Spring Bear Hunts

There are a lot of bear in Unit 39. This is one of the most prevalent species in our area.

We have developed a 3-day hunt for individuals, which has proven to be a reasonable amount of time to get a bear. This 3-day hunt starts at $3000 for an individual. If your group has 2 or more hunters, we can customize the trip for your party, so everyone has an honest chance at filling their tag. If you have 2 hunters, we recommend a 4 - 5 day hunt, whereas if you have 3 or more hunters, we recommend a 5 - 7 day hunt.

Harry runs the hound hunting at Youren Outfitters. He has a gang of bear dogs that do a fantastic job. His hounds have walker blood, but they’re mixed with any hound that hunts or has hunted well in the past. We also like to take some terriers and sight dogs, like greyhounds, to help support the hounds if there’s any snout to snout combat.

History

Harry hunted back in the day when houndsman used triangulation to find their dogs. These are the days when you might not hear your dog or know where it’s at, but you know you have to walk 2 miles straight up hill to get them. Now, Harry mixes old-school tactics with a modern touch of technology and a ‘catch a bear by any means’ mentality. Harry has hunted all over the Contiguous northwest and up in British Columbia, grizzly country, since before he can remember. His father was a master houndsman throughout the second half of the 20th century. With all of his hound hunting experience and the consistent hunting he does for his dogs, even when there’s no clients, it’s no mystery as to why Harry is one of the most revered houndsman in Idaho.

A New Breed of Houndsman

We use Dodge pickups equipped with dog boxes, BC-radios, and Garmin technology to hunt in the most efficient way possible.

Over the last 20 or so years, Harry has taught his dogs to ‘strike on the box’. This means we can drive the backcountry roads, deep in bear country, and the dogs can help us from inside the dog box. The dogs are actually trained to ‘blow-up’, and start barking, when they smell a bear in the area. Many times, we get out, look for a track, and there it is! It’s an incredible advantage to have dogs that can give us this alert. Harry will often let his best dogs out to investigate. Because they are so well trained, they usually don’t get too off track if we decide to keep searching for a better bear. 

Each morning starts at camp, with a 4:30 wake-up call. We get up early, so the dogs can do their work before it gets too hot. A morning hunting system has proven to be the most successful method for Youren Outfitters. We hunt hard when the temperature is manageable, then, let the dogs rest when it is hot and we’re less likely to catch a bear. On a typical Idaho day, it can get up into the 70’s or higher by noon. We hunt hard until it gets too hot for the dogs. This gives the dogs plenty of time to rest and get rejuvenated for the next morning.

A normal morning consists of Harry loads the dogs and preps for the day while the hunter and the crew has a light breakfast at camp. If it’s really chilly, we can get a fire going to get the blood flowing. 45 minutes later, we hit the road. You jump in the rig with Harry, and we run rugged, dirt roads throughout the Boise Mountains. When the dogs strike or we cut a truck, we start the chase! We discuss what type of bear you’re looking for and this affects the bears we decide to chase. In some cases we will ‘start a bear’ within an hour of leaving camp, but other times we don’t start one until 10 in the morning. 

If we don’t start a bear off the road, perhaps a bear never came close to the road the night before, we walk draws and do our best to get into their habitat. This is a mix of old-school and new-school, as not many hunters can walk like Harry. If you have your ‘walking legs’ with you, you can venture through the draws and across the ridges with Harry and the dogs. If not, (don’t feel bad, the assistant guides can hardly keep up with Harry), you can always stay in the pickup with the assistants and watch Harry and the dogs through through the GPS while glassing other areas. We have radio communication too; so, if he starts a bear, we’ll get you to the action right away 

This is all part of the Youren experience; you really never know exactly how it will go. When we have the right bear treed, Harry will help you make the best decision and shot. He has seen so many bear, making him the perfect consultant.

The Allure of Hunting Bear with Hounds

Another part of bear hunting that deserves recognition, is the unique style in which it is conducted. This isn’t an elk hunt where you creep through the woods for a week, trying to be stealthy. Bear hunting with Youren Outfitters is a fast-paced, action packed adventure. We’re chasing bear through their territory, so there’s lots of communication, driving and trying to anticipate where we can cut the bear off, dumping more dogs into the chase, and walking drainages and ridges. 

There’s too many stories and laughs in the truck and at camp to count-we’ve got a fun group. Harry and the guides are serious when hunting, but hunting itself is all about having a good time and doing what you love; maybe that’s why Harry is so successful. Also, we like to kill and understand that a lot of hunters leave happier with a punched tag.

FLEXIBILITY & ABILITY TO MATCH YOUR VISION

Again, this experience is $2500 for an individual. You will get you 3 mornings with Harry chasing bear and running hounds. The afternoons are mellow, as we hang out at camp and get a nap. For an extra $500, totaling $3000, we will also take you to some scenic, active glassing spots in the afternoons or evenings. The probability and productivity numbers are lower for spot & stalk, but this is beautiful country and with bears, ‘you never know’. It’s all about having a great time and an authentic experience with some lifelong, Idaho hunters.

If you’re into fishing and want to test your luck independently on the Boise River or the North Fork, you can do just that.  

Next year, we will also be offering baited hunts. Our vision, is to take hunters out by boat on the Boise River, and glass baits across the river, up drainages. These are spots we’ve recognized are untouched by almost all hunters in the area, as nobody can reach this area normally. These hunts will be priced similarly, and we are happy to combine them with the true Youren experience of hound hunting. 

GETTING TO CAMP, TAGS, & LOGISTICS

If you live local and want to drive your own rig, you can meet us in town right near Boise. We will head to camp in convoy fashion. If you’re flying in or want a ride, we can pick you up in Boise at the airport or at an agreed-upon location.

Camp is 3 hours away from Boise Airport in the middle of the hunting area. We do a classic style hunting camp with a cook stove, sheep-herder tents, and all the chairs and fixings you may need to be comfortable. Meals, food, snacks, and beer if you want it is included in the price of the hunt. We customize our grocery list and planned meals to match your preferences. We are flexible and will do whatever it takes to make you feel comfortable and ready to hunt.

Getting your license and tag is usually a seamless process. To take a bear out of our unit, you can purchase an “Over-The-Counter” bear tag. No draw, no hassle. 

This is a hunting area with no service. Sometimes at the top of certain drainages we can get a bar, but prepare for no service.