Bear hunting offer September 15-16

[hirshey]

I already posted this on the women's board but thought I'd present it here in case there are some young women who haven't joined that board yet.

Hey gang! So I will have 2 days off after a 21 day fire assignment on September 15-16 and like the crazy lady that I am, I want to spend it chasing bears in the Methow valley. My fella is my usual partner in crime, but he will be in Idaho on a fire still. Anyone want to either accompany me OR pull the trigger yourself on a bear? The terms are as follows: NO going back to my area without me, and when someone asks where you were, "black bear mountain" is the answer  . Please no scenery shots that'll give it away either... I've been burned on a really cool spot by accidentally doing that myself. I'm willing to make it a group if more than one person wants to go... but the deal will be as follows: if you want to be the potential shooter, you need to have your own firearm and equipment, be proficient with it and firearm safety, and have your license in hand the morning of the 15th or the evening of the 14th (whenever we decide to meet up) and have a backpack you can help haul your bear out in... and I'll help skin and bone out the bear and assist in packing it back to the vehicles, but the responsibility to transport/cut/process and get the head/hide to the proper locations would be on you. (I have to be in Wenatchee to travel to my next fire on the 17th so sadly I couldn't commit any more time). Must be willing to hike 3-6 miles for this hunt... first half of the day is up, but we can go slow. No big deal! Also, this is a ladies ONLY trip, and most likely a car camp overnight on the 15th. Interested? Let's talk! I'll attach photos of the two bears we snuck on last year same timeframe in the basin I want to hunt again this year. My mom may come along, too, but she has no interest in harvesting a bear.

I already have one gal from this forum who has taken me up on the offer to come along, but we could have up to 4 and still be effective in sneaking/glassing this particular area. We plan on meeting the evening of the 14th either in Chelan or up the Methow. She will be leaving the morning of the 16th, so we can still go out one more day (I'm going to irregardless) if someone is interested.

[hirshey]

Bear 1

[hirshey]

Bear 2

(Photo 3 is after I rabbit called) 

[92xj]

There's a lot of guys here that are going to start identitying as a female today.

Nice offer and good luck!

[Killmore]

I'm going to call Bruce and see how long it takes to do a sex change

[pianoman9701]

What a great offer and good to know you're OK!

[Bob33]

I can't imagine a nicer offer.

[nwwanderer]

jennabug, ready for the next step?

[saylean]

Nice offer Hirshey. Good luck on your adventure, not that you need it.

[hirshey]

jennabug, ready for the next step?

  we will have a blast!!

[Rainier10]

Great offer. 

[Okanagan]

Great offer!  And I suspect that anyone with eyes open would learn something about hunting from going with you. 

Hey, love your bear pics, especially the runner inspired by the rabbit call.  When hunting with a grandson to get him a bear, we had a good sized bear doing a fast rolling shuffle away from us so I blew my predator call to get him to stop.  It has worked sometimes.  On that bear it kicked in his afterburner and he took off on a dead run without even glancing back.  Ya win some...

Good luck and shoot a big one, and if he isn't available shoot a pretty one!

[bracer40]

There's a lot of guys here that are going to start identitying as a female today.

Nice offer and good luck!

 

[jennabug]

jennabug, ready for the next step?

  we will have a blast!!

Heck yeah we will! 

[O. hemionus]

Awesome bear pictures! As everyone else has said, this a great offer and very kind of you to open your hunt up to some of the female forum members! Good luck on the bear hunt and fighting the fires.

[hirshey]

Thanks all! Hopefully we will have a fun topic to post here in a few weeks!! Still happy to have a last minute addition or two... I promise Jenna and I are friendly.

[Ripper]

Good luck to all of you, I hope the weather cooperates.

[Becky]

That's awesome I can't wait to see the pics and story!

[trophyhunt]

You are such a great model Kari, I'm glad we have you on our side and not the Anti's!!  Wonderful offer and heck of a chance for someone to get what looks like a great chance at a very good bear.  Good for you!   And be safe on the fire lines!

[buckcanyonlodge]

jennabug, ready for the next step?

  we will have a blast!!

Heck yeah we will! 

Since you have never killed a bear , I must go to do the gutting and skinning so you know how when you come up  for  your deer hunt!! 

[jennabug]

jennabug, ready for the next step?

  we will have a blast!!

Heck yeah we will! 

Since you have never killed a bear , I must go to do the gutting and skinning so you know how when you come up  for  your deer hunt!! 

I have to scurry back to tricities right away next weekend, so I probably won't have time to process a bear. Just going along for the experience on this trip.

  I was thinking that hirshey would get me excited to take a bear, then when I come up there for deer I may have a bear tag in my pocket... just in case.

[hirshey]

jennabug, ready for the next step?

  we will have a blast!!

Heck yeah we will! 

Since you have never killed a bear , I must go to do the gutting and skinning so you know how when you come up  for  your deer hunt!! 

I have to scurry back to tricities right away next weekend, so I probably won't have time to process a bear. Just going along for the experience on this trip.

  I was thinking that hirshey would get me excited to take a bear, then when I come up there for deer I may have a bear tag in my pocket... just in case.

Yeah, we don't necessarily have a shooter identified. I'll pack my rifle, but we may just end up stalking and taking photos; but if a bear drops, it'll have to be a nice one . Still open to another gal if someone is really itching to tag out on a bear. 👍🏼

[Becky]

Meeee next year if offering haha. 

[jennabug]

Meeee next year if offering haha. 

Absolutely. More ladies trips will probably be happening.

[hirshey]

Meeee next year if offering haha. 

Not this year?? 🙃

[Becky]

Meeee next year if offering haha. 

Not this year?? 🙃

I want a bear bad, but I gots no rifle or walking legs to keep up lol.

[Woltzsm]

I wish I would have seen this post earlier.  We went up north this weekend (my husband and I) and struck out.  Saw plenty of sign but no bears.  I am new to hunting so I'm afraid to venture out without my husband.  I would love to go on a ladies trip sometime and learn all the things you have to offer! 

[jennabug]

I wish I would have seen this post earlier.  We went up north this weekend (my husband and I) and struck out.  Saw plenty of sign but no bears.  I am new to hunting so I'm afraid to venture out without my husband.  I would love to go on a ladies trip sometime and learn all the things you have to offer! 

I'm sure we'll do it again! Welcome to the site. Be sure to join the Women's board too.
It was fun, and one or both of us will write about it soon.

[hunter123456789]

Hi, everyone.

Thank you for your nice offer, hirshey!  Too bad I missed the dates you were going.  So I hope you all had a nice time--and that you get back safely from the fires.  And thank you for being very clear about what is expected of people.  That is helpful for a rookie like me.  I am new to this forum, and someone directed me to this thread after seeing my first post, which I have pasted below.  I'm still learning how to use the forum.  I would love to go along some other time, even if I don't shoot. 

About me:
 "I just took hunter education recently, and I have never hunted.  I am looking for someone to hunt with (or at least point me toward some guidance).  My first choice is to learn to hunt deer with a rifle.  But I have not yet bought my license and would definitely consider other kinds of hunting.  I am overwhelmed by figuring out what to do next, including finding a location to hunt.

 "I am in my mid-thirties and just never had family or friends who hunted.  (Here in the city, you hardly even dare ask.)

 "I'm looking for one or more people who are safe and responsible, especially with firearms (or bow and arrow).  (I promise to do my best to handle firearms safely!)  I do not drink alcohol, and I do not want to hunt with anyone who drinks while hunting.  I would prefer family-friendly or "low testosterone" groups.  Nothing against single guys per se but would prefer if your sister, niece/nephew, great-granddad, or whoever, is also there to help keep it real since I don't know you well yet.  If by chance you are a woman or group of women, that is fine too!"

[trophyhunt]

Hi, everyone.

Thank you for your nice offer, hirshey!  Too bad I missed the dates you were going.  So I hope you all had a nice time--and that you get back safely from the fires.  And thank you for being very clear about what is expected of people.  That is helpful for a rookie like me.  I am new to this forum, and someone directed me to this thread after seeing my first post, which I have pasted below.  I'm still learning how to use the forum.  I would love to go along some other time, even if I don't shoot. 

About me:
 "I just took hunter education recently, and I have never hunted.  I am looking for someone to hunt with (or at least point me toward some guidance).  My first choice is to learn to hunt deer with a rifle.  But I have not yet bought my license and would definitely consider other kinds of hunting.  I am overwhelmed by figuring out what to do next, including finding a location to hunt.

 "I am in my mid-thirties and just never had family or friends who hunted.  (Here in the city, you hardly even dare ask.)

 "I'm looking for one or more people who are safe and responsible, especially with firearms (or bow and arrow).  (I promise to do my best to handle firearms safely!)  I do not drink alcohol, and I do not want to hunt with anyone who drinks while hunting.  I would prefer family-friendly or "low testosterone" groups.  Nothing against single guys per se but would prefer if your sister, niece/nephew, great-granddad, or whoever, is also there to help keep it real since I don't know you well yet.  If by chance you are a woman or group of women, that is fine too!"

welcome, if you get a chance to hunt with Hersey you'll be in great hands!

[O. hemionus]

I'm sure we'll do it again! Welcome to the site. Be sure to join the Women's board too.
It was fun, and one or both of us will write about it soon.

Ahem...I believe there have been several discussions on the forum regarding the definition of "...will write about it soon", especially when it pertains to a hunting story...I'll assume you are too busy hunting to tell us about the bear hunt, Jennabug 

[jennabug]

I'm sure we'll do it again! Welcome to the site. Be sure to join the Women's board too.
It was fun, and one or both of us will write about it soon.

Ahem...I believe there have been several discussions on the forum regarding the definition of "...will write about it soon", especially when it pertains to a hunting story...I'll assume you are too busy hunting to tell us about the bear hunt, Jennabug 

Haha, yes, I've been a bit busy this month, and I believe hirshey is still finishing up her fire season.  Thanks for the nudge.

When hirshey posted this up on the women's board, I had already had a bunch of commitments directly before and after the hunt dates. But my inner self kept saying "but I WANNA GO!" so I said yes. We swapped numbers and she gave me a packing list for the trip, including a reminder to bring an epipen if I had bee allergies (which I do).

I left work early on Thursday the 14th and met hirshey at her parents house, we would be driving to the hunt the next morning. We went over our gear first, then went to dinner. hishey and her family were so warm and welcoming, I didn't have any problems sleeping that night. The next morning we set out, driving in the dark to "Bear Mountain". When we parked, I looked at the landscape in front of us and wondered to myself if I'd make it the whole way up, or how far we would go. I work a desk job and don't do much for maintaining fitness besides yard work and horse care.

We set on down the trail, which was dry and noisy. Nearly every step sounded out with a crack, or at least it seemed that way in the quiet morning hours. The terrain was often unstable and very rocky, which reminded me that my hiking boots need to be replaced... and that I really need to work on conditioning. After we got through the timber area, we spent the day glassing what we could see, then hiking to the next spot to glass. She kept assuring me that we were just 100 yards from our next destination. She's pretty sneaky. "chuckle" We took a lot of breaks to breathe, glass, and replenish. The yellow jackets literally hung out with me all day... there was always one within arms reach. They didn't seem to care about hirshey. By the end of the day we had nearly topped "Bear Mountain" and I had legs of jello.

We did see older bear sign in some of the lower areas, but the berry patches that were around seem to have been dried up, or never fully developing a supply of berries. The bears must have moved to another food source. We did see a beautiful pair of golden eagles, several marmots that sounded their alarms when they spotted us, and chipmunks that were curious enough to get close. It was beautiful up there, and wonderful to be away from the busyness of everyday life. By early afternoon we decided to head back down the mountain. I was a bit relieved that we weren't packing a bear out after all, because I was pretty tired. I'm sure adrenaline would have helped if we had found "the one", but overall I was happy with just the hike, the views, the conversations and the company.

When we finally got back to the vehicle I was totally relieved. We stopped for a meal on the way back to town, and I stayed one more night. I would have to leave before dawn to get back to my weekend commitments the next day, but I was too fatigued to safely drive back that night. It's funny how good company can keep you awake despite the fatigue; I visited with hirshey and her family for a few hours more and time flew by. The drive back home the next day felt great, my heart was full from the new experiences and my body felt happy to have worked hard. I look forward to the next one @hirshey!

[Timberstalker]

 
Thanks for sharing, jennabug.

[O. hemionus]

Yes, thanks for sharing the story! Sounds like a successful hunt to me!