2017 Skagit spring bear thread

[scottfrick]

Tagging to follow. Looks like another great bear

[Duckslayer89]

Tag

[ghosthunter]

My first ever Bear.

After my buddy killed that big bear on Thursday, it got my juices flowing. I had only been out hunting once before going turkey hunting for a week. When I got back my father in law passed away so my wife had me close to home.

This am I decided to go out for the day. I got up at 4am and drove to the hunting area. Parked my truck at the gate and hiked in so as not to disturb any animals that might be around.
by 6:00 am I was at my appointed spot and had made my self a rather comfy elevated spot over looking a marshy area.

At 8 am a chocolate colored bear walked out of the timber and into the marsh. I moved around trying to get a better look at it and scanning for cubs. I decided to sneak closer but in so doing I lost track of the bear.

I went back and sat down again in my spot. at about 9:30 am I decided to starch my legs and walk back to my truck to retrieve my field glasses.  In doing so I another member here came driving up the road. (50CAL). We talked and proceeded on our separate ways.

Back at my spot I sat till noon. Than decided I would pack up and hike out some of the nearby trails. Planning to come back around 2 pm till dark. I got my pack on and took one more look at the marsh.

At that exact time a bear walked out. I am saying about 100-200 yards away. I got my cross hairs on it and sent it. The bear beat tail to the timber about 50 ft away. Dang couldn't tell it was hit or not. I gave about 15 minutes before I made my way around the pond in front of me through the marsh and to were the bear was last seen.

Now unknown to me Skybuster and his brother had just pulled off by my truck and had heard my shot. They came to check on me.

After looking for blood , I could find none. So I made my way to where the bear entered the timber. Now I have never killed a bear before, and I was not very excited to enter the dark timber with what might be a pis&%$# bear. But committed to do my due diligence in making sure ,I entered the timber.

It was darker and my eyes had to adjust some. The hill went up steeply and had a lot of down stuff. Looking around I could see no sign of the bear. But all my senses were working overtime, because I was now on the bear's turf and I knew it had the advantage.

As I started to pas under a very large fir, maybe 3ft at the trunk some limbs hit on the head. I looked up and the bear was up the tree 30 or more feet above me. Not wanting to shoot it while I was in the fall zone I looked for a way to get up the slope for a better angle. I couldn't get higher with out going under the bear and up the other side.

As I passed under the tree the bear did not like that at all and started down the tree as fast as it could towards me. I in turn did not like him coming at me and started to back peddle as fast as I could. When he got just over eye level with me I cut loose on him with my pump action 30.06. In my panic of thinking I was going get a medi flight I short stroked my pump and jammed it. ( at some point during this my pants got heavier.)As I am franticly trying to clear the jam by pulling my mag. The bear now shot at least twice was deciding which way to go, to me or away.

Lucky for me the bugger ran down a log at the base of his tree and disappeared. As he went I could see his front shoulder was broke and one leg was frail ling.

Now reloaded after my 2n jamming. I was cussing that I was in pursuit again and did not relish tracking this now hurting bear.

Moving cautiously I worked down to the spot where he was last seen. Squish squish as I walked.

To my great pleasure I saw the bear laying motionless about 30 ft down hill. I got in a shooting position and watched, no movement, Than I said better safe than sorry and sent one more at his hear.  BEAR DOWN.

Now skybuster and his brother thought they had walked into the ok corral with all the shooting and were wisely keeping their distance from this panic old guy in the woods.

But as the dust settled and they made there way to me, congrats and relief were in the air. Photos were taken and As I packed up my stuff after a quick field dress . The grabbed my bear and drug it out to the road for me.

A short walk to the truck ,through the gate and loaded my bear up. Stopped at the first store got a couple blocks of ice and put them in the bear. Off to home.
Skinned him out , cut the meat in chunks an put in the refer. Aired the hide and  rolled and put in freezer.

My undies went in the garbage.


Huge thank you to Skybuster and his brother Dave for all their help. What great guys.

The bear is a small male, nothing like Alex got. In the end he had been shot through both shoulders, High at the first rib, and just to make sure one in the head.
There was very little meat loss and I recovered some bullet fragments so far.

Either way I am extremely happy with this little guy and glad it was not 7 pm when I shot.

[TheSkyBuster]

 
Great story,  it wasn't nearly as exciting on my end.   

[ghosthunter]

Well you only have the story after the meat is gone


Having trouble with photos

[Duckslayer89]

Well you only have the story after the meat is gone


Having trouble with photos

  nice work man sounds like an awesome hunt can't wait to see the pics

[ghosthunter]

Here's one

[X-Force]

Congrats. Great adventure.

[Kit Carson]

Wow, crazy story 

Congrats man!

[jkononen]

Nice! Good job guys! We have been sidelined for a few weekends. Hope to get the wife back out this coming weekend.

[acrim]

More really fresh sign. 

[tarbabyone]

So happy to see my partner ghosthunter get his Bear.  Got to admit he has a more exciting story to tell.  He is never going to forget that hunting adventure.  Good for you Buddy.  Now to think about Elk and Deer.  Tarbabyone

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Nice work ghost.   

[BOWHUNTER45]

Good job on the Bears !!!!!

[tarbabyone]

Just picked up my Bear meat from "Trial and Error Meats" in Blaine.  The wife and I had Bear Tenderloin steaks tonight and they were just wonderful.  Tomorrow we are going to try the Breakfast Sausage for breakfast.  I would sure recommend the Butcher.  Her name is Bobby Boyer and her number is 360-303-6748.  She has been cutting meat for 30 years.