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Author Topic: Fall Bear Down with my wife!  (Read 11008 times)

Offline shanevg

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Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« on: September 28, 2013, 08:27:27 AM »
It's been a tough fall for bear hunting for me.  I've made it out quite a few time and despite finding a ton of blueberries, the bears just did not seem to be out. 

A couple weeks ago, my wife and I had a great morning hike in the sun with a bow in tow.  The scenery was great but we didn't see any animals. 









With the weather system moving in last week, I made it out with a buddy on Saturday hoping to find some bears moving.  Unfortunately, with fog moving in and out, we weren't able to spot anything.  I've never had luck hunting bears on rainy days, but it sure hasn't stopped me from trying!









Over the weekend, the snow level dropped below 5000 feet and I thought it might really start getting the bears moving.  I got out of work a couple of hours early and convinced my wife to go on an afternoon hike with me.  This is my favorite time of the year with snowcapped mountains and fall colors everywhere. 



We made it up to alpine and it wasn't long before we spotted a large boar feeding right below snow line.





I was able to position a group of trees between me and the bear and stalk down a 50 degree snow covered slope to the trees.  After slipping and sliding my way down I was within 100 yards of the feeding bear.  I straddled a tree on the steep slope and used a branch to steady my rifle.  I took the safety off and slowly squeezed the trigger only to hear a very loud "CLICK".  I had forgotten to chamber a shell!!!  The bear immediately looked uphill straight at me, luckily the wind was in my favor and he started feeding after 15 seconds or so.  Then I pulled the bolt back to jack in another shell and of course he started looking right at me again.  I quickly jacked the shell in and got settled in for a shot.  My first shot was a perfect heart shot and he only made it about 15 yards before he was rolling down the hill.

It was the first time my wife has ever been with me when I got something.  She's quite the animal lover and I didn't know how she'd handle it, but she was so excited she couldn't believe it!  It was so much fun having her along when I actually got an animal! 

The bear was an old, gnarly boar.  He probably weighed in at roughly 250lbs and his teeth were all yellow and broken or missing.  Unfortunately, it was 6pm and below freezing and I was more worried about getting my wife off the mountain before she froze than taking a ton of pictures.  These are the best pictures we got:







I was able to get the front quarters and the head and made it out the 3+ miles to the car by 9pm.  I had to get up early to go to work the next day and start calling around for a buddy to help me pack out the rest of the bear the next night.  Finally, TJ agreed to help me pack and we made it back to the bear at 6pm the next night.  Luckily it had been below freezing all day and the bear was in great condition.  This time, we made it back to the car with the rest of the bear by 8:30pm. 









TJ has never hunted before but was so excited to help me with butchering the bear.  He did about half the butchering work himself!  He has already asked time off work for opening weekend of modern firearm season to pack into the backcountry with me.  I can't wait to get back out there!
« Last Edit: September 28, 2013, 09:13:56 AM by shanevg »

Offline ghosthunter

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2013, 08:42:37 AM »
Very nice story, thanks
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Offline boneaddict

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2013, 08:44:40 AM »
Man, it is just flat pretty up there.  Fresh air is good for the soul.  COgnrats on a cool adventure, and a successful hunt.   Thanks for sharing the pics.

Offline bugs n bones

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2013, 08:47:56 AM »
great story :tup:

Offline Jason

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2013, 08:50:45 AM »
Congrats on a nice Bear! :tup:

Offline bearpaw

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2013, 08:57:21 AM »
nice story... congrats  :tup:
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Offline Natures Way

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #6 on: September 28, 2013, 08:58:54 AM »
congrats on a nice bear and the memory to share with your wife.

Offline buckfvr

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2013, 09:00:20 AM »
Thanks for sharing............. :tup:

Offline saylean

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #8 on: September 28, 2013, 09:12:12 AM »
Bear or not, those pics are worth the effort I am sure. What a gorgeous tale. Glad to hear the wife was down with the success.

Very cool, thanks for posting. I really have to make it up in our local high country more often. Nice boar!

Offline viva_che1363

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2013, 09:16:51 AM »
nice bear. i love the high country photos
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Offline Cap.Silver

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2013, 09:30:39 AM »
Great bear and pictures .... :tup:WTG
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Offline CoyoteCowboy

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2013, 11:51:24 AM »
congrats! beautiful hunt.

Offline MP123

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2013, 12:04:39 PM »
Those pictures are great!  AND you got a bear...  AND your wife was with you...

Don't get much better than that!  Nice work  :tup:

Offline pianoman9701

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #13 on: September 28, 2013, 12:08:42 PM »
You're truly a manly man. Great story, nice bear, cute couple! :tup:
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Offline BOWHUNTER45

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #14 on: September 28, 2013, 12:09:36 PM »
Good job Shane !! Got to love those high mountain meadows  :tup: :tup: Did you get us a video ???

Offline shanevg

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #15 on: September 28, 2013, 12:10:29 PM »
No video this time. Still need to edit my Alaska video though.

Offline ShaneTyTrey

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #16 on: September 28, 2013, 12:11:40 PM »
Awesome adventure.  Thanks for bringing us along.
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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #17 on: September 28, 2013, 12:21:24 PM »
No video this time. Still need to edit my Alaska video though.
That works ... :tup: :chuckle:

Offline seth30

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #18 on: September 28, 2013, 12:25:56 PM »
Looks like a great hunt, and props for taking the wife out :tup:
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Offline elkoholic1

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #19 on: September 28, 2013, 12:39:50 PM »
congrats nice bear!!     :tup:

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #20 on: September 28, 2013, 12:42:57 PM »
Congrats Shane, great photos and an awesome story! brings me back to the thrill of having my wife with me when I shot my first bear also! You guys are a cute couple!
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Offline bowhunterforever

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #21 on: September 28, 2013, 03:45:16 PM »
That's some beautiful looking country and congrats :tup:
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Offline X-Force

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #22 on: September 28, 2013, 03:57:09 PM »
Its fun getting the ladies involved.

great bear!
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Offline rasbo

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #23 on: September 28, 2013, 04:06:13 PM »
awesome story and pics,It was really cool knowing your wife was there also

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #24 on: September 28, 2013, 04:36:58 PM »
way to get it done  :tup:

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #25 on: September 28, 2013, 04:47:55 PM »
Enioyed the story and especially the pictures.  That is a nice looking Bear. 

Offline Machias

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #26 on: September 28, 2013, 05:53:12 PM »
Outstanding story, fantastic photos and what a heck of a nice bear!!  Congrats, glad you got to share it with your wife!
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Offline norsepeak

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #27 on: September 28, 2013, 06:04:28 PM »
strong work, nice pics. :tup:

Offline 3nails

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #28 on: September 28, 2013, 06:49:58 PM »
 Spent a lot of time in there!  :chuckle: Nice boar. Is he your biggest?
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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #29 on: September 28, 2013, 07:20:55 PM »
Awesome :tup:

Offline shanevg

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #30 on: September 28, 2013, 08:08:30 PM »
Spent a lot of time in there!  :chuckle: Nice boar. Is he your biggest?

Probably my biggest. I have one old fat sow that was pretty comparable in size but this is definitely my most mature boar.

Offline Wea300mag

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #31 on: September 29, 2013, 02:40:11 PM »
Great report and pics, congrats on the team success. :tup:
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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #32 on: September 29, 2013, 06:52:34 PM »
Those pictures are great!  AND you got a bear...  AND your wife was with you...

Don't get much better than that!  Nice work  :tup:
:yeah:

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #33 on: September 29, 2013, 06:55:31 PM »
Thats a nice bear. From the pictures it looks like a really cool area to hunt too.

Offline shanevg

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #34 on: October 19, 2013, 08:11:34 PM »
Green scored the skull this weekend. Looks like it will come in at 21" or just shy depending on how much it shrinks. I'm pretty psyched, I knew he' was big but never guessed that big.  He was definitely on the decline because be was not a 300+ pound bear. Provably closer to 250. Front paw did measure 6 3/4" though.

I'll keep you all posted on final score.

Offline bearhunter99

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Re: Fall Bear Down with my wife!
« Reply #35 on: October 19, 2013, 08:35:32 PM »
Thats a heck of a bear.  21" skulls in WA are pretty rare!
RIP Colockumelk   :salute:

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