First Bear!

[epq21]

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!



 

[gasman]

That is a great story and shared with great people.


Congrats on the bear...........

[Machias]

Congrats on your first bear!

[bowsandhose]

nice job. grats

[saylean]

Nice to hear positive remarks about the gamies. I have always had great experience with them as well. COngrats on the first of many bears.

[Skyvalhunter]

Congrats on a nice bear!!

[callonetta]

Great shot, awesome story, Congrats to all.

[epq21]

I have not heard about the reaction to the Bear being in the freezer, but I did get the cape and all the meat in the freezer at home. I am going to bone most of it out this week and treat it like pork. The meat is very tender and sweet; I am guessing because it was on a diet of berries and not fish. I will check out the video at home when I get the CD and or from the email at the house.

[Sideswipe]

Great story!!!Really enjoyed it.  Good shoot'in.  Well the worm has definately turned for you.  Your deer hunt'in buddies just won't understand but WE will.  Keep in touch.

[epq21]

Thank You! I am happy to share our excitement of this hunt with like minded people that can appreciate all the rewards of a great hunting event. The positive feed back from this site is very encouraging, and speaks volumes for the future of hunting in Washington.

Good hunting to all, and savor your memories!

[Whitelightning]

Nice BEAR!!

I got my first this year as well.

[epq21]

Thanks to the individual that posted the thread, “A good means to estimate weight! After I posted my story about my "First Bear," there was a great deal of discussion about estimating weight. Because of that I went back to my freezer last night and weighed all the quarters individually. The total weight of the quarters without the paws, head and cape was 68 lbs. Based on your information: 3.3 X 68 equals 224.4 lbs. I have the weight of the cape with paws and head attached as well but it does not seem to be very important. The cape and all is still frozen and folded so I am not going to thaw it to take measurements until the taxidermist is ready. That weight of 224.4 is above what we had estimated even though that really is not very important to me, it makes me feel better about what we had guessed. I removed the weight from the story just because of all the discussion but thank you again.

So many of the comments have been very positive and understanding on the web site and I am very appreciative of that. However, I was hoping that the site would just allow others to enjoy the great experiences of hunters and give credit and respect to the game that we take on these hunts. I believe that is among some of the intentions of the web site. The web site has also given an opportunity to meet some other great people that are hunters and learn things that will improve my skills in the future. In my mind there is a lot more to a hunt than just bagging an animal. I can shoot targets all day long with my bow and firearms to prove to myself how poorly or well I shoot. I have posted weights to all remaining parts of the bear I have since I took them out of the freezer last night and weighted them. People can now throw in there own estimates of guts, stomach and hip to shoulder skeleton for a final weight. I am going to laser the range sometime this weekend if not sooner for the range as well. If we overestimated the weight and range fine, I will post the actual anyway, because frankly it really does not matter to me. I only included a rough number for each because it was sure to come up and it made for a more complete story to enjoy reading. He is a beautiful bear; it was a great time and hunt with good people. I have made much better and much worse shots throughout my life and hope to make many more memories in the future.

If people wish to believe the bear or any animal is only 100, 120, 140 180, 200, 225 lbs then that is great and it is there prerogative. It really is not important because the fact is I am going to use and respect as much of the animal as possible just like many others on this site are going to. I am not a trophy hunter in the very since of the word. If the shot turns out to be only 250 yards or 350 yards is not important either, because the boar expired on the spot and did not have to suffer and that is also very important to me. As a hunter it is my responsibility to the animal to make as clean and good a shot as possible and I believe I did that.

Good hunting and savor your own memories!!!

Formula from the thread, “Good means to estimate Weight.”

[fishermanjoe]

NICE ONE!

[epq21]

Got out to the area on Sunday that I took my first bear and ranged the distance of the shot with my range finder. I wanted to know for hold over adjustments for next time. The actual range was 279 yards, as apposed to the 300-325 I was estimating. I really need to keep my range finder with me, it doesn't do any good sitting in camp. Anyway I said I would post it and there it is.

Good hunting !

[backwoods_boy]

amen brother!
dude i must have had some serious adrenalin rushing in my blood.....knew he was a good bear.