Big Game Hunting > Bear Hunting
I got a story to tell, but first a few questions...
logola512c:
So, I just filled my second tag on the west side, but the bear didn't follow my instructions to drop where I shot it, and instead ran off into the deep, dark PacNW woods, where I had to follow, by myself. Obviously, the story turns out ok, but I made a couple contemporaneous videos: (1) one about 60 seconds after I had to finish the bear in the woods, which is really funny because I'm clearly amped up on adrenaline and probably coming crashing down from the same and maybe paranoid about there being other animals around because I keep looking around like there are more, and (2) one that shows the blood trail I was following and where all the action happened. All pretty good and entertaining stuff, if I do say so myself, and some in a goofy self-deprecating kind of way, but here's the problem. Both of the videos potentially give a little too much away about where I was, which I don't really want to share. Anyone know how to easily edit out parts of the background of an MP4 video? The story will be much more entertaining with the two videos, especially my almost contemporaneous reaction. Thanks
HillHound:
I hope someone does I would love to see them. Many times after the fact I wish I had a go pro or something more so to relive my reaction even more then the shot on the animal
logola512c:
Let's see if words can do it justice. Here's the first part.
Sunday morning. Early. I’m excited to go check out a new spot up high in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness that I scoped out on Google Earth because I hadn’t seen any bear sign down lower for weeks. The hike in would be about 3 miles and 3500 feet of elevation gain – if nothing else, it will be a good training day. I also figured since I hadn’t been to the spot or even the trailhead before, I’d just swing by another spot down low until it got light enough to go to the new spot.
Well, about 10 minutes after shooting light, I see a big, dark shape feeding in the opening I’m in (which isn’t super wide – meaning more narrow than wide) about 270 yards away. I’m in a nice perfect spot to go prone, rest my rifle on my pack, and … oh wait, I don’t have my pack because I didn’t really expect to see any bears here. I’ll just do the old military prone shot off the elbow. Hmm…16 inch grass is making that impossible (or at least imprudent), which also means to be fair that the absence of the pack also didn’t really matter. Hmmm…there’s a stump a few yards away that’s a little over 4 feet tall. I’m 6 feet tall. Perfect…I’ll just take a standing 270-yard stump-supported shot. Standing 270-yard stump-supported shot? Hmmm…well, let’s just watch this bear for a few minutes to make sure there aren’t any cubs, and to be honest, let’s just watch because bears are such majestic and amazing animals that I could watch them all day long. They have a certain way about them, the way they carry themselves, the way they go about their business.
So about 45 minutes of bear hunting time goes by, which in reality is about 20 minutes. No cubs. And this looks like a nice bear. Thick, solid, dark black coat. Has the confidence of an animal that knows its spot on the food chain. It’s time to go through Loren’s bear hunting checklist:
1. This animal deserves dignity and respect. If I sign the contract and pull the trigger, this ends when I find the animal.
2. If I’m alone, which I am today, I don’t want to go into the woods. I use a 7mm Rem Mag – I’ve looked at the ballistics (most importantly the terminal ballistics of the 139 gr Barnes VorTx LR), assessed my shooting ability, and weighed the conditions. 300 yards is my limit. Range is 270. But that’s all based on being prone.
Decision time. Bear is still feeding. It’s been there 20 minutes. It’s not a wide clearing, but the food source that I knew was there is plentiful, easy for the bear to find, and more nutritious and fattening than berries, but it’s a bear, and bears wander. Time to switch from the binos to the rifle and scope. I should mention that the bear is uphill, probably about 70 feet in elevation higher, meaning the horizontal distance (the true range) is a little less than 270, the point of aim would need to be adjusted for elevation – real world math!! – and the wind is blowing perfectly down the hill from the bear to me.
Still no round chambered. No intent to sign the contract yet. I set up at the stump just to see how steady the sight picture will be. I arbitrarily decide that if it’s steady enough to keep the crosshairs within about a 2-inch circle of my point of aim, we have a deal. I spread my legs to get a good base, lean against the stump, immobilize everything that can be immobilized, take a few steady deep breaths, hold on the natural breathing pause, and I realize my first stump supported bear opportunity is a winner. Cross hair movement is less than 2 inches total. All I need to do is trust the sight picture and KTFTM. An acronym I learned at West Point and years of target shooting. Keep That Fu**ing Trigger Moving.
Decision made to sign the contract. I chamber one of three rounds. I take a second to visualize … manage my breathing … start a steady squeeze … KTFTM … bang! But the bear moved just as the round exploded. Bear tumbles. I rack a second round. The bear is getting back up. Back on target. The bear is stumbling towards the woods. Controlled breathing. Tracking. Starting the steady squeeze. I’ve practiced and visualized this moment – It’s nothing new. KTFTM. Bang! Bear was behind a stump. Missed. Unless the round penetrated through the stump. The bear is in the woods. At speed.
More to follow later. I need to go do parent stuff for the next few hours.
ironbuck:
Not cool dont know how long i can hang on this cliff
Rainier10:
I like it so far.