Author Topic: Beautiful Blond Bear (Read 12828 times)

Todd_ID · « **on:** May 24, 2014, 07:04:18 AM »

I was lucky enough to draw a spring tag close to home, and I was able to take a beautiful blond bear with my lever action .45-70. I'd spotted the bear from about 1/2 mile and 800' below me. I got onto the next ridge over and slid down to where I hoped he'd come out. After a couple minutes he did finally show. Being a bowhunter and not a rifle guy I had a good rest prone off my pack and gave him a warning shot just over his back and got him on the move to make it more sporting, but the follow up shot I took more seriously. It was straight down off the cliff and moving toward me, and the bullet entered between his shoulders and came out the bottom of his chest. I don't think I could have hit that bear any harder if I had fallen a tree on him. He tumbled and slid about 200 yards until hitting the bottom of the ravine.

The pack out was brutal since I was alone and had my camp with me. I had told myself that there was no way I was packing a hide out of that hole, but it was such a beautiful hide in perfect condition that I couldn't leave it behind. Thankfully it was a small bear (maybe 130#); otherwise it would have been 2 trips for sure, and that would have likely done me in. I packed my 105-110# pack down 800' in elevation and back up 1600' over the course of 4.5 miles, mostly on trails. I shot the bear at 7 am and had it to the truck at 7 pm thoroughly exhausted.

MtnMuley · « **Reply #1 on:** May 24, 2014, 07:08:50 AM »

Very jealous as that's the exact bear I've been looking for to rug. Perfect size and color. Congrats!

Turner89 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 24, 2014, 07:16:03 AM »

Nice job

I have felt your pain

RadSav · « **Reply #3 on:** May 24, 2014, 07:47:10 AM »

Looks like the kind of country where you pray for a big one and thank the Lord for a little one

I got tired just looking at the picture. Beautiful bear

B.G.hunter · « **Reply #4 on:** May 24, 2014, 07:50:36 AM »

What beautiful bear! Congratulations.

jackelope · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2014, 08:27:44 AM »

Way to go Todd. Happy for you. Congrats.

Cascade · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2014, 08:32:28 AM »

Awesome bear, congrats!

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autodink13 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2014, 08:36:15 AM »

Nice work and beautiful bear! I usually try to give them a warning shot too

Expedition Scout · « **Reply #8 on:** May 24, 2014, 08:43:38 AM »

As a fellow bow hunter, I feel your pain! Its funny how either up or down with the arc of an arrow we can keep it all straight, but you put a gun in our hands that should be flat shooting (relatively) and warning shots is what we get.

Great looking bear, an way to go with the pack-out job! Its hunts like that one you'll be telling the story about for the rest of your life.

boneaddict · « **Reply #9 on:** May 24, 2014, 09:25:26 AM »

A beautiful bear! Congratulations Todd.

redi · « **Reply #10 on:** May 24, 2014, 09:40:07 AM »

Like I always say " You gotta love blondes". That is a beautiful bear. Congratulatiuons

jrebel · « **Reply #11 on:** May 24, 2014, 12:13:42 PM »

Very beautiful bear and an equally beautiful rifle. That looks like a Marlin XLR 45-70....if so I have the same gun in stainless laminate and it put a hurt'n on my bear a few years ago. Put a scope on that baby and you have a 300 yard bowling ball launcher!!!!

Girl Gone Hunting · « **Reply #12 on:** May 24, 2014, 12:27:22 PM »

Congratulations, Todd!! Beautiful bear! We have seen several but all too far away or in the wrong unit so far. Saw a huge black one last weekend within rifle range of our unit, but alas, on the wrong side of the boundary. Go figure!

Lefty315 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 24, 2014, 12:39:48 PM »

I've taken a few black bears but would absolutely love to have a color phase as beautiful as yours! Nicely done and what a hunt, especially using open sights on a lever gun.

rasbo · « **Reply #14 on:** May 24, 2014, 12:43:53 PM »

beautiful bear,awesome memory for you I bet

Todd_ID · « **Reply #15 on:** May 25, 2014, 06:55:14 AM »

Thanks for the compliments folks! I still can't stand up straight or move much from the pack out. The rifle was a Marlin 1895 in .45-70.

CAMPMEAT · « **Reply #16 on:** May 25, 2014, 07:46:16 AM »

Nice..................as for the hike, yuck !

bear hunter · « **Reply #17 on:** May 25, 2014, 06:43:22 PM »

Nice blond one I passed on one last Sunday. Congrats

stew pidasso · « **Reply #18 on:** May 25, 2014, 09:52:22 PM »

Good job, great pictures.

carpsniperg2 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 25, 2014, 10:02:13 PM »

Grats todd!

go4steelhd · « **Reply #20 on:** May 26, 2014, 07:38:10 AM »

Nice color

Idahocougar · « **Reply #21 on:** May 26, 2014, 08:33:07 AM »

Nice bear and a great gun to take him with

kevinlisa06 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 26, 2014, 09:24:09 AM »

Congrats to ya great blonde color!

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pd · « **Reply #23 on:** May 26, 2014, 11:41:32 AM »

Quote from: RadSav on May 24, 2014, 07:47:10 AM

Looks like the kind of country where you pray for a big one and thank the Lord for a little one.

I have never that phrase before, but will use it from now. Copyright to RadSav.

idahohuntr · « **Reply #24 on:** May 26, 2014, 04:54:26 PM »

Nice Bear. I saw this guy this morning out checking cameras...looks a little like your bear.

Todd_ID · « **Reply #25 on:** May 27, 2014, 07:00:16 AM »

Quote from: pd on May 26, 2014, 11:41:32 AM

Quote from: RadSav on May 24, 2014, 07:47:10 AM
Looks like the kind of country where you pray for a big one and thank the Lord for a little one.

I have never that phrase before, but will use it from now. Copyright to RadSav.

The joke is on him, though, because he wants to draw the elk tag in that area.

Ripper · « **Reply #26 on:** May 27, 2014, 10:48:40 AM »

Beauty of a bear.

Huntboy · « **Reply #27 on:** May 27, 2014, 11:12:14 AM »

Nice bear, congrats.

Timberstalker · « **Reply #28 on:** May 27, 2014, 12:22:02 PM »

Great bear. Good job

elkoholic1 · « **Reply #29 on:** May 27, 2014, 12:49:30 PM »

congrats on a beautiful bear!!!!

bearpaw · « **Reply #30 on:** May 27, 2014, 12:59:30 PM »

Congrats Todd, that is a beauty.

Machias · « **Reply #31 on:** May 27, 2014, 03:15:19 PM »

Pretty bear, heck of a pack out! Thanks for sharing the story and the photo.

Wea300mag · « **Reply #32 on:** May 27, 2014, 07:12:14 PM »

Beautiful bruin, nice work Todd!

Mxracer532 · « **Reply #33 on:** May 28, 2014, 07:17:16 AM »

Nice work Todd. Did you go where we had talked?? PM if ya want.

klikboom · « **Reply #34 on:** May 28, 2014, 07:48:30 AM »

Ok, how did you manage to hold his head up like that on the rock?

bucklucky · « **Reply #35 on:** May 28, 2014, 08:20:57 AM »

That's a Beauty Todd, Nice job man!!

Todd_ID · « **Reply #36 on:** May 29, 2014, 05:22:35 AM »

Quote from: klikboom on May 28, 2014, 07:48:30 AM

Ok, how did you manage to hold his head up like that on the rock?

Rigor held him in that position. It took me an hour to get back up to my camp and bring it down to where the bear expired. Thus the easy pose for the photo.

400out · « **Reply #37 on:** May 29, 2014, 08:16:42 PM »

Great bear buddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! should invite a friend it makes the pack easier

Decker · « **Reply #38 on:** May 30, 2014, 12:41:24 PM »

Congrats! Gorgeous bear!

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Author Topic: Beautiful Blond Bear (Read 12828 times)

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