Author Dan Lamoreux took this cinnamon-phase black bear with his .270 on a spot-and-stalk hunt in Wyoming. Photo courtesy of Dan Lamoreux.

Black bears live almost everywhere along the spine of the Rocky Mountains. But if putting Ursus americanus in your trophy room is the goal, then not all states are created equal.

Take a look at the information below and then make some new entries on your destinations list. These four states in particular -- Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado -- could provide fall bruin chasers an incredible opportunity for a challenging and freezer-filling experience.

IDAHO
The black bear population in the Gem State is very healthy, said Brad Compton, big-game manager for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

"Especially compared with 50 years ago, we have bears in more places and there are more of them," he said. "They really provide a lot of opportunities all over the state."

In fact, it would seem that these opportunities are underutilized.

The last decade or so has seen the Idaho bear population remain fairly stable for the most part. The exploitation rate is low: about a 2 percent to 5 percent harvest rate. The state would like to see these harvest levels increased in some locations.

"Where we'd really like to direct more folks is into the Lolo, Dworshak and Selway areas," Compton said. "These regions are fairly remote and the bear population can handle lots of hunting."

Additionally, large predators have been taking a toll on the elk populations in these areas and sportsmen would do themselves a favor by helping in management of the meat eaters.

One of the unique attributes of the Idaho experience is that sportsmen are allowed to pursue bears using a variety of techniques that are not permitted in many other places.

"Idaho is great for bear hunting," said hunter Cory Glauner. "You can use all three styles of hunting -- spot-and-stalk, bait and hounds."

Glauner knows bears. He took his first bear with a bow at the age of 13 and has been chasing them ever since.

All three methods for hunting bears mentioned above have unique attributes and drawbacks. Preparation and planning can have a huge impact on the results of each.

"If you're going to bait bears on your own rather than with a guide, expect to spend a season or two before you really do any good," said Glauner, who owns Outdoors International, a sportsman's booking agency. "It's certainly possible to bring a bear in right away. But realistically, it takes a while to create a honeyhole. Plan on your bear bait-hunt being a long-term project."

One of the benefits of setting baits is the potential to see multiple bears and to evaluate these animals in a controlled situation. In addition to size, the color of the animal can be observed and judged for trophy quality based upon individual taste and desires.

Color phase refers to those black bears that are not actually black. Their coat color can range from light blond to coal black and hues in between.

Hunting behind hounds, however, leaves little time for counting colors. This is not a sport for the meek at heart!