She made me pucker

[boneaddict]

I was looking for bear and was in an area I often find them this time of year.  The elderberries had been hammered.  Good thing those thing grow well.   I kept making my way around the face of the mountain on what some would call a goat trail in the rental, and started climbing the main canyon.  I started seeing plants that hadn't been hit yet.  I knew I should be seeing something soon.  Sure enough, I saw it moving across the brush patch from me.  It was about 40 yards or so.  I climbed up on the truck so I could nail a pic or two.  How cute, three cubs.  I kept waiting for them to move forward for some good shots.  The cubs grew bored with mom and headed back to eating.  I thought I could slip down the road and throw a rock and maybe they'd move up the hill.  Well, one of the cubs was eating in a bush and I was trying to get his pics.  Now is when the excitement started.  I was focusing on the cub and I heard a rush in the brush headed straight for me.  It was zigging and zagging, all of a sudden a rabbit burst from the brush and essentially went bewteen my legs, (the monopod and my legs)  THANKFULLY the bear gave up on its pursuit and went to sniffing its trail.  The cub stuck its head out of the bush about 3 feet in front of me.  All I could do was sit and stare.  He was too close to focus.  Much to my surprise he just mozied back into the bush.  I took a breath then turned ever so slightly and noticed movement off to my left.  I turned and there was a bear standing about 15 feet to my left.  I was like HOLY CRAP.  I had been "keeping track" of mom I thought.  Two cubs were accounted for.  I couldn't move to take his picture.  He entered the brush.   Time passed and out came the chocolate cub (there were two)  I tooka bunch of pics of him and then his brother came out, a little blackie.  I now had mom still in front of me in the rocks(the other bear was just that, another bear), two cubs next to me and one behind me about equal to my truck.  ALL OF A SUDDEN WOOOF.  Mom smelled that other bear I guess.   The chocolate cub behind me rushed by, the blakc one went up a tree and the other chocolate disappeared up the hill.   I eyeballed the truck and started headed that way.  I made the mistake to stop and take a picture of the cub up the tree.  MOM BURST FROM THE BRUSH and squared off on me.  I didn't move.  I managed to snap a couple pics.  I was trying to decide if I could make it to the truck uphill, exactly equal the distance as the bear.   This is when you have the thought, I am about ready to have my ass handed to me and I know better.  i absolutely knew I was in a bad way.  The bow was in the truck, abandoned as soon as I knew it was a sow, replaced with a camera.  Funny I thought I hope she doesn't hurt the lens. (Dumb thought I know)  Well I knew she would have a headstart as I wouldn't move until she did.  I was bunched and ready to launch.  I didn't want to intimidate her.  I held my ground and didn't move.  I don't think she was worried about me anyway but the other bear, but thats how I got attacked last time.  She looked over her shoulder and turned I immediately started backing up.  She turned and looked and I froze.  She barked and the black cub came out of the tree and off>  VERY COOL, but very YIKES and I know better.  I'll get the pics added to my bear thread as soon as I can.  I should have some good ones.  Saw ten...11 bear last night and this morning.  None worth taking.

[boneaddict]

This was her about ready to issue me an ass kickin.'   By the way, she was a decent sized sow. 

[runamuk]

 

can't wait to see the pics......

ok I posted as you uploaded one....she sure is a nice looking bear.....

[Huntbear]

Dang Bone, you just want to be come a bear poo pile so you can take a pic from the inside out???  

Time to be more careful dude..  but very cool that you are seeing that many bears.

[boneaddict]

Yea, I really do know way better.  I backed off from another sow and cub earlier.  Smart once, dumb the second time.  These guys were about on their own.  Sure pretty.  Nice to see a pretty bear at 3 feet, chocolate with the sun on him.  I'm not much of a chocolate bear fan, but they were pretty.


.

[boneaddict]

Its too bad she was in the shade.  Thats NOT cropped.  The cub was just to the right. 

[Big10gauge]

Hope you didn't get anything on you truck seat when you sat in it afterwards  Nice pics but maybe too much excitement for me anymore.

[boneaddict]

The cub chasin the rabbit was excitement enough. LOL   Glad it couldn't keep up with the rabbit. 

[boneaddict]

He came out for a visit prior to mom issueing a command.

[boneaddict]

One of the brown ones at about 20 feet or so....AMAZINGLY CURIOUS

[shoot-em-dead]

you are out of your mind.

[boneaddict]

Just added this one to "in the background"

[runamuk]

gorgeous chocolate cub.......and I like how well you can see the weeds stuck to their fur 

[boneaddict]

Thanks run.   If I had my macro on, you could have seen the Iris of this ones brothers eye.  This one was in the bush about 20 feet away.  This is full frame, through the brush on manual focus.  His brother was probably more like 2feet or less from the lens hood straight in front.  Too close for focus.  I snapped a couple quick ones.  I was waiting for him to spook or bawl which would have brought mom full bore to me, and me in retreat to the truck.  She was about 50 yards up the hill in the rocks.  He didn't though.  he looked at me a long time, and I really enjoyed that.  he then stuck his nose tot he ground and headed back to the berry patch.  VERY COOL, but playing with TNT


Sad to think one of my last living thoughts were going to be of Pope.  LOL  I was thinking he probably has two cameras around his neck. LOL.  Course you can probably run faster with one.

[Caseyd]

Great pics

Just take Pope with you next time......that way he can distract them while you make it to the truck