - Bitterroot wilderness and spend time just relaxing and taking in the sights.

Due to the nature of these hunts unless booking (one hunter with one guide) specifically, these hunts have no specific hunter to guide ratio, however rarely will a guide take more than 3 hunters out in one evening.

• Pack in Spring Bear Hunts
  This is a 7 day hunt with 5 hunting days
  
  Late April through June
  
  $2300 + 6% sales tax per person for one bear - no set ratio of hunter/guide
  $1795 + 6% sales tax per person - Child 21 & under
  $1295 + 6% sales tax per person - non-hunter rate
  $2750 + 6% sales tax per person for two bear hunt
  
  New regulations allow each hunter to harvest 2 black bear.
  

• Pack in Fall Bear Hunts
  August 31 - September 6
  
  $2300 + 6% sales tax per person for one bear - no set ratio of hunter/guide
  $1795 + 6% sales tax per person - Child 21 & under
  $1295 + 6% sales tax per person - non-hunter rate
  $2750 + 6% sales tax for two bear hunt
  
  New regulations allow each hunter to harvest 2 black bear.
  
• Fall Bear and Deer Combination
  October 13 - 19
  
  $2750 + 6% sales tax per person for one Bear and one Deer - no set ratio of hunter/guide
  $3000 + 6% sales tax for two Bears and one Deer - no set ratio of hunter/guide
• Bear Tag
  $31.75 each (up to two) valid 4/1 - 6/30 and 9/1 - 11/18
  $141.50 Non Resident Hunting License - required to purchase tags
  
  Deer Tag
  $258 - Deer Tag
  $141.50 - Non Resident Hunting License - required to purchase tags
  
  You can apply over the phone, through us, by calling 800 203-3246. Please have the following information ready before you call us: full name, address, phone number, height, weight, hair color, eye color, DOB, DL#, SS# and hunter safety number if born after Jan. 1, 1975.

- Gratuities are greatly appreciated by the staff