My bear hunting report from Sunday.

[reagansquad]

So this was my first 'real hunt' ever. I'd been out a few times since I got my license, including a pig hunt in Louisiana... But this is the first one where I was really really trying. 30 minutes into my hunting career = one dead bear. This is easy, I don't know what you guys are complaining about. 

I'd been scouting this spot all summer. My first step was doing some research and figuring out which GMU in my neighborhood produced the most bears. Folks on here always say 'find the food, find the bears' so I started looking for bear food out in the woods.

Found a spot that was a literal sea of berry bushes. Kept scouting, saw a couple tracks. There were also small turds out there, but I couldn't tell if they were bear or coyote turds. Pure berries in them though, no carrion. I knew something was passing through on the regular, but not in the afternoon or evening when I was there...

...so I got up early early in the morning, and hit the trail head right at legal hunting hours. I was freshly bathed in that hunter no-scent body wash, scent lock clothes. Got out there, started walking up this old abandoned trail towards the spot I'd been scouting. Saw a couple tracks in the sand/dust/dirt. Saw some  more of those poopies I told you about earlier.

After walking about a mile, I come over a little rise and hear the usual 'BANG POW CRASH DESTRUCTION NOM NOM NOM' that a comfortable eating bear makes. Sure enough, there's a bear 20 yards in front of me. I was just like 'No way... Naw... cant be...' cause I was expecting to put in a little work finding one. I stood there for a little while and watched it, making sure there was no sign of cubs, and that I had a safe shot and everything. It wasn't going anywhere and never noticed me so I took my time. Put in my earplugs. Aimed, and then 20 years of playing videogames took over. I shot for the vitals, and then just automatically followed up. I meant to take a followup in the neck, but habit took over and I headshotted it. Bear only suffered for a second or two from the first shot before the followup dispatched it.

I stood there and shook for a half hour looking for movement in the bushes, called my dad, threw a couple rocks in there to see if it was still alive, then started after it. It was 20 yards away, but I had to cut a 50 yard trail straight down through some thick terrible 5' blackberry bushes. I was gassed by the time I got down there, then after having to muscle it around and butcher it I was really really canned. Started pulling it back up this hill, getting stuck on every blackberry bush along the way. I puked a couple times pulling it out, then finally got it to the trail and collapsed. Drank about 5L or water. Then I tossed it over my shoulder and walked back to the car.

Now this guy looks a little small, but keep in mind I'm 6'6" and over 300lbs.

Thanks to h2o and co for the help. Live savers dude, and I learned a ton from you guys.

http://i.imgur.com/KfA2g.jpg


Oh! And who does taxidermy around here? I want to get the skull mounted like this:
http://www.allclassics.com/wp-content/themes/shopperpress/thumbs/fossil6-1.JPG
 

[MuleySniper]

Cool story man congrats.
MS

[h20hunter]

Thats awesome. I guess being lucky is pretty good. I had a lot of fun helping out with the bear and it was good meeting you. Put me down for a pkg of pep sticks and we will call it good. Also....maybe we should go for a walk so you can show me where this went down....just saying you know if you have some time. Get another one and we'll take it a little slower on the skinning process. I dont' doubt for minute that seeing you with that bear over your shoulder was a sight to behold. Probably scare the hell out of anyone you came across. Did you get her to the butcher yet? Like I said...count me in on a package of pepperoni and we'll get a beer and talk more hunting.

Congratulations again....pretty little bear and a good way to start.

[reagansquad]

Thats awesome. I guess being lucky is pretty good. I had a lot of fun helping out with the bear and it was good meeting you. Put me down for a pkg of pep sticks and we will call it good. Also....maybe we should go for a walk so you can show me where this went down....just saying you know if you have some time. Get another one and we'll take it a little slower on the skinning process. I dont' doubt for minute that seeing you with that bear over your shoulder was a sight to behold. Probably scare the hell out of anyone you came across. Did you get her to the butcher yet? Like I said...count me in on a package of pepperoni and we'll get a beer and talk more hunting.

Congratulations again....pretty little bear and a good way to start.

Heading down to the butcher on my lunch break in a little bit. I added some more ice, and checked this morning. The meat is happy and cold.

Yeah dude I'd be happy to take you out there, and you got it on the pep sticks. What are you doing after work this week? I'm out of town next weekend...

[h20hunter]

I think Wed I'm bear hunting with you! I'm off at 4:30 and I think from our discussion I'm just up the road from you.

[reagansquad]

I think Wed I'm bear hunting with you! I'm off at 4:30 and I think from our discussion I'm just up the road from you.

Can you do Thurs? I have the kid Weds and he's not quite old enough to come along. I can try and trade nights though..

[h20hunter]

Can't......tuesday and thrusday are my own pick 'em up at daycare. You can always shoot me some info in a PM and I'll keep your honey hole a secret. You mentioned the general area.....so shouldn't be to hard to find. Do you think it makes for a decent evening hunt?

[reagansquad]

Can't......tuesday and thrusday are my own pick 'em up at daycare. You can always shoot me some info in a PM and I'll keep your honey hole a secret. You mentioned the general area.....so shouldn't be to hard to find. Do you think it makes for a decent evening hunt?

The only thing that would suck about hunting out there in the evening is that the wind changes direction so it might be harder to sneak up on them. Otherwise I think it'd be pretty good.

I'll make you a treasure map if I can't get my ex to trade nights.

[h20hunter]

Sweet....either way we will find some time......long season for me to find my own first bear.

[h20hunter]

Did you ever get your bear back from the butcher?

[Austrian Hunter]

Awesome!    Good write up too!  I second reagansquad question: Anyone on here know who does a fossil skull mount like the one in the pic??? 

[Nilehunter]

Gratz

 

[b.roberts]

Good job.  You make it sound easy.

[go4itlab]

Got a good laugh out the story, congrats 

[carpsniperg2]

That is great I love the video game mode

Congrats again.

[Cap.Silver]

what a great story ,wish I could have seen it you taking the sweet time with ear plugs ,aiming ,no wait ...... having a drink of water then pop ..... :chuckle:and another to the head .........

[Nape.257]

Great rite up made me laugh congrats on the first bear.

Hoping to get my first bear come september 1st.

[CAMPMEAT]

.............." I puked a couple of times" made the story. Good goin' !

[headshot5]

Congrats.

[BULLBLASTER]

That's awesome! Great job! I also throw rocks at animals to make sure they are dead before I get too close. Comes from an "experience" I had with a very much alive mule deer! Great job and go smoke another! That's a great first bear.

[Kowsrule30]

.............." I puked a couple of times" made the story. Good goin' !

I should've done that with my first muley as well!!!!       



Great story congrats!!!

[CAMPMEAT]

.............." I puked a couple of times" made the story. Good goin' !

I should've done that with my first muley as well!!!!       



Great story congrats!!!

I've choked up pretty good myself, but didn't puke.

[runamuk]

this tale is fabulous but I gotta say this right here is my favorite part

and hear the usual 'BANG POW CRASH DESTRUCTION NOM NOM NOM' that a comfortable eating bear makes.

 

congrats again on the bear

[pianoman9701]

I'd say contact Michelle Nelson on the mount. She seems to be the bear woman on this site - sponsor, too.

[Elkpiss]

  Dude that was pretty good write up!...  I about spit my drink out of my mouth!... Pro, Rookie hunter whatever maybe, that was pretty dam funny!.... I liked how you just took your time and put your earplugs in and instead of a heart shot why mess around and just put one in his dome, i mean hell thats where you would aim on a vid game!..  Go kill something else and write us another novel!...