Bearpaw Season - Fall 2016

[Gringo31]

Just thought I'd point out that Bearpaw is not fulfilling his annual duty and letting all of us live vicariously through him with day after day hunting because one of my favorite annual threads is way too quiet.   

[deerhunter_98520]

He must be busy packing out animals 

[bearpaw]

I've been super busy guys! 

LITTLE STUD BUCK
After Rick Sr filled his tag Rick Jr was the last man in the batter's box on this hunt. They nearly smacked another dandy the next morning but the buck was just a little too quick to get a good shot and they had to watch him disappear into the sage covered canyons. After a long relaxing lunch break they loaded up and headed back out hunting. They spotted some more average bucks that they passed and as the sun dipped to the west the day ended with Rick Jr's tag still unnotched. The next morning they were back out bright and early and it wasn't long before they were on deer and Rick Jr made a great shot on the buck we later referred to as Little Stud Buck which green scored 167 and bears a considerable resemblance to the mid 170's Stud Buck that Rick Sr tagged. Three hunters, all their biggest bucks ever, it was a perfect hunt, I love it when a plan comes together. Congrats to the family and to guide Nick for flat getting it done right! 

[bearpaw]

THE ANGUS ACCORDIAN
Not a good story but I guess it's part of the season so I'll share. A long time client and friend archery elk hunts every year with us. Unfortunately this year he grazed a 6x6 bull which got away, we saw the arrow hit, it was just not a good shot, the bull barely bled, I think he'll be fine, in fact we plan to look for him later in the season during the rifle hunts. So after the family finished hunting the Utah ranch my friend decided he wanted to hunt the Utah Ranch, he got his license and tag and he headed over for a DIY hunt. Nick showed him the property and he almost got a dandy buck just while Nick was showing him the boundaries. Nick left and my friend stayed to hunt. Unfortunately one night after hunting my friend was headed back to the motel in town and hit an Angus at 65 mph.

I haven't seen the truck but my friend says the Angus had an accordion effect, the truck is crinkled on both sides all the way to the back doors. Luckily he didn't get hurt but his new Ford is most likely totaled. He's been sitting for several days in a remote Utah town waiting for the insurance adjuster to come, he told me there was no sense in me coming and getting him until the insurance adjusted has been there. To add insult to injury it was open range so someone has to pay for the Angus! It hasn't been a good fall season for my friend but at least he wasn't hurt!

[cbond3318]

I've been super busy guys! 

LITTLE STUD BUCK
After Rick Sr filled his tag Rick Jr was the last man in the batter's box on this hunt. They nearly smacked another dandy the next morning but the buck was just a little too quick to get a good shot and they had to watch him disappear into the sage covered canyons. After a long relaxing lunch break they loaded up and headed back out hunting. They spotted some more average bucks that they passed and as the sun dipped to the west the day ended with Rick Jr's tag still unnotched. The next morning they were back out bright and early and it wasn't long before they were on deer and Rick Jr made a great shot on the buck we later referred to as Little Stud Buck which green scored 167 and bears a considerable resemblance to the mid 170's Stud Buck that Rick Sr tagged. Three hunters, all their biggest bucks ever, it was a perfect hunt, I love it when a plan comes together. Congrats to the family and to guide Nick for flat getting it done right! 

 

[cbond3318]

THE ANGUS ACCORDIAN
Not a good story but I guess it's part of the season so I'll share. A long time client and friend archery elk hunts every year with us. Unfortunately this year he grazed a 6x6 bull which got away, we saw the arrow hit, it was just not a good shot, the bull barely bled, I think he'll be fine, in fact we plan to look for him later in the season during the rifle hunts. So after the family finished hunting the Utah ranch my friend decided he wanted to hunt the Utah Ranch, he got his license and tag and he headed over for a DIY hunt. Nick showed him the property and he almost got a dandy buck just while Nick was showing him the boundaries. Nick left and my friend stayed to hunt. Unfortunately one night after hunting my friend was headed back to the motel in town and hit an Angus at 65 mph.

I haven't seen the truck but my friend says the Angus had an accordion effect, the truck is crinkled on both sides all the way to the back doors. Luckily he didn't get hurt but his new Ford is most likely totaled. He's been sitting for several days in a remote Utah town waiting for the insurance adjuster to come, he told me there was no sense in me coming and getting him until the insurance adjusted has been there. To add insult to injury it was open range so someone has to pay for the Angus! It hasn't been a good fall season for my friend but at least he wasn't hurt!

Holy smokes, good thing he was in big pick up! Glad he is ok.

[carpsniperg2]

Couple dandy bucks. Glad your buddy didn't not get hurt. That is a big animal and at that speed he is very lucky.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Very good season so far!

[niet32]

Are those Utah Mulies or Washington?

[jackelope]

Are those Utah Mulies or Washington?

Utah

[bearpaw]

It's been a good busy season, I've got a lot of photos and stories to share, I thought I had today off, well at least not as busy, but one of my guides just called, I'm headed out with the horses to pack out another big bull moose! 

[bearpaw]

This bull was killed 4 miles in during heavy rain and fog, he had incredible mass all the way up the main beams and into the points. Sorry, this is a low light cell phone picture. Congrats to Jeremy on a once in a lifetime bull!

[bearpaw]

Washington Whitetail Update
Due to the whitetail die off caused by blue tongue last fall we decided to cut back our number of guided deer hunts in Washington, we have taken only about 1/3 as many Washington deer hunters this year. The good news for the hunters we have taken is that every guided deer hunter has had shot opportunities, 100% opportunity, most have killed deer, one hunter passed several small bucks but never got a bigger one, and two hunters missed bucks. Unfortunately there does not seem to be many big bucks, most of the Washington bucks taken have been young bucks.

[bearpaw]

Montana Deer Hunting Update
We didn't have many hunters apply for tags this year in Montana, as a result we only have about half the normal number of deer hunters. Next year should be a really good year on the ranch with so little harvest this year. As usual the hunting is excellent, we normally see 10 to 30 bucks per day and this year is no exception. It's just a matter of looking over bucks until you see the one you want. We've been 100% on this hunt for about 11 years, that's a pretty good rate of shooting opportunity.

During the last hunt seven 4x4 mule deer were spotted and the hunters filled their tags with a 5x4 whitetail and a 4x4 whitetail. Here's the latest 5x5 whitetail buck just taken yesterday on our Montana deer hunt. Congrats Dave on a dandy!

[bearpaw]

Idaho Hunting Update
We've had a busy year in Idaho, we've expanded our Idaho hunting areas twice in the last few years, and herds are doing well since the wolf population is being hunted and winters have been mild. Unfortunately the first half of season was mostly rainy, understandably it wasn't very good hunting, a lot of the hunters didn't hunt all day every day and several left for home early. However, the rain finally stopped and the last half of season was killer, we had mule deer dropping every day and we killed some elk to boot. Outside of the heavy rain, it was a good season and the prospects look even better for next year all over the state.

Here is one of the better mule deer, another elk hunter, and a record class moose we just killed a few days ago, taxi says he'll make book for sure. Very happy hunters!