Bear Hunting Rocks

Spring bear season is almost here, so I sat down with Kolby Morehead from Bear Hunter Magazine for our latest episode of The Fair Chase podcast. We explored why bear hunting stands out as a unique, rewarding pursuit with no single “right” way to do it. It was the perfect episode for getting you stoked for the spring.

Kolby covered a variety of methods: spot-and-stalk in the Western mountains, cruising Alaska’s shores by boat, baiting, or running hounds. Each approach is legit and awesome, letting hunters choose what fits their style.

He also shared how adaptable bears are. Despite having a predator’s gut, only about 15% of their diet is meat, while the rest is berries and bugs. He finds their scat often full of cherry pits or acorn bits, showing how they thrive on whatever they can find.

We dug into stewardship too. Bear hunting is critical for proper wildlife management. Kolby explained how bears spread seeds and keep populations in check, making hunters part of something much bigger. It’s humbling, he said, connecting you to the wild in a real way.

Success isn’t guaranteed, either. Bears don’t follow your plans. Their food shifts, the weather changes and they roam where they want.

We hope this episode will fire you up for spring, and maybe convince you to try bear tacos. Slow-smoke a shoulder with onions and peppers, shred it, and pile it on. My family loves it. You will too.

Get out there this spring and hunt your way. Bears are worth it, for the challenge, the connection and the meat. Let us know what you think of the episode!

Happy hunting,