"Bear down"

[jasnt]

We got to camp Friday night just about midnight and set up. Cooked a bite went to bed. Got a good nights sleep and headed out late morning for my fav glassing spot. As I got there I spot another hunter across from me and working his way down to where I have seen some good bears. So I start glassing up the mountain and right away I spot a " black" bear way up the mountain.

(Right away I got excited because every bear I've taken has been chocolate and I've always wanted a "black" black bear, color phase are cool but I like the standard best my self.)

I pull out my cheap spotter and focus best I could. It was alone and slowly working left in to the wind and hitting every berry bush along the way. It looked to be a decent sized bear best I could see.

 I pull out my sig kilo and range 726.9 AMR(angle modified range). This is a range I'm very familiar with but I was shooting a new load and I have not gotten a chance to verify my speed and drop. We were getting some patches of sunshine crossing the draw very slowly with the light but very unsteady winds. I knew the thermals were going to be shifting up and down. I knew I had to get closer.

 My brother stayed put and kept glass on the bear as I headed up the down wind side but quickly realized I would have to get almost right below the bear to get a shot. The down wind slope was littered in 6-10' saplings so thick I could barely climb threw let alone see 10 yards. I figured I had to get to atleast 300 yards to be confident I could take a good shot.

 Quickly the slope got very steep! I could no longer see the top of the mountain. Here and there I got glimpses of the top and every so often saw the bear. Behind a fallen log or in a bush. But then nothing but rocks and sky. Last range I got was 489AMR. I keep climbing hoping I wouldn't pop out too close and spook him. I slowly creep up stopping every few yards to glass up ahead and watching the wind which did gust up the mountain several times for what seemed like forever. 

I see a large rock out cropping up above with some thick saplings giving its approach good cover. It's my best bet and a solid rest and hidden from view of the bear. But it would take me much closer and I would be right below were I last seen him.
I decided to risk it and slowly climbed my planned out route. Pushing brush aside keeping it from touching me or my rifle and making in natural sounds, picking each step as not to snap one of the million sticks and branches and dead falls or knock loose rocks littering the path.

An eternity later I reach my spot. I slowly peek over the Rock and scan above. I spot the bear right away working up and away slowly as he stops to work a wild raspberry bush I range again. 189.6 AMR (I'm zeroed at 200y). I open up my bi-pod and rest my rifle on the rock. With my bi-pod loaded and my grip touching the rock I was looking threw my scope and the Bear was broad side and the crosshairs centered on his vitals. It was perfect. I pressed the trigger and the shot was loud! I watched threw the scope as the bear spun then disappeared for a moment tumbling down threw brush and dead falls and boulders, he came to rest about 40 yards down the mountain as I racked in another round. But the bear was still 2 seconds. I hear my brother yell from down below "Bear down"

I said a quick thanks and headed up to him.

My brother brought all of our gear up to me as it started to rain and snow. We went right to work and had him striped and quartered and all packed up. My brothers pack wasn't made form much weight so I packed all the meat and he packed the hide and skull.

[bowhunterforever]

Great bear Congrats

[jasnt]

Thanks bud. Had a blast!

[Special T]

Great write up! What general area, caliber and make of gun? At first glance I thought you were hunting with an AR

[Kit Carson]

Cool story. Good luck trapping this year man! 

[jasnt]

Great write up! What general area, caliber and make of gun? At first glance I thought you were hunting with an AR

gmu 101. Rem 700 sps varmint contour 26" in 243 win in a XLR evolution chassi and timeny trigger, tubs firing pin kit. Topped with a vortex viper PST 6.5x20x50. 30mm tube. Was put together by RedHawk rifles

[jasnt]

Cool story. Good luck trapping this year man! 

thanks bud. Good luck to you aswell

[saylean]

Very nice! Congrats man, looked like a fun pack out.

[REHJWA]

Congratulations  and thanks for sharing

[jasnt]

Very nice! Congrats man, looked like a fun pack out.

one of the toughest pack outs I've ever had! Well worth the work! Almost 1000' above camp.

[csaaphill]

cool nice write up and cool looking rifle. grats.

[JakeLand]

Well done brother !!! Wait did you shoot it with a .243 ?? People claim you need a magnum elephant caliber to bring down a black bear!!!! Haha I guess you showed them it's more about placement then caliber

[jasnt]

Well done brother !!! Wait did you shoot it with a .243 ?? People claim you need a magnum elephant caliber to bring down a black bear!!!! Haha I guess you showed them it's more about placement then caliber

thanks brother! That 16# rifle has more miles on it than some peoples boots. Took a lot of critters with it. Beware of the man with one gun lol

[Kit Carson]

Beware of the man with one gun lol

  

[TRD1911]

Nice bear. Same for the rifle. I've always wanted an XLR