I'm off to Kamchatka on the 2nd of may, the forecast temps for the beginning of the hunt in Petropavlovsk are high 30's for the daytime highs and high 20's for the overnight lows.
Petropavlovsk is down in the southeastern coast at sea level, I believe the camp is a little over 300 miles to the north and maybe 1000 feet higher in altitude, so the temps will be a little bit lower there.

Is there an ideal temperature range for the bears to be moving around in spring?

no. bears don't have thermometers..least none of the ones i've killed have, mabye they toss them or swallow them when they see me coming.
seriously, it don't matter, this time of year they'll be getting more and more active...dens will be opening for the next month, so don't expect all the bears to be out by any stretch of the imgination.

and the cooler the temps, the less likely of seeing rubbed bears.
don't forget your snowshoes,gaiters,sunscreen
and a good pair of sunglasses.
sounds like there will be plenty of snow left.

Actually I think I might not have asked the question I wanted to; By temperatures, I meant what is the lowest temperature beras start coming out in spring?
It will be still be freezing, and I don't know much about bear behavior, so it seems to be a worry to me that with the temperatures still so low we will be hunting them.

Also, do they tend to come out of hibernation in any particular order?
Females with cubs first, or big males first, youngster first...is there any pattern to it?

There is no set temperature level that starts bears moving but is typically more likely a result of longer photo periods.
The older boars are usually the first out with sows with cubs coming out last. That is one reason it is not a good idea to hunt the dens.

Here along the Upper Yukon, the snow is finally melting off, ice should go out nx week if it stays warm like it has been. I plan on taking bait out to my barrel this weekend. It really gets active in early May.

Many of the locals feed their dogs salmon. Always some left over starting to rot & stink this time of year. That sure brings the bear in. My one neighbor shot a grizz in his yard a few years back; tearing up his fish racks.

OK- along the same lines but not trying to hijack the thread...I am on a boat hunt out of Homer April 30-May 5. I understand that the snow is meltig but is still there. Will there be many black bears out during my hunt? Sounds like spring was a little late in the area. Maybe more importantly- will we be able to catch crabs, prawns or halibut at this time to eat on the boat?

i have a buddy who hunts above the arctic circle in late may in negative zero temps and he takes some dandy bears! sows and cubs are out now in alot of places...so only take the big boar first as a generalization and not the rule..always double check what your getting ready to shoot at.

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Herald:
OK- along the same lines but not trying to hijack the thread...I am on a boat hunt out of Homer April 30-May 5. I understand that the snow is meltig but is still there. Will there be many black bears out during my hunt? Sounds like spring was a little late in the area. Maybe more importantly- will we be able to catch crabs, prawns or halibut at this time to eat on the boat?

In Southcentral most black bear hunting is done in late May. That isn't to say the bears don't start coming out in Late April, early May. I know folks have already been seeing bears.

Not sure if spring is late perse, but this April has been in the cool side with a fair number of late season snow storms. But the temps seem to finally be rising and I think spring is ont the way. As far as I know there is no shrimping out of Homer, well unless you head out in the gulf back towards Seward. Halibut are being caught, as well as king salmon.

Thanks!