Author Topic: Bear down! (Read 6959 times)

backwoods_boy · « **on:** October 04, 2009, 03:31:23 PM »

Went hunting with PNWCOONASS, epq21 and croix this weekend and we had a great trip.
epq21 shot this bear on saturday afternoon around 3pm 300-350 yard shot.
I will let him write a story.

Congrats to Ed on his 1st bear!

Gutpile · « **Reply #1 on:** October 04, 2009, 04:53:09 PM »

Thats about the size of my lil bear. Congrats. We're eating spicy bear brats tonight.

markts · « **Reply #2 on:** October 04, 2009, 04:55:22 PM »

Congrats to the hunter. Mark

NWBREW · « **Reply #3 on:** October 04, 2009, 08:37:38 PM »

Congrats

gasman · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2009, 08:39:45 PM »

PNWCOONASS · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2009, 07:03:01 AM »

That was a berry cool experience. Thanks Rick, Ed and Mike for letting me hang with you guys this weekend. Hope to do more in the future with you guys.

Pete

epq21 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2009, 07:10:35 AM »

Thanks Rick, Pete, and Mike for a great hunt and fantastic memories. Mike your help getting that bear out where we could work on him was amazing. Dead man carry 45 feet out of a steep canyon, quite a feat. Rick your patience and willingness to share hunting areas and knowledge over the last 5 years is very much appreciated. We earned this one! Pete it was great to have you join us and I look forward to many more hunts with all of you.

shanevg · « **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2009, 07:16:29 AM »

Congrats on a great bear!

backwoods_boy · « **Reply #8 on:** October 05, 2009, 07:42:52 AM »

What a great weekend!!!!
i still want to know what the distance was....
lets just go with 328....

saylean · « **Reply #9 on:** October 05, 2009, 08:09:28 AM »

My bear last year was about the same size...over the shoulders for me too.

Congrats guys!

backwoods_boy · « **Reply #10 on:** October 05, 2009, 08:22:36 AM »

I tell you what....

Im a pretty big guy and that bear took every ounce of what i had to get him outta that hole.

croix · « **Reply #11 on:** October 05, 2009, 08:36:12 AM »

Congrats again to Ed on a great bear and a fantastic shot. The hide on that bear is GREAT and will make a nice rug.

Had a great time and back strap and eggs sure made for a good breakfast Sunday morning.

Goin Sunday to where the gamie told us about to try and get another one.

backwoods_boy · « **Reply #12 on:** October 05, 2009, 08:43:25 AM »

I figured you were gonna go poke around there.
I wish i could roll over there to help ya out!
Go get em buddy!

Ray · « **Reply #13 on:** October 05, 2009, 10:33:19 AM »

Nice bear ed

croix · « **Reply #14 on:** October 05, 2009, 10:53:14 AM »

Dam! I look a lot better from 300+ yds. All pictures of me should be from that range

PNWCOONASS · « **Reply #15 on:** October 05, 2009, 11:01:11 AM »

that was a spectacular shot. with the distance and the wind that was blowing.

completely awesome.

epq21 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 05, 2009, 11:14:27 AM »

Here is the run down from our successful hunt. We had a quick lunch break from our morning hunt before heading back into the woods. Our group decided to go into an area that CROIX and I had been working for about 4 years and had seen deer and a consistent and steady amount of bear scat. We new the bear were in there but just had not connected with them yet. CROIX got situated in his tree stand and calls, hoping for the wind to calm down some and allow things to get settled before he started doing some calling. He had a perfect swinging crib for naps but that’s another story for another time. PNWCOONASS and BACKWOODS BOY, headed on down a couple miles to where some more clear cuts merged with tree lines to find good vantage points to hunt deer. I moved down about 100 yards from CROIX's position to watch the canyon walls and gorge where the tree line meets the stream bed and clear cuts. I was hoping to catch something coming out to feed on the berries and watch CROIX’s blind spots since he was going to be using a call.

I got situated on the ledge that gave me a good view and what I believed to be a prime area with a good back drop so I wouldn’t be silhouetted against the sky. The wind was blowing pretty hard so I figured I had time to slam down a honey crisp apple and some Gatorade before glassing the area some more. Just as I finished my apple I look over to my left on a far slope along a ravine and see a black shape shake the hell out of some bushes. I honestly couldn’t believe it… it was heading with the wind, along the slope, in the middle of the day eating berries. It had been there for some time before I had even noticed him. When he turned his head to look down the canyon wall his nose glistened like a spot light and it was immediately obvious that I had a bear for the taking if I could get the shot. In my infinite wisdom, I had found a great observation point, but one with no rest for my rifle, “Hello are you serious….” At that point I just went into auto mode and shuffled into a good sitting position slowed my breathing and tried to pull my heart back into my chest and waited for the shot. I had guessed –amated the range, “again because I am such a genius, I had decided to leave my range finder at camp,” held my aim point for a 20 knot wind from right to left and squeezed the trigger of my T/C Encore .300 Win. Mag. He collapsed on the spot and fortunately only rolled a couple feet down the slope. He never heard the shot or knew what hit him. I am grateful it worked out that way.

At this point all hell brakes loose! The radio starts chattering at me … Who shot…? Did you get him…? Who was that? I love single shot riffles! However, I had not practiced blind reloads on this rifle and I was trying to keep my eye on the location of the bear and make sure he did not get up. My dexterity for answering the radio, getting assistance, reloading the rifle and keeping my eye on the bear; while noticing CROIX in the treestand, bobble around trying to figure out if he was in North Dakota or Washington was more than I could manage. Me on the Radio: “I got a be…Gsssshhhhhhhhh….he is down ha…ssssshgggghssss.” At this point everyone else had figured out I had nailed the bear and were high tailing it to my location to help. God Bless them! CROIX was like a winged super hero getting down from his tree with the stand . Taking my scatter brained directions to the downed bear while I stayed at my spot. CROIX was on him within an hour of the shot waving at me from across the valley. We waited a good amount of time just in case, although it turned out not to be necessary.

Now is when Mr. Backwoodsboy decides that he is superman and bless his soul bent down and told us to roll the bear onto his shoulders; that he wanted to walk this thing up the hill. This slope is at least 70 degrees and he walked up this canyon wall like a pack mule looking for molasses and carrots. I felt good that everyone else’s adrenaline was as elevated as mine, but his must have been off the charts. Thanks Backwoodsboy! At this point we took care of business and prepped him for his wheel barrel ride to the vehicle. How many trips a day on that trail CROIX?

When we finished skinning and quartering this gorgeous young bear; the shot had entered his left shoulder, taking out a lung, breaking his neck and severing the wind pipe, carotid artery and exiting. He has an awesome coat with no rubs and the meat is very tasty. The bear was about a xxxlb boar. We had some back strap fried in maple bacon grease with eggs and muffins for Sunday’s breakfast. It was a great way to start the next days hunt.

We had a visit by the Fish and Game folks checking licenses and such and they were very professional and friendly. Providing us with some helpful hints for the future and striking up some good conversation. They really left us with a good feeling of how they where trying to do their work and I applaud their efforts. I am going to go back and check the range with a range finder so we can verify the story is right and to confirm my hold over and wind estimates for next time. Although it was great bagging an animal, I appreciate the hunt and the memories of the hunt with all those involved even more. To see good people give freely of themselves to help another and truly enjoy doing it was extremely rewarding and I consider myself very lucky to be surrounded by such good people.

THANKS FOR A GREAT HUNT!

EPQ21

robb92 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 05, 2009, 11:34:23 AM »

Congrats!!!

Big10gauge · « **Reply #18 on:** October 05, 2009, 12:04:27 PM »

Congrats, Does Backwoods Boy hire himself out as a mule?

epq21 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 05, 2009, 12:47:13 PM »

Backwoodsboy has my highest recommendation as a packmule and photographer. You might have to bring a good radio if it is Sunday though, so he can hear his football games. You will also need to tie him to a tree or something when you stop because he has a tendency to wonder off...

Buschingc · « **Reply #20 on:** October 05, 2009, 12:58:50 PM »

epq21 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 13, 2009, 09:33:35 AM »

Hey folks! I was able to get out on Sunday with CROIX to the area I took my bear and range the distance of the shot. Felt I needed to know the hold over for next time just in case. Anyway, I said I would post the range once we had it so here it is, (279 yards). Backwoodsboy we didn't find your knife, sorry!

backwoods_boy · « **Reply #22 on:** October 13, 2009, 09:44:39 AM »

i knew it was over 250.......nice shot buddy!
awe man that bear owes me a knife.....

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Author Topic: Bear down! (Read 6959 times)

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