Introduction to the site, high hunt bear.

[PsoasHunter]

I wanted to introduce myself on the site.  I’ve been following the site for awhile now and felt like I should finally contribute.  I got into hunting a few years ago and went on my first high-buck hunt last year.  We spent most of the trip last year hiking and not much time hunting, but got a good idea of the lay of the land and what it takes to hunt in the high country.

This year I had a better plan which we set in motion Friday when I got off work.  It was a tough climb in Friday evening but we got up in time to set up camp just before dark.  My hunting partners on this trip are both from Wisconsin, and the climb to 5500 feet off trail was a little more than I think they were expecting.   We saw a lot of bear sign and some mild buck sign on the way up, and my Wisconsin friends were more worried than excited to see a bear. 

Morning came with a cresent moon and stars still out above the next ridge, with the sun pushing up from below.  Almost immediately I glassed a big cinnamon bear about 400 yards away with not much of a shooting lane.  I had been hoping to see bucks and was debating trying to work into a better shot or avoid putting the Wisconsonites through a heavy haul down when the bear made the decision for me and pushed off down the back face of the ridge and out of sight.

A few hours pass, the heat of the day comes, and I’m thinking it may be time to head back to camp to plan the afternoon hunt.  About that time I hear a call on the radio of a big bear my buddy has spotted on the next finger over that he doesn’t think his 130 grain bullet can handle.  We decide that a bear is absolutely worth the pack out.  I work my way over and get glass on a HUGE blond bear, perfectly downwind and unaware of our presence a few hundred yards above.  I sneak down to 200 yards, get a rest on a rock, and send 180 grains from my 30.06.  I see the bear roll 3 times, then out of sight.   

The Badger fans are not too eager about walking up on a bear that may be wounded, so we wait about 30 minutes while I assure them he went down hard.  We found him exactly where he landed, and I quickly realized bear are pretty hard to judge in terms of size from a distance.  The “huge” bear looked to be about 180 lbs on closer inspection. Here’s the picture as he lies. 

This is my first high-hunt kill and I have to say there is something to be said about gutting on flat ground and skinning/butchering in a garage.  The slope was a challenge and this was not the cleanest job, but we got it done and got our packs filled.  Our trip out through untraveled terrain off-trail is a completely different story of thicker brush and steeper slopes than anticipated, but we made it out safely.

 I also got the chance to try out my new smoker and made summer sausage for the first time, which I’m happy to say turned out edible and then some. 

I’m excited to be on the site and look forward to a lot more hunts and stories shared.

[7mag.]

Congrats on the bear and welcome to the site. I hope to read more of your stories.

[boneaddict]

Great first post.  Looking forward to many more from you.   Welcome

[jasnt]

Congrats and welcome to the forum

[X-Force]

Cool first post. Welcome to HW

[C-Money]

Good read! Nice bear! Glad you and your friends had a fun hunt!

[jackelope]

Congrats and thanks for sharing your adventures.

[WaltAlpine]

 

[quadrafire]

Nice........
That smoker needs some more breaking in.....Awfully shiney 
What brand is it?

[PsoasHunter]

Nice........
That smoker needs some more breaking in.....Awfully shiney 
What brand is it?

Haha.  That was its first use, so I'm looking forward to breaking it in more.  It's a little chief. Nine hours for bear summer sausage using the box and some other tricks to get the temp up.  First time smoking with an electric smoker.

[Watimberghost]

Congrats and welcome! That's a well earned bear! The high country can be very unforgiving, but oh so rewarding

[pianoman9701]

Welcome to the site, heckuva nice bear, and thanks for sharing!

[Smokepole]

It looks like you are on your way to a long and rewarding career as an outdoorsman!  Congrats on a nice high country bear.  If you have the boot leather for that type of trip, you will surely enjoy buck hunting in the mountains.  Great post.  I'm looking forward to enjoying many more from you.  Now send me 3 of those snausages & you got a friend for life!