Author Topic: Bear Down - White Mountains AZ (Read 10660 times)

MDGrand · « **on:** August 02, 2012, 07:14:06 PM »

Even though I got this in AZ, I thought I would share...

I got this girl in AZ.. 250 lb + sow in the White Mountains. GORGEOUS country.. really a dream to hunt. 9K elevation, open grasslands, surrounded by timber.. PRIME elk country and it just so happens to have a great Bear Population!

One of the best hunts I have ever had. Got her with my .45-70 from 100 or so yards with a Hornady Revolution 325 FTX. HUGE fan of this round now. She ran 10 yards and the blood trail was super obvious.

Wea300mag · « **Reply #1 on:** August 02, 2012, 07:16:22 PM »

Very nice, congrats!

Bean Counter · « **Reply #2 on:** August 02, 2012, 07:23:36 PM »

Good work! Getting ready for an elk tag?

Kola16 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 02, 2012, 07:41:05 PM »

Wow. Never new there were to many bear in AZ. Nice job

h20hunter · « **Reply #4 on:** August 02, 2012, 08:35:35 PM »

Beauty

MDGrand · « **Reply #5 on:** August 02, 2012, 09:11:24 PM »

Quote from: Bean Counter on August 02, 2012, 07:23:36 PM

Good work! Getting ready for an elk tag?

Absolutely!

How did you know?

Bean Counter · « **Reply #6 on:** August 02, 2012, 09:19:48 PM »

Look outside your window...

Tony · « **Reply #7 on:** August 02, 2012, 09:23:17 PM »

Nice bear

Ripper · « **Reply #8 on:** August 02, 2012, 10:06:48 PM »

Looks like a real pretty sow. Good job and thanks for posting.

Cap.Silver · « **Reply #9 on:** August 02, 2012, 10:09:15 PM »

Congrats,great beauty ....

rb2506 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 02, 2012, 10:32:32 PM »

Nice

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

Todd_ID · « **Reply #11 on:** August 02, 2012, 10:36:31 PM »

Congrats! But isn't a 10 yard recovery pretty much impossible to evaluate the blood trail?

Good luck on the elk, too!

MLBowhunting · « **Reply #12 on:** August 02, 2012, 10:45:08 PM »

Nice bear. Looks great

bearpaw · « **Reply #13 on:** August 02, 2012, 11:29:05 PM »

congrats...

carpsniperg2 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 02, 2012, 11:31:22 PM »

Good deal

RoyBoy · « **Reply #15 on:** August 03, 2012, 01:20:54 AM »

kick A$$ brother

Huntboy · « **Reply #16 on:** August 03, 2012, 06:16:42 AM »

Nice, congrats.

MDGrand · « **Reply #17 on:** August 03, 2012, 06:43:50 AM »

Quote from: Bean Counter on August 02, 2012, 09:19:48 PM

Look outside your window...

?

Bean Counter · « **Reply #18 on:** August 03, 2012, 07:51:01 PM »

Only yankin' your chain, man.

Just a little deduction. The White Mountains aren't exactly destination #1 for black bear hunting in the U.S. but they are for bull elk. I would venture a guess that many non residents who come early to the area would slap a black bear hunt on the to do list whilst out scouting. Good luck with the tag!

Here's some photos I snapped up there couple of years back.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=57698.msg710246#msg710246

MDGrand · « **Reply #19 on:** August 03, 2012, 08:41:54 PM »

Quote from: Bean Counter on August 03, 2012, 07:51:01 PM

Only yankin' your chain, man.

Just a little deduction. The White Mountains aren't exactly destination #1 for black bear hunting in the U.S. but they are for bull elk. I would venture a guess that many non residents who come early to the area would slap a black bear hunt on the to do list whilst out scouting. Good luck with the tag!

Here's some photos I snapped up there couple of years back.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=57698.msg710246#msg710246

I know. Yeah the area is a premier elk area. Probably the best elk habitat I have ever seen for elk. For bear.. Maybe not number 1 but the bears are everywhere! And... Even though I got a nice traditional black bear I saw several color phase bears.. And from what I have learned if you want a color phase bear this is the place to go. Either way... Love the area and wish we had country like that here in WA.

atc250r18 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 05, 2012, 09:31:12 AM »

Nice bear, where abouts did you get her, Big lake area? I grew up in the Springerville area, lots of pretty country but the only bear I've ever seen in AZ was the one by cousin plugged on the Kiabab.

There's not much better then high mountain Arizona trout fishing this time of year, it's the best way to beat the heat.

MDGrand · « **Reply #21 on:** August 06, 2012, 08:54:38 AM »

Quote from: Todd_ID on August 02, 2012, 10:36:31 PM

Congrats! But isn't a 10 yard recovery pretty much impossible to evaluate the blood trail? Good luck on the elk, too!

Granted the trail was not long and there is a bit of backstory on why I said "blood trail..."

The story is that the outfitter told me the importance of making a good shot because he rarely if ever gets blood trails from the bear they have taken out of this area. Well, the .45-70 I used with the Hornady FTX bullet did a complete pass through as I place the shot right on the shoulder.. the blood was sprayed all over the ground where the bullet exited and all the way up to the bear only 10 or 15 yards away from where he was shot. So while there was not a LONG blood trail.. it was pretty obvious and countered his experience of not getting ANY blood trails before.

MDGrand · « **Reply #22 on:** August 06, 2012, 08:56:07 AM »

Quote from: atc250r18 on August 05, 2012, 09:31:12 AM

Nice bear, where abouts did you get her, Big lake area? I grew up in the Springerville area, lots of pretty country but the only bear I've ever seen in AZ was the one by cousin plugged on the Kiabab.

There's not much better then high mountain Arizona trout fishing this time of year, it's the best way to beat the heat.

Yup, right near big lake.. closer to Reservation Lake though. You are right about the fish! Nice area for that too!

washelkhunter · « **Reply #23 on:** August 06, 2012, 09:38:38 AM »

Congrats! Nice bear. My wife wants to move to AZ to be closer to her folks as they age. Im ok with it, but i said look im not going to spend.my summers roasting down on this valley floor, i need a cabin in tne mtns. Fine she said go get one. Pinelakes AZ should be just about right.

South Texas · « **Reply #24 on:** August 08, 2012, 06:34:36 PM »

Congrats brother!!!! I am so stoked for all fellow AZ hunters. AZ should be destination #1 for black bear hunting in the US. I have seen more B&C bears come out of Arizona than most anywhere. And I've personally seen more big old bears come out of the ranges along the mexican border than northern AZ. But that might be because I spend more time down there. Over the next couple months you will be able to catch bears eating cactus in the open country. If you can stand the heat there isn't a better place to hunt in the world. Good on you!!!

Here is a nice AZ bear we called out of a canyon a couple of springs ago:

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Author Topic: Bear Down - White Mountains AZ (Read 10660 times)

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