Bearpaw Season 2009

[MtnMuley]

Very nice updates and photos, bearpaw.  Thanks.

[bearpaw]

Snowfall for this winter was down 75% here in Utah, but it has snowed the last 4-5 days and now we have much better snow conditions. Was on 3 elk herds (over 100 elk) this morning and got another cow down at about 200 yards. Should have had 2 cows but that's why they call it hunting.   

Hopefully tommorrow my other hunter will be successful. 

Anthony chased another cat this morning in almost the same area as yesterday. Lion got into the cliff's again and he had to recover the dogs again. This is an extremely tough area to catch a cat, we probably should be trying to call here around all these rocks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

[bearpaw]

Yesterday was almost a repeat of the day before.

Anthony chased another lion that hung the dogs up in the cliffs. He had to recover the dogs again from the rocks, this cat jumped up and over 30 foot cliffs.

We also got the last elk hunter his cow elk. We have been hunting along the unit boundary, the elk bed down off the unit up over the top of the mountain in the day and then cross the fence (the boundary) during the night to come down and feed in some big sage openings. We check the openings first thing in the morning at daylight. You have to get to them before they cross the fence and are out of the unit. The three main herds had crossed the fence going out of the unit before daylight. I went farther than usual checking the boundary and at the last canyon we jumped a group of about a dozen cows. They headed up the ridge toward the fence, they would stop and then move again just as Mike would get ready to shoot. When they reached the fence 9 jumped but 3 elk stopped on our side of the fence and Mike made a 400+ yard shot and dropped his first elk, it was an exciting moment to say the least. Mike's elk was only one jump from getting away.

[LittleJohn]

Way to go on the Elk. Heck of a shot on his first elk. Hope the cats start working out for u. Good luck. John

[bearpaw]

Thanks John, maybe you gave us the luck we needed.

]Anthony just called a short while ago, dogs were barking loud in the background, our hunter just shot what Anthony estimated to be a 130 pound tom. They again had to help the dogs through the rocks for hours, but determination finally paid off. He said it will probably be dark by the time they get out, they are a long way in. He said he took lots of photos so I will post some pics of the elusive "cliff hanger tom" when I get them.

[LittleJohn]

WAY TO GO. Give Anthony my congratulations!!! I can't even imagine the Physical challenges of cat hunting country like that. It must be pretty frustrating at times I am sure. Can't wait for pics. 

[bearpaw]

It is tough country to hunt, I think the reason tags are available over the counter in these rocky areas is because there is not much danger of overharvest. They do have a quota, but several of the areas never meet quota. The easier areas I know in Utah are all draw only.

[bearpaw]

Cliffhanger Tom
Anthony figured he weighed about 130 which is probably pretty close since he skinned out at 8'9". Not a real large tom, but he had a real nice head, I think he will score about 14.5 which should put him well into SCI under handgun and might make the B&C 3 yr award book. (460 mag, 1 shot, stone cold dead, almost didn't fall out)

They figured they walked between 4 and 5 miles each way, started right after dawn and got back to the truck just at dark. Had to push the dogs up over three different cliffs then walk way around to get themselves up. Both guys very tired last night, but nothing a good newyork steak and a few beers couldn't help though.

[Pathfinder101]

That's awesome Bearpaw.  Good dogs, a big cat, Steaks and Beer....  what could be better..?

[bearpaw]

A couple more photos of the cat, they got him sealed by wildlife resources this morning and went cow elk hunting this afternoon, fingers crossed, jeremy has to leave tonight, so he only gets one hunt this afternoon on the elk.

[Hillbilly270]

first off ...congrats to the hunter

alright next.....i'll start the betting.  how much do you think this cougar will weigh when you get a mass email next week?  i'll put the over/under at 250lb.
I say over.

[bearpaw]

I love it when a plan comes together, Jeremy got his cow elk on the afternoon hunt, its taken care of and he is headed for home with lion, elk, and a big smile. Jeremy is a bear guide in Minnesota, he said his daughter loves to hunt and was mad that he didn't bring her. He said he'll be back soon so his daughter can go hunting.  

We are finished in Utah for the season, I am headed to Montana next for some buffalo hunts.

how much do you think this cougar will weigh when you get a mass email next week?

Hillbilly that's funny but it wouldn't suprise me to see someone do that.  

[bucklucky]

Sweet!! Love seeing them cougar pictures!!

[Rudy]

nice lookin cat!! good to hear he also got his elk.  keep the pictures/updates flowin, i love reading about the success stories

[mulehunter]

  Nice Cat!   


Mulehunter