capoeirajosh Report post Posted March 31, 2014 Just picked up my otc bear tag and am super excited for this year's bear hunting! Unfortunately, I did not put in for the spring archery hunt though. I have never been on a spring bear hunt. Are these draw hunts good hunts like the fall hunts? Is it tough to get drawn for them? Reading about some of these hunts is making me kind of bummed that I didn't try putting in! How are the success rates on these spring hunts? I tried looking up info on the g&f site, but couldn't find anything pertaining to spring bear success rates. Thanks in advance! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lcyardball Report post Posted March 31, 2014 I heard the success rate is really poor, heard 2% from someone 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Browns Report post Posted March 31, 2014 I've had the spring Archery & OTC tag 3 times over the past couple of years. They are really, really, really hard! You have to spend a lot of time in the woods. My advise is to find some good water sources and wait until June. They will start moving a lot more as it gets warmer. I was lucky last year and Killed a small Bear with my Bow, but it was pure LUCK!!!! The Fall is a much better hunt! Adam 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLW Report post Posted March 31, 2014 look up the harvest data book..... I think 2012 that may just be total harvest though, not sure. James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
capoeirajosh Report post Posted March 31, 2014 Is it hard to get drawn? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildwoody Report post Posted March 31, 2014 good luck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
capoeirajosh Report post Posted April 1, 2014 />I've had the spring Archery & OTC tag 3 times over the past couple of years. They are really, really, really hard! You have to spend a lot of time in the woods. My advise is to find some good water sources and wait until June. They will start moving a lot more as it gets warmer. I was lucky last year and Killed a small Bear with my Bow, but it was pure LUCK!!!! The Fall is a much better hunt! Adam I just read your story again about your bear since you posted it. Such an awesome story. :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mbiewer Report post Posted April 1, 2014 i've never tried going ouT for bear. I would love to go for the expereince and see whats that like. Thanks for posting this and asking so many questions. I was curious too. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
capoeirajosh Report post Posted April 1, 2014 You would think that it would be better than the fall hunt being it is so hard to get drawn. Am I mistaken with this? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rombo Report post Posted April 2, 2014 Fall hunts are much better!!! Spring hunt is an "opportunity" for those who get cabin fever all summer, like me! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZBearhunter Report post Posted April 2, 2014 Fall hunts are hands down your best odds of finding good bears. Plus in the fall hunts there are most opportunities to glass, given that bears like to feed on pears if the year is right. Draw hunts are very hot, and very difficult to hunt. Takes a lot of work and time. Fall hunt provides way more opportunities at a good bear and less amount of invested time in comparison to the draw hunt. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Browns Report post Posted April 2, 2014 /> I've had the spring Archery & OTC tag 3 times over the past couple of years. They are really, really, really hard! You have to spend a lot of time in the woods. My advise is to find some good water sources and wait until June. They will start moving a lot more as it gets warmer. I was lucky last year and Killed a small Bear with my Bow, but it was pure LUCK!!!! The Fall is a much better hunt! Adam I just read your story again about your bear since you posted it. Such an awesome story. :-) Thanks, It was a very exciting day! Getting a Bear in the Spring can be done, but it takes a lot more work and knowledge of the area's Bear's live in. Bears are much more predictable in the Fall. Find some water, Pears, Oaks and you will generally find some Bears. Don't get frustrated if you dont see any Bears your first couple of times out. They can be difficult to find, but once you figure them out you will start seeing them on a regular basis. Good Luck! Adam 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
capoeirajosh Report post Posted April 3, 2014 Thanks everyone! Man, all this talk about bears is getting me super pumped for this season! Cannot friggin wait! I am tempted to just head out for the spring otc just to get out there to try and find a bear, haha. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZBearhunter Report post Posted April 3, 2014 Thanks everyone! Man, all this talk about bears is getting me super pumped for this season! Cannot friggin wait! I am tempted to just head out for the spring otc just to get out there to try and find a bear, haha. You can't find one sitting at home. Head out, you never know what you might find. I called in and killed my first Mt Lion last year on the OTC bear hunt. You never know. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Browns Report post Posted April 3, 2014 Thanks everyone! Man, all this talk about bears is getting me super pumped for this season! Cannot friggin wait! I am tempted to just head out for the spring otc just to get out there to try and find a bear, haha. The best thing about spring Bear is you get to hunt Bear's while shed hunting:) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
