Author Topic: Fall Bear Down with my wife! (Read 11063 times)

shanevg · « **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!

ghosthunter · « **Reply #1 on:** September 28, 2013, 08:42:37 AM »

Very nice story, thanks

boneaddict · « **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.

bugs n bones · « **Reply #3 on:** September 28, 2013, 08:47:56 AM »

great story

Jason · « **Reply #4 on:** September 28, 2013, 08:50:45 AM »

Congrats on a nice Bear!

bearpaw · « **Reply #5 on:** September 28, 2013, 08:57:21 AM »

nice story... congrats

Natures Way · « **Reply #6 on:** September 28, 2013, 08:58:54 AM »

congrats on a nice bear and the memory to share with your wife.

buckfvr · « **Reply #7 on:** September 28, 2013, 09:00:20 AM »

Thanks for sharing.............

saylean · « **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!

viva_che1363 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2013, 09:16:51 AM »

nice bear. i love the high country photos

Cap.Silver · « **Reply #10 on:** September 28, 2013, 09:30:39 AM »

Great bear and pictures .... :tup:WTG

CoyoteCowboy · « **Reply #11 on:** September 28, 2013, 11:51:24 AM »

congrats! beautiful hunt.

MP123 · « **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

pianoman9701 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 28, 2013, 12:08:42 PM »

You're truly a manly man. Great story, nice bear, cute couple!

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 28, 2013, 12:09:36 PM »

Good job Shane !! Got to love those high mountain meadows

Did you get us a video

shanevg · « **Reply #15 on:** September 28, 2013, 12:10:29 PM »

No video this time. Still need to edit my Alaska video though.

ShaneTyTrey · « **Reply #16 on:** September 28, 2013, 12:11:40 PM »

Awesome adventure. Thanks for bringing us along.

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 28, 2013, 12:21:24 PM »

Quote from: shanevg on September 28, 2013, 12:10:29 PM

No video this time. Still need to edit my Alaska video though.

That works ...

seth30 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 28, 2013, 12:25:56 PM »

Looks like a great hunt, and props for taking the wife out

elkoholic1 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 28, 2013, 12:39:50 PM »

congrats nice bear!!

FSTaxidermy · « **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!

bowhunterforever · « **Reply #21 on:** September 28, 2013, 03:45:16 PM »

That's some beautiful looking country and congrats

X-Force · « **Reply #22 on:** September 28, 2013, 03:57:09 PM »

Its fun getting the ladies involved.

great bear!

rasbo · « **Reply #23 on:** September 28, 2013, 04:06:13 PM »

awesome story and pics,It was really cool knowing your wife was there also

KFhunter · « **Reply #24 on:** September 28, 2013, 04:36:58 PM »

way to get it done

Michelle_Nelson · « **Reply #25 on:** September 28, 2013, 04:47:55 PM »

Enioyed the story and especially the pictures. That is a nice looking Bear.

Machias · « **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!

norsepeak · « **Reply #27 on:** September 28, 2013, 06:04:28 PM »

strong work, nice pics.

3nails · « **Reply #28 on:** September 28, 2013, 06:49:58 PM »

Spent a lot of time in there!

Nice boar. Is he your biggest?

D-Rock425 · « **Reply #29 on:** September 28, 2013, 07:20:55 PM »

Awesome

shanevg · « **Reply #30 on:** September 28, 2013, 08:08:30 PM »

Quote from: 3nails on September 28, 2013, 06:49:58 PM

Spent a lot of time in there! 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.

Wea300mag · « **Reply #31 on:** September 29, 2013, 02:40:11 PM »

Great report and pics, congrats on the team success.

steen · « **Reply #32 on:** September 29, 2013, 06:52:34 PM »

Quote from: MP123 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

hoyt2002 · « **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.

shanevg · « **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.

bearhunter99 · « **Reply #35 on:** October 19, 2013, 08:35:32 PM »

Thats a heck of a bear. 21" skulls in WA are pretty rare!

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