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
