Author Topic: Bearpaw Season - Fall 2015 (Read 73936 times)

bearpaw · « **on:** September 02, 2015, 09:58:46 AM »

It has been a hectic summer, we've had a lot on our plate this summer and we've been stressed about all these fires. One of the ranches we hunt lost about 50% to fire, another ranch lost 25% to fire, one ranch we aren't sure about yet but we know it burned close, another property I hunt at times almost all of it burned, they managed to save the house. I feel bad for the monetary loss and emotional losses, I feel especially bad for the families that lost loved ones, people have really suffered this fire season. There was some rain a couple days ago and it's raining again some this morning, I hope this will finally start winding down the 2015 fire season.

A lot of areas in NE Washington are currently closed but there are still quite a few lands open to hunt. Fall is here, hunting season has started, and there are stories to tell!

I have 7 bear hunters in camp. Yesterday on the opener we saw 18 bear, several were passed because they were too small, a couple were sows with cubs, and two good bear narrowly escaped but we couldn't get a clear shot so we let them both walk. We did kill two good shooter bear, Brett nailed a nice brown at 30 yards with Daniel and Joe hammered a nice brown with Ray at 275 yards. Great shooting guys! I love it when a plan comes together!

Here's photo's of Brett's bear:

quadrafire · « **Reply #1 on:** September 02, 2015, 10:04:39 AM »

Good start Dale
Keep us apprised of your opinion of how the fires and smoke seem to be affecting the animal behavior.

CAMPMEAT · « **Reply #2 on:** September 02, 2015, 10:13:20 AM »

Good going' for the hunters....

bearpaw · « **Reply #3 on:** September 02, 2015, 10:24:58 AM »

Hopes were high this morning due to all the bear spotted yesterday. Right at first light my two hunters and I spotted a bear at about 130 yards, Logan rushed the shot and didn't hit it well, we decided to leave it a while before going after it. We saw another smaller bear that Charlie passed and one of the guys saw a larger bear but it didn't hang around long enough get a shot at it. I put Charlie on a good hunt then Logan and I went back and looked for the bear he shot, we couldn't find any blood at all and no bear anywhere in the brush, I think I found where the bear headed on up the mountain with no blood trail at all, apparently Logan had just grazed the bear because it flinched a little but ran fine after the shot.

Daniel and his hunter spotted a bear under a tree, they watched it for a while and decided to pass and look for a bigger bear. I haven't heard from anyone else yet this morning, my fingers are crossed for more bear to be spotted today.

Photo of 1 of the bear that was passed this morning that was sitting under the tree:

bearmanric · « **Reply #4 on:** September 02, 2015, 12:08:18 PM »

Hope every thing go's well. Good luck. Dale

bearpaw · « **Reply #5 on:** September 02, 2015, 12:33:22 PM »

Quote from: quadrafire on September 02, 2015, 10:04:39 AM

Good start Dale
Keep us apprised of your opinion of how the fires and smoke seem to be affecting the animal behavior.

We've been seeing animals roaming through the fringes of the burnt areas. They seem to be checking it all out just like we have been. I was on the ranch that was half burnt up yesterday, we saw dozens of turkeys and a couple dozen deer, small bear tracks, and some of the deer and turkeys were in burnt areas. We already have feeders and hay in the burned areas to provide those animals more to eat. The landowner is also buying seed to plant in the burned areas as well.

I have seen a lot of bucks this year, I think it will be a good deer season.

bearpaw · « **Reply #6 on:** September 02, 2015, 12:34:42 PM »

Quote from: bearmanric on September 02, 2015, 12:08:18 PM

Hope every thing go's well. Good luck. Dale

Thanks, good luck to you too!

quadrafire · « **Reply #7 on:** September 02, 2015, 12:38:41 PM »

Quote from: bearpaw on September 02, 2015, 12:33:22 PM

Quote from: quadrafire on September 02, 2015, 10:04:39 AM
Good start Dale
Keep us apprised of your opinion of how the fires and smoke seem to be affecting the animal behavior.

We've been seeing animals roaming through the fringes of the burnt areas. They seem to be checking it all out just like we have been. I was on the ranch that was half burnt up yesterday, we saw dozens of turkeys and a couple dozen deer, small bear tracks, and some of the deer and turkeys were in burnt areas. We already have feeders and hay in the burned areas to provide those animals more to eat. The landowner is also buying seed to plant in the burned areas as well.

I have seen a lot of bucks this year, I think it will be a good deer season.

92xj · « **Reply #8 on:** September 02, 2015, 12:41:50 PM »

Good luck this season Dale. Look forward to following along.

bearpaw · « **Reply #9 on:** September 02, 2015, 01:02:12 PM »

We don't have any early archery deer hunters but one of my guides stuck a nice velvet buck yesterday evening. The buck measures 20 1/4 outside and has a little extra character at the bases. Charlie got a photo on the hoof too, nice going Charlie!

bowhunterforever · « **Reply #10 on:** September 02, 2015, 01:20:14 PM »

Nice buck

Good luck to you and your clients this year

bearpaw · « **Reply #11 on:** September 02, 2015, 04:19:13 PM »

We've been out scouting a lot this summer and have seen good numbers of animals, the recent mild winters have really been benefiting our herds, I'm looking forward to a good season.