collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)  (Read 10522 times)

Offline SilkOnTheDrySide

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 1532
  • Location: West Richland
Bear down.
« Last Edit: August 25, 2013, 10:30:49 PM by SilkOnTheWetSide »

Offline SilkOnTheDrySide

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 1532
  • Location: West Richland
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #1 on: August 25, 2013, 06:15:43 PM »
Story when I get home...I'm exhausted...

Offline Smossy

  • Illiterate Woodsman
  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 6672
  • Location: Spanaway, Wa
  • Slow down and enjoy the moment.
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2013, 06:15:58 PM »
Great work. 21 miles will do that to ya.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Offline hntrspud

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2011
  • Posts: 948
  • Location: Snoqualmie
  • Groups: NRA DU RMEF Washington for Wildlife SVEF
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #3 on: August 25, 2013, 06:16:53 PM »
Awesome, cant wait to see the pics. Congrats!  :tup:

Offline cody29

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 45
  • Location: duvall
  • Groups: n/a
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #4 on: August 25, 2013, 07:00:42 PM »
this is my first year hunting and I want to know where are spots. I live in duvall. I went 18 today and nothing. first yellow gate.  any ideas. thanks

Offline SilkOnTheDrySide

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 1532
  • Location: West Richland
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #5 on: August 25, 2013, 08:31:53 PM »
Picture...story when I get home.

Offline Jason

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2008
  • Posts: 3563
  • Location: Kalama
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #6 on: August 25, 2013, 08:47:21 PM »
Congrats on a nice Bear :tup:

Offline TheSkyBuster

  • Aim High
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+15)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 1313
  • Location: Skagit Valley
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #7 on: August 25, 2013, 08:52:45 PM »

Looks like a good Bear.  :tup:

Offline Ridgerunner

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 5098
  • Location: Enumclaw
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2013, 08:56:18 PM »
Awesome, looks like a toad.

Offline johnhart84

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 99
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2013, 09:00:24 PM »
Nice, good work  :tup:
If someone yells "DUCK" and you look up, you're a true sportsman

Offline bendotti

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 260
  • Location: Arlington
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #10 on: August 25, 2013, 09:02:28 PM »
Nice,  :tup:

Offline Ripper

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2009
  • Posts: 3749
  • Location: Arlington
  • Sobriety is the spice of life.
    • Mark Wantola
    • Ripper Family Adventures
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #11 on: August 25, 2013, 09:10:30 PM »
Looks like a dandy, I'm looking forward to the story.
I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I'm not!

Offline j_h_nimrod

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 1597
  • Location: Humptulips, WA
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #12 on: August 25, 2013, 09:17:49 PM »
 :tup:good deal!  Looks like a nice bear, it should eat well.  I did not get the chance for a long trip this weekend but got in about 2 miles this AM and found some boomer sign, we will see if this is my area this year. It is nice an close so waking up in my bed I can be hunting good area in 30 minutes. If I got my bear even 2 miles from the truck here though it would be a brutal hike out and I would rather cover 20 miles on a trail.

Offline dreamingbig

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 2819
  • Location: Mukilteo, WA
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #13 on: August 25, 2013, 09:20:38 PM »
A great bear!
@mukbowhunt
Avid Bowhunter
Maxxis 35 / Trykon XL

Offline bear hunter

  • BEAR HUNTER
  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2011
  • Posts: 1820
  • Location: Marysville, Washington
  • Union SheetMetal Worker 66- welder fab/WCO TRAPPER
    • Danny A Alvarez
  • Groups: WCW, RMEF, DU, BassMasters, WSTA, and Union Sportsmen's Alliaance
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #14 on: August 25, 2013, 09:28:19 PM »
 :tup: Congrats on a nice bear. I like the pic to nice back ground.
Boar looking for Sow to hunt with. LOL

Offline NaturalSelection

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 155
  • Location: Rochester
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #15 on: August 25, 2013, 09:28:46 PM »
Congrats!
You need to open a can of man, and a box of straws...

Offline weasel28

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: May 2013
  • Posts: 57
  • Location: yelm
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #16 on: August 25, 2013, 09:54:59 PM »
Very nice bear.it's my turn.lol

Offline MLBowhunting

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2009
  • Posts: 3948
  • Location: shelton
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #17 on: August 25, 2013, 10:15:24 PM »
Nice job.  Looks like a great bear  :tup:
Copper John Pro Staff
R.A.D Broadheads
R.A.D Peeps
Hot Shot Pro Staff

Offline SilkOnTheDrySide

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 1532
  • Location: West Richland
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt
« Reply #18 on: August 25, 2013, 10:30:14 PM »
So this story starts off with hiking…lots of it.

The weather was great, cool all day until about noon, but with that cooler weather, we also were battling intermittent fog.  The fog would rush in around us at startling speed, and then dissipate back to sunshine, it was really a cool sight.  We reached the edge of our first target basin around noon with a solid six hours behind us on the trail, and nearly 5000 feet of elevation gain.

Scott and I set our packs down and spread out on the ridge to glass.  Scott moved around 200 yards or so up the ridge while I stayed near the packs.  After 20 minutes of glassing, I gave him a wave to see if anything had jumped out at him.  He mis-interpreted this to mean that I’d spotted the same bear he did which was feeding a couple hundred yards to my left through the blue berries, when in reality my view was blocked by a stand of timber. 

Scott waited until the bear fed into the timber then sprinted up the ridge towards me, giving me the “get your gun” hand signal, which is pretty universal.  Not knowing what or where, I unstrapped my rifle and sprinted up the trail towards him.  He had already sat down to glass again when I raced up.

He informed me of the situation and I told him I would post there, as all escape routes out of that timber were visible from that position.  Scott ran back up to his original point and started glassing again.  Our original plan was to video tape the hunt (and kill), and the thought occurred to me that the camera was in Scott’s pack, which was about 120 yards from my position. 

About that time, I caught the scent on the breeze, and I knew he was getting closer.  I could smell him for a full ten minutes while he fed his way through the timber on blueberries. 
Finally he poked his head out, and was about 40 yards from the pack.
Not going to be able to get the video camera…

Scott came over, and I told him I was going to shoot when he gave me a clear shot.  Not  15 seconds later, he cleared the trees and gave me a quartering shot.  I took him right in the left shoulder and out the right.  Though it appears the bullet fragmented when it hit the shoulder, and while the rest carried through the other side, a piece went out the neck.
He rolled 4 or 5 times down the hill, but he was dead on impact. 

Scott and I skinned and quartered him, and as dark was fast approaching and we were out of water, we set the hide up over a pair of small dead wood we propped up against a tree, and hung the rest of the meat in TAG bags.  It was already getting colder, so we weren’t concerned about the meat at all.

After getting water, and taking a couple celebratory swings from the whiskey Scott happened to bring (ok, we drank the whole flask), we decided to call it a night.

That night, temperatures reached a balmy 28 degrees Fahrenheit so our concern about the meat lessened even more.

The next morning, we glassed first light, and then hiked up to the kill spot and boned out and loaded up the BT1’s. 

Then came the descent.
Big credit to Scott for keeping my head in the game, as that packout was pretty brutal.

Anyways, thanks for reading!

For those who care…

This was my first bear
Gun is a Tikka .300 WSM

Offline Critter Ritter

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Dec 2011
  • Posts: 147
  • Location: Ellensburg
  • Be aggressive, Make it Happen
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #19 on: August 25, 2013, 10:39:02 PM »
Congratulations Travis on a very nice first bear. And a awesome story.  :tup:

Offline bowhunterforever

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 8540
  • Location: Lincoln, Co
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #20 on: August 25, 2013, 10:59:59 PM »
Nice story and first bear,Congrats :tup:
You sure you know how to skin griz pilgram

Offline 7mag.

  • Blacktail Hunter
  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 2968
  • Location: Buckley
  • YAR member
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #21 on: August 25, 2013, 11:01:14 PM »
Congrats Travis. Nice looking bear. Thanks for the story and pics.
Semper Fi. USMC

Offline Michelle_Nelson

  • Trade Count: (-1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7974
  • Location: Rochester, Washington
  • Bring on the Bears!
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #22 on: August 25, 2013, 11:05:50 PM »
That's a very nice Bear.  Congrats!  Looks like you guys had some fun. .  .

Offline sled

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2010
  • Posts: 3562
  • Location: Lake Stevens
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #23 on: August 25, 2013, 11:09:43 PM »
 :drool:

Offline stevemiller

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 2679
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #24 on: August 25, 2013, 11:14:43 PM »
That is a sweet bear,huge paw.  :tup:
You must first be honest with yourself,Until then your just lying to everyone.

"The only one arguing is the one that is wrong"

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: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #25 on: August 26, 2013, 12:09:46 AM »
Nice melon on that bear, 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 woodman

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 1880
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #26 on: August 26, 2013, 04:44:01 AM »
Way to go guys, that bear looks great! Sounds like quite the adventure and workout. I think Scott could write a book about the bear adventures that he has been involved with this year.

Offline CoyoteWacker

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Mar 2012
  • Posts: 47
  • Location: Ariel,WA
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #27 on: August 26, 2013, 05:19:07 AM »
Well told story. It's like we were there watching. Thanks

Offline b.roberts

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 157
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #28 on: August 26, 2013, 05:24:24 AM »
Awesome story, thanks for sharing.  Nice bear.  Nice packs too.  How do you guys like them?

Offline bearpaw

  • Family, Friends, Outdoors
  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (+10)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 38865
  • Location: Idaho<->Colville
  • "Rather Be Cougar Huntin"
    • http://www.facebook.com/DaleDenney
    • Bearpaw Outfitters
  • Groups: NRA, SCI, F4WM, NWTF, IOGA, MOGA, CCOC, BBB, RMEF, WSTA, WSB
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #29 on: August 26, 2013, 05:46:07 AM »
Nice story and a great bear, congrats!  :tup:
Americans are systematically advocating, legislating, and voting away each others rights. Support all user groups & quit losing opportunity!

http://bearpawoutfitters.com Guided Hunts, Unguided, & Drop Camps in Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wash. Hunts with tags available (no draw needed) for spring bear, fall bear, bison, cougar, elk, mule deer, turkey, whitetail, & wolf! http://trophymaps.com DIY Hunting Maps are also offered

Offline SilkOnTheDrySide

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 1532
  • Location: West Richland
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #30 on: August 26, 2013, 06:34:22 AM »
Awesome story, thanks for sharing.  Nice bear.  Nice packs too.  How do you guys like them?

They worked well! 100+ lbs is still that, but you can tell in the loaded up picture I'm still getting plenty of load lift on my shoulders.

I did notice that as we headed down hill, the shoulder straps would loosen just a little bit to where I would tighten them. I think this was a function of lots of weight bouncing as I went down the steep slope.

But really they were a life saver:-)

Also, measured the hide last night, 64 long, 74 wide with a squared score of 5.75. Not the biggest bear in the world, but im really happy!

Big thanks again to FTF!

Offline fillthefreezer

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 1486
  • Location: tacoma
  • @adventure_sd
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #31 on: August 26, 2013, 07:25:18 AM »
as soon as we got out of the woods we absolutely murdered some bacon cheeseburgers and curly fries. 5min to finish them, tops!

Offline Michelle_Nelson

  • Trade Count: (-1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7974
  • Location: Rochester, Washington
  • Bring on the Bears!
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #32 on: August 31, 2013, 12:57:32 PM »
I'd have thought that Bears green measurement would have been a little bigger than that.  Once it is fleshed its green score will be much bigger. 

Offline ShaneTyTrey

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2012
  • Posts: 1760
  • Location: Richland, Wa
  • Is there anything better than hunting?
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #33 on: August 31, 2013, 12:59:34 PM »
Nice bear
Cascade Life Member Washington Wild Sheep Foundation.
Life Member Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation.
Life Member Montana Wild Sheep Foundation.
Life Member Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society.

Offline Maligator

  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 680
  • Location: Snohomish County
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #34 on: August 31, 2013, 01:08:16 PM »
Congrats on a good looking bear. Job well done and most definitely earned by getting off the beaten path  :tup:
NAHC Life Member

Offline saylean

  • Team Slayer Packmule
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jun 2007
  • Posts: 8380
  • Location: Stanwood
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #35 on: August 31, 2013, 05:34:57 PM »
Looks like pretty country and a pretty bear. Better luck next time with the filming! Congrats on your first.

Offline Quicksilver

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Oct 2012
  • Posts: 85
  • Location: Lynden
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #36 on: August 31, 2013, 06:00:10 PM »
bear and a bacon cheeseburger, doesn't get much better than that!

Offline HUNTINCOUPLE

  • Lost Somewhere on the Praire of Klickitat Co. Chasing The Elusive BENCHLEG DEERS.
  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2009
  • Posts: 8159
  • Location: Lyle WA, 98635
  • Yep, my avatar is from my front porch. #2835
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #37 on: September 10, 2013, 11:20:58 AM »
Good work guys!!! :tup:
Slap some bacon on a biscut and lets go, were burrnin daylight!

Most peoples health is a decision not a condition?

Kill your television!  ICEMAN SAID TO!

Life Member of Hunting  Washington  Forum.

Time in the woods is more important than timing the moon.

Offline NGOWENS

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Mar 2010
  • Posts: 51
  • Location: Kirkland
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #38 on: September 10, 2013, 12:23:12 PM »
bear and a bacon cheeseburger, doesn't get much better than that!

Could always add a cold beer to the mix for a slight improvement!!
Lucky to Live in Washington

Offline Machias

  • Trapper
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 19013
  • Location: Worley, ID
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #39 on: September 10, 2013, 02:39:56 PM »
Not sure how I missed this one, nice bear, congrats!!!
Fred Moyer

When it's Grim, be the GRIM REAPER!

Offline Turner89

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 3214
  • Location: Startup, Wa
Re: Bear Down! Fillthefreezer and Silks Fall bear hunt (PICS/STORY ADDED)
« Reply #40 on: September 10, 2013, 11:13:59 PM »
Great looking bear!
" if your a 20 year old and not a liberal, you don't have a heart. If your a 40 year old and not a conservative,  you don't have a brain"

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Idaho weight limit question by jbuck
[Today at 09:57:09 AM]


Turkey Summer Sausage by Alchase
[Today at 09:50:25 AM]


"Border Lands Conservation Act" courtesy of Mike Lee (R-UT) by Alchase
[Today at 09:47:24 AM]


Xlr element vs mdt hnt26 by jrebel
[Today at 09:46:28 AM]


East Side Quail Numbers? by nwwanderer
[Today at 09:40:38 AM]


Swakane Deer by jstone
[Today at 09:17:14 AM]


My Entiat Late tag thread by jstone
[Today at 09:14:04 AM]


New Hunter by Hilltop123
[Today at 08:56:37 AM]


Buck to Doe Ratio by npaull
[Today at 08:51:29 AM]


Machias' 2025 Spring Bear/Northern Idaho by Machias
[Today at 08:51:16 AM]


Dash cams by ghosthunter
[Today at 08:13:31 AM]


Stevens double barrel 410 by JDHasty
[Today at 07:05:06 AM]


How is late season whitetail hunting? Good, bad, decent? GMU 105/117? by kodiak06
[Today at 06:24:23 AM]


Abandoned salmon nets on the Columbia River by Goshawk
[Today at 06:22:30 AM]


Any MT deer updates? by stonefly
[Today at 06:18:32 AM]


2025 15th Annual Hunting-Washington Christmas Gift Exchange by Wetwoodshunter
[Today at 06:17:21 AM]


My Wenaha bull by C-Money
[Today at 06:15:49 AM]


2025 elk success thread!! by fowl smacker
[Today at 05:58:19 AM]


Any word on closers in Hancock Timberland x inc. unit 121 by hunter399
[Yesterday at 09:00:53 PM]


Hunting DNR Natural Area Preserves by blackdog
[Yesterday at 06:57:48 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal