collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Wife's CF Spring Bear.  (Read 9479 times)

Offline billythekidrock

  • Varmint
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 13440
Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« on: May 30, 2009, 10:42:20 AM »
We have been hunting pretty hard for 6 weeks without a bear sighting and the sign is drying up. Bears had been feeding pretty hard on grass in a couple spots, but we could never run into them and now their diets are changing to trees and grubs.

Most of our hunts were from 5 pm until 9 pm after work and then from about 7 am till noon on the weekends. And to top it off, it is pretty tough hunting with a 7 year old by your side. The hunts mostly consisted of us hiking in and getting her set up, then my son and I would hike out and either scout or play by some water where it was cool. The last few times out she was hiking back by herself, leaving us to do our thing.

Thursday after work my back was going out and I did not feel like going anywhere but when she got home I could tell she wanted to go hunting and by 6:30 pm we were leaving the house.

By 7 pm she was hiking to her spot and Billy and I were on our own. After hiking and playing we were back at the trailhead by about 8:30 listening to music with the motor off and the windows part way down to have a breeze but yet keep the bugs out.

We were listening to the 80’s at 8 when I thought I heard a shot and quickly turned off the radio. Now most of you know how it goes on state land…tons of shooting. Beth was hunting in a draw between two valleys and both hillsides tend to have target shooters. Normally I don’t think much of the shots, but this night I hadn’t heard a single shot so it definitely had my attention.

We got out of the truck to listen for more shots and after hearing none; we grabbed the camera, a tarp and a packboard. This is when I realized that I was not as prepared as I would have liked. Only one headlamp, only one knife, only one packboard (my crappy/broke one) and my good (stocked) daybag was at home. :bash:

We waited for about 5 minutes before hiking about halfway back and we only waited there for a couple minutes before I could see her coming out. She told me she had shot at a small bear and felt it was a good hit but that it ran into the timber.

We went back to where she shot and she showed me where it came out and where it went back in. She also pointed to where she heard some “noises” after the shot. It seemed that the bear went in the direction of the trail that we needed to take to get around the swamp.

Since it was getting dark I had her and Billy hang back as to not foul up any sign that may be needed for tracking. I found a spot where the bear had run, but no blood. A little backtracking and doubling around did no good either. After a couple minutes it was too dark to see in the timber so I started to head out for a light. As I neared the area that the “noises” came from I looked back into the swamp grass and saw a black spot…actually a black and red spot.

I called Beth and Billy over and we took a couple pics, gutted it, rolled it up in the tarp and tied it to the packboard. Luckily we weren’t too far from the truck. It was nearly pitch black in the timber but I only fell once. :bash:

Definitely not the one we were after, but it is a bear and she did most of it on her own.

She could hear him feeding when he first came out at 8:20 and then he fed for about 5 minutes in a little dip on the right side of the swamp without giving her a broadside shot. Then he headed into the timber. She is not comfortable with moving shots so she let him go. She was bummed and thought she missed her chance.

About ten minutes later she could hear him feeding on grass on the left but just out of sight. At first she thought it was the muskrat that had been feeding right in front of her. She tried to get a look and there was the bear. He was in a low spot and partially blocked by brush so she watched him feed for about 3 minutes before he fully came into view.

He was going from left to right as he came up out of the dip on the left side of the swamp and she shot him right behind his right shoulder. He ran into the timber and angled to the left and then headed back into the edge of the swamp where we found him.





I am very proud of her. She put a lot of time and energy into this hunt and at times had to practically drag me out of the house. She was willing to use both the ecall and a hand call as well as to sit quietly for hours. She also hiked into some real nasty spots and got bug bit pretty good. She passed up a couple shot opportunities on this bear that most of us would have taken, but she wanted only a broadside shot.




Offline Huntbear

  • I am a BAD Kitteh
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 9615
  • Location: Wandering Lost East of the Mountains
  • Y.A.R. Jester aka Smart Ass
    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1236486665
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2009, 10:47:23 AM »
Congrats on the bear... Looks like your wife did a bang up job.
By my honorable conduct as a hunter let me give a good example and teach new hunters principles of honor, so that each new generation can show respect for their god, other hunters and the animals, and enjoy the dignity of the hunt.

Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented immigrant' is like calling a drug dealer an 'unlicensed pharmacist'.

Offline saylean

  • Team Slayer Packmule
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jun 2007
  • Posts: 8380
  • Location: Stanwood
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2009, 11:14:15 AM »
Congrats on sealing the deal, to your whole family. Nice write up/pics. I think I missed it...was this her first?

 :tup:

That swamp pic had been posted earlier in the season right? Looks familiar. (not like I had been there, but that I had seen it on here.)

Offline joebear

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Dec 2008
  • Posts: 246
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2009, 11:39:58 AM »
great job. Its always nice to see families making it happen!!!
work hard and reap the reward or dont and get left behind!!!

Offline Machias

  • Trapper
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 18690
  • Location: Worley, ID
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2009, 11:42:47 AM »
Awesome, I have been hoping you guys have good luck and harvest a ncie bear.  Congrats!!!
Fred Moyer

When it's Grim, be the GRIM REAPER!

Offline Jeremy S

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 380
    • jeremysample.net
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2009, 12:03:06 PM »
Awesome! I hope to have my first bear this year.
Instagram: @jeremy.sample @backcountryconnection

Offline rasbo

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 20149
  • Location: Grant county
  • In God I trust...Try taking that away from me!
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2009, 12:04:23 PM »
great job,good pics to...whats she gonna do with it :drool:

Offline KillBilly

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 3667
  • Location: OLY, WA.
  • I kill therefore I Am
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2009, 12:05:30 PM »
Congrats on sealing the deal, to your whole family. Nice write up/pics. I think I missed it...was this her first?

 :tup:

That swamp pic had been posted earlier in the season right? Looks familiar. (not like I had been there, but that I had seen it on here.)

Doug
It is more like her 4th or 5th bear, hard to remember but she is no novice at killing bear.
Some people spend their entire life wondering if they made a difference. Marines don't have that problem.
He who shed blood with me shall forever be my brother.

Offline KillBilly

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 3667
  • Location: OLY, WA.
  • I kill therefore I Am
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2009, 12:06:45 PM »
great job,good pics to...whats she gonna do with it :drool:

She is going to send a picture to you so you can add it to your spring bear tag soup... :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Some people spend their entire life wondering if they made a difference. Marines don't have that problem.
He who shed blood with me shall forever be my brother.

Offline Kain

  • Scalpless
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 5859
  • Location: Vantucky, WA
  • VantuckyKain
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2009, 12:12:39 PM »
Very cool.  Thanks for the story.  You are very lucky to have a family that hunts together. 

Offline Huntbear

  • I am a BAD Kitteh
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 9615
  • Location: Wandering Lost East of the Mountains
  • Y.A.R. Jester aka Smart Ass
    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1236486665
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #10 on: May 30, 2009, 12:30:00 PM »
great job,good pics to...whats she gonna do with it :drool:

She is going to send a picture to you so you can add it to your spring bear tag soup... :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:

 :yike: :yike:  Wow, that is hard core harsh!!!!  I Like IT!!!   :chuckle: :chuckle:
By my honorable conduct as a hunter let me give a good example and teach new hunters principles of honor, so that each new generation can show respect for their god, other hunters and the animals, and enjoy the dignity of the hunt.

Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented immigrant' is like calling a drug dealer an 'unlicensed pharmacist'.

Offline bucklucky

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2007
  • Posts: 9541
  • Location: Skookumchuck Wa.
    • Charlie Smith
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #11 on: May 30, 2009, 01:08:43 PM »
SWEET! I have been wondering how the hunting was going .  Congrats to your woman Willie!

Offline rougheye

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2007
  • Posts: 1054
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #12 on: May 30, 2009, 01:14:19 PM »
That great   :IBCOOL:   Tell her CONGRATS

Offline billythekidrock

  • Varmint
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 13440
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #13 on: May 30, 2009, 01:29:14 PM »
Thanks guys. I will try to answer all in one post.

 Yes, I am lucky to have a wife that not only tolerates all my hunting, but one that hunts as well. Though we may have broke my boy. He said he is tired of the forest.

This is her 1st bear in about ten years, but her 4th bear overall.

The hide wasn't really rubbed, but he didn't have any under fur so we are not going to do anything with it.

The original swamp pic was posted earlier. We found a lot of sign there in the begining and it was close to home.




Offline bearmanric

  • RIP Colockumelk
  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 4176
  • Location: Tenino Wa
  • Tenino Wa
    • Rick Robbins  rrcalls
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #14 on: May 30, 2009, 02:06:59 PM »
Awsome misse's billy the  kid Rock. her and billy been at it a while. i remember storie's at bear camp in the mid 90's. were billy was calling and she would say there is one standing there. i remember those thing's. your lucky billy. Rick :)
RIP Colockumelk
Facebook rrcalls no website.

Offline billythekidrock

  • Varmint
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 13440
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #15 on: May 30, 2009, 02:11:35 PM »
Awsome misse's billy the  kid Rock. her and billy been at it a while. i remember storie's at bear camp in the mid 90's. were billy was calling and she would say there is one standing there. i remember those thing's. your lucky billy. Rick :)

Thanks Rick.
I remember that too.




Offline saylean

  • Team Slayer Packmule
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jun 2007
  • Posts: 8380
  • Location: Stanwood
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #16 on: May 30, 2009, 02:23:57 PM »
 :tup:

right on.

Offline strutnrut1984

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 517
  • Location: Hookstown pa
  • its not what u get its how many times u get to go
  • Groups: Nwtf
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #17 on: May 30, 2009, 04:53:24 PM »
way to go , congrats to mrs. rock

Offline TheHunt

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2007
  • Posts: 6238
  • Location: Western Washington
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #18 on: May 30, 2009, 07:50:02 PM »
very nice...  Congrats, you sure put in the time and great team work.
275 down 2

Offline Bearhunter

  • Go in Lite come out Heavy!
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 1986
  • Location: Sedro-Woolley
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #19 on: May 30, 2009, 08:11:58 PM »
Congrats to your wife for sticking in there, persistance is the key when hunting bears!
Go in Lite come out Heavy!

Offline stumprat

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 1150
  • Location: Chehalis
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #20 on: May 30, 2009, 08:32:13 PM »
Congrats. Glad all the hard work payed off.

Offline markts

  • Thank God Im a country boy
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 2497
  • Location: Wishkah Washington
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #21 on: May 30, 2009, 08:34:48 PM »
Great job congrats to the Mrs Mark

Offline runamuk

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2008
  • Posts: 17878
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #22 on: May 30, 2009, 08:49:42 PM »
Congrats ... nice write up glad she got her bear....

Offline Jackjr

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2007
  • Posts: 1241
  • Location: Chehalis
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #23 on: May 30, 2009, 09:11:46 PM »
Nice Job

Offline Michelle_Nelson

  • Trade Count: (-1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7974
  • Location: Rochester, Washington
  • Bring on the Bears!
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #24 on: May 30, 2009, 11:42:40 PM »
 :IBCOOL:  Awsome!  Congrats to Mrs. BTKR! 

Offline billythekidrock

  • Varmint
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 13440
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #25 on: May 31, 2009, 01:02:26 PM »
Went by to see if anything touched the guts...but nothing has.

Here is a pic of some surveyors ribbon mixed in with the grass he was eating.



And a little cambium.





Offline Wea300mag

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 5433
  • Location: Sedro Woolley
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #26 on: May 31, 2009, 02:47:36 PM »
Well done, congrats!!!
Keep your nose in the wind and your eyes on the skyline

Offline Ghost Hunter

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 5149
  • Location: SW <-> NE
  • Groups: NRA Patron Life Member, RMEF Life, Sponser Member
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #27 on: May 31, 2009, 07:31:27 PM »
Way to do the job on damage control :tup:
Economy failure = Too many people spending money they don't have on things they don't need to impress people they don't like.

Offline snipekillr

  • Knock em' Down
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 284
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #28 on: May 31, 2009, 07:34:28 PM »
Nice bear
Knock em' Down

Online boneaddict

  • Site Sponsor
  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 49687
  • Location: Selah, Washington
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #29 on: May 31, 2009, 07:45:03 PM »
 :tup: :tup: good for her!

Offline murphyranch

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 107
  • Location: Olympia, WA
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #30 on: May 31, 2009, 08:12:40 PM »
Good deal Congrads to her and thanks for sharing the story with us.
I am a steward of the future of hunting. I pledge to act in accordance with the highest ethical standards and to display proper respect for game, landowners, other hunters and the public.

Offline Ray

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2007
  • Posts: 6817
  • Location: Kirkland,WA
    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1475043431
    • Hunting-Washington
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #31 on: May 31, 2009, 08:22:39 PM »
Congratulations to your wife. Nice bear and it sounds like she earned it.

Offline ICEMAN

  • Site Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 15575
  • Location: Olympia
  • The opinionated one... Y.A.R. Exec. Staff
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #32 on: May 31, 2009, 08:24:03 PM »
Great Job, congrats!
molṑn labé

A Knuckle Draggin Neanderthal Meat Head

Kill your television....do it now.....

Don't make me hurt you.

“I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.”  John Wayne

Offline Slider

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2007
  • Posts: 2585
    • www.albinovest.com
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #33 on: May 31, 2009, 08:32:03 PM »
Very Nice!!! Congrats

Offline robb92

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 3685
  • Location: Spokane Wa, Andrews AFB, Maryland and King George, VA
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #34 on: June 01, 2009, 01:46:40 AM »
Congrats to her on a nice bear!!
"ITS NOT WHAT THE WISE MAN SAYS BUT WHAT THE WISE MAN DOES IN HIS LIFE THAT MATTERS"


Offline Huntboy

  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2009
  • Posts: 1738
  • Location: Spanaway, Wa
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #35 on: June 01, 2009, 04:00:19 AM »
Congratulations, nice Bear.
SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM.

Offline Sideswipe

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2008
  • Posts: 238
  • Location: Stanwood
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #36 on: June 01, 2009, 05:53:48 PM »
WTG!  Already posted a reply on the other forum.
Essayons "let us try" motto of US Army Combat Engineers

Offline X-Force

  • Solo Hunter
  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+8)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2007
  • Posts: 5506
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #37 on: June 02, 2009, 08:33:01 AM »
Congrats way to stick it out.
People get offended at nothing at all. So, speak your mind and be unapologetic.

Offline Caretaker

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 480
  • Location: Sumner
  • Age 51
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #38 on: June 02, 2009, 08:40:35 AM »
Congratulations!  Nice bear.

Offline Wanttohuntmore

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2009
  • Posts: 1910
Re: Wife's CF Spring Bear.
« Reply #39 on: June 02, 2009, 09:15:08 PM »
Congrats!  You and your family have that area dialed in!

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal