Wyoming Super Cruiser

[jrebel]

 

[ctwiggs1]

OMG

[Timberstalker]

You can't leave us hanging.......
It's like blue balls!

[CaNINE]

Sorry fellas I've been away from the family for almost two weeks so out having a celebratory beer with the wife. I promise to cap this story off in the morning. Trust me it has a happy ending.

[saylean]

That bear even has a nose like a PIG!

[Timberstalker]

Can't wait to see it unfold. 

[brew]

wow...showed this pic to my wife and her comment was if i were a bear this is how i would look--old, kinda beat up around the face, a big sway belly and pi$$ed off at the world...congrats

[huntingfool7]

tagging

[CaNINE]

I whispered to my buddy..."there's a bear...and he's huge...that's him".  I gave a description on where to spot the bear and he started scanning.  Next thing I hear is "that's our super cruiser...holy @$%#".  The next 30 minutes were an absolute test for me.  We wanted to close the distance but knew we didn't have enough legal shooting light left to drop into the canyon and come up the other side.  The bear was moving down the ridge and would ultimately shave off a lot of yardage so we let him come.  We have video of him working his way down the finger ridge toward the canyon.  I had to convince myself I was looking at a bear and not a gorilla - he looked like a dump truck waddling down hill.

[CaNINE]

During this time I spent some serious time connecting with the Lord and deep breathing.  My buddy kept me calm by saying this is what we came here for...this is what we've worked hard for all week...we've been taking these shots on steel all week.  This really helped relax me and allow me to focus.

[Ddouble]

Wow he's a beast

[Timberstalker]

My refresh button is broken........

[CaNINE]

By this time I'd established a solid shooting position and had the bear in the scope.  We were sitting on a downhill so I had built up a solid position using my pack, puffy coat in a stuff sack, and shooting sticks.  This position makes a very solid field rest and allows for a natural point of aim.  The kestrel was calling for 7.4 MOA up.  I dialed for 7.25 as I knew from shooting this week that I needed a little less dope.  He kept coming a few steps at a time.  My buddy kept repeating to me...break down the shoulders.  He knows from experience that these big bears are tough customers and breaking down the shoulders is the best way to anchor them.  I went through my mental checklist; wind? none; parallax adjusted; focus on the reticle, follow through on the trigger.... 

I told my buddy that I was on him and ready for the shot.  I recall him saying "as soon as he turns broadside...point of the shoulder".  I could see him plug his ears through my peripheral vision.  I took a couple deep breaths and started my trigger press. 

[CaNINE]

On the 300WSM

[CaNINE]

The trigger break felt clean and the 200 grain Hornady ELD-X was on it's way at 2870 fps.