Author Topic: Got my Spring Bear (Read 24177 times)

Timber · « **on:** May 02, 2007, 10:19:21 PM »

I got this guy Sunday night. I have seen this bear in previous springs in this area, along with other bears, but never thought I would see him with a tag in my pocket!
He was the first bear I saw. I feel pretty fortunate.
To give you an idea of how big he is, I am 6'4".

Here he is last year about 100 yards from where I shot him.

Machias · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2007, 10:26:45 PM »

Now THAT my friend is a hog bear, nice job!! Details man all the details!

Ray · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2007, 10:28:31 PM »

All right congrats! That's a real nice coat on that critter. You couldn't have had a bigger grin on your face either

Yeah all the details. C'mon.

Craig · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2007, 10:30:06 PM »

That is a great bear. I love the color and the white patch on his chest.

bobcat · « **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2007, 10:36:47 PM »

Awesome! Congratulations!

billythekidrock · « **Reply #5 on:** May 03, 2007, 06:12:36 AM »

Congrats..What a great looking bear. Now all we need it the story.

boneaddict · « **Reply #6 on:** May 03, 2007, 06:36:00 AM »

GOOD JOB! I'm glad it all came together for you. He is gorgeous. Are we talking about lifesize or rug. Tough choice on that fellow, he would be a fine example for either. Gorgeous Bear!

jackelope · « **Reply #7 on:** May 03, 2007, 07:09:05 AM »

i don't know much about the size of bears, but that guy looks to be a big bear, and great looking too.'
congrats

Ridgerunner · « **Reply #8 on:** May 03, 2007, 08:09:39 AM »

AWESOME looking bear, you just tagged my dream bear, seen anymore like him running around up there?

Bobm · « **Reply #9 on:** May 03, 2007, 09:33:46 AM »

Congratulations!

I love the color and head shape.

Just for fun, please let us know what he measures out at skull, ect.

What did you shoot him with?

Idabooner · « **Reply #10 on:** May 03, 2007, 07:07:05 PM »

Congrats! Very nice trophy, nice looking coat, beautiful bear.

Ghost Hunter · « **Reply #11 on:** May 03, 2007, 07:13:43 PM »

Very nice and good job!! Now I think I'm motivated to going out for the 4th weekend in a row. What better place to take the wife on her birthday

We were on fresh sign last weekend, maybe luck changing for us.

Ironhead · « **Reply #12 on:** May 04, 2007, 06:57:16 AM »

That is a beauty, I am also curious to see what he scores. He sure has a pumpkin head and a great color phase too. congrats

Fletch · « **Reply #13 on:** May 04, 2007, 02:29:05 PM »

Congrats on a very nice bear! He looks big!

sisu · « **Reply #14 on:** May 04, 2007, 07:04:08 PM »

RidgeRunner_07 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 05, 2007, 12:09:59 AM »

Congrats on the bear? Washington?? I need some advice from some one who has done it...I got Drawn for a Spring bear here in Washington in GMU 121....so far I have hunted 17 days and the closest I have came was I found an old pile of scat...what am I missing? please help me out here....

Timber · « **Reply #16 on:** May 05, 2007, 12:23:44 AM »

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm waiting to hear back from my taxidermist about the skull size. Good call boneaddict, I'm doing a lifesize mount!

Ridgerunner_07 Yep, NE Washington bear. I was hunting a south facing slope at about 5000ft. I would say keep looking for scat and if you find some concentrated in one area, stick with that area and watch it from a distance if you can. I have always had better luck finding spring bears in the evenings than any other time of day.

Here are some more details and pictures. I hope this isn't too long.

I live in Whatcom County, my permit area is 5 1/2 hrs away. My family has a cabin near where I was hunting.

I went over opening weekend, hiked around in my "bear spot" on the 14th, didn't see any sign. I didn't bother going back up there opening day, I figured it's too early in the year, plus it's a 12 mile ride on the 4wheeler and a half hour hike.

Made another trip the next weekend with some friends. We went up to the bear spot Saturday, still no sign, still too early. Sunday we hunted turkeys and got two jakes.

Went back over there with my dad the next weekend (the 28th), didn't have to be back to work till Thursday. We went up to the bear spot Saturday and finally saw some sign (scat, tracks, freshly torn up logs). We only spent about an hour up there, didn't see any bears.

Sunday started out great. First thing in the morning I did some shed hunting and found 8 muley sheds.

Then later while looking for whitey sheds saw a young bull moose. The first moose I've ever seen over there!

I went up to my bear spot at 5pm. On my hike in, I called in a coyote to 8 yards.

A few minutes later I arrived at my bear spot and went to the tree I planned on sitting under till dark. I set down my pack and was clearing a nice spot to sit when I looked and saw a cinnamon bear 180 yards below me in the trees. It didn't take me long to figure out this was the bear I wanted! If you look close you can see he is right alongside a barbed wire fence. This is the last picture I got of him before I put my video camera down.

As soon as I got my rifle up he walked behind some trees. Believe it or not I couldn't get a clear shot at him for another hour. He was very lethargic. He would even lay down on his stomach when eating grass. Eventually, he crawled underneath the fence and took a nap in the down fir boughs you see off to the right. I snuck in to about 80 yards, right up to the lip you see in the foreground and waited for him to get up. When he did, he walked towards me for about 15 yards, then broadside, I shot, he then climbed a fir tree about 40ft up, I shot him again, he fell out of the tree but was still alive, I shot at him again, he managed to get through the fence and died about 20 yards on the other side of it. It turns out the first shot was the only time I hit him. Needless to say, I was probably a little too excited. Fortunately, it was a perfect shot right through the lungs. I was shooting a .300 Win Mag.

Notice all of the sticks around him. I couldn't see his head through all of the brush, so I was throwing sticks at him for a while to be sure he was dead.

I left him there that night. My dad came up there with me the next morning. We took pictures, then winched him up the hill to where we could get him on my 4wheeler, then loaded him onto the back rack and hauled him back to the pickup.

RidgeRunner_07 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 05, 2007, 12:40:41 AM »

Awsome story and pics.....what GMU???

billythekidrock · « **Reply #18 on:** May 05, 2007, 06:10:45 AM »

Great pics and story. What a day.....it will be hard to top.

That yote pic is awsome and I had to crack up laughing at all (13?) the sticks around the bear.

boneaddict · « **Reply #19 on:** May 05, 2007, 06:25:23 AM »

Dang, you found some sheds I missed...... There aren't very many moose in there, but a couple. Were you afraid to leave him overnight whole? Bear slip their hair so darn easy. I guess its alot colder in the spring, and they probably don't have as much fat, though he looks like he wintered quite fine.

shag · « **Reply #20 on:** May 26, 2007, 10:00:51 AM »

Thanks for sharing the story! good job!

saylean · « **Reply #21 on:** June 12, 2007, 10:56:24 AM »

What a great bear. Thanks for the story, it is always nice to read a good one. How did the fur hold up during the winching? I noticed he was placed on a tarp.

Thanks again!
Saylean~

Muleyslyr · « **Reply #22 on:** June 12, 2007, 01:15:13 PM »

I don't know how, but I missed this post. Just seeing it for the first time. What an awesome Bear to say the least!! Thanks for takin' the time with the story, sounds like a good time. Gotta agree with the yote' picture. I think I'd have that one blown up. Congrats on a beautiful spring bear!

Muleyslyr · « **Reply #23 on:** June 12, 2007, 01:16:41 PM »

One more thing.....did you eat any of it?? If so, how did you have him butchered?? Just lookin' for ideas for this August.

Timber · « **Reply #24 on:** June 13, 2007, 06:59:09 PM »

Thanks for the comments. Looking back at that hunt I appreciate it more everyday. It was great to have my dad there to share the experience with.

The fur held up great during the winching process. No damage at all. The tarp worked really well.

I haven't done anything with the meat yet. It's still in the freezer. I'll probably have it made into sausage.

saylean · « **Reply #25 on:** June 13, 2007, 07:46:32 PM »

Thanks for the update jtim. About the meat, I have heard ( and have since followed the advice with my bear meat from last year) that it is advised to have the bear meat in a deep freezer for 4 months, to avoid trichinosis. Just something I have heard and thought I would pass on.

Cheers~

Michelle_Nelson · « **Reply #26 on:** June 13, 2007, 08:37:33 PM »

Man thats a nice Bear. What I wouldn't give for some bear sausage!

What is trichinosis. Proper cooking won't kill what ever it is?

billythekidrock · « **Reply #27 on:** June 13, 2007, 09:08:05 PM »

Trich is a possibility, but proper freezing and cooking make it a non issue for me. Usually the tenderloins are eaten without ever seeing a fridge or freezer. Straight to the frying pan.

Otto1 · « **Reply #28 on:** June 13, 2007, 10:12:19 PM »

very nice! and great story........... I know a good butcher that makes some excellent sausage, landjagers and roni... He is in Whatcom county, prolly not far from the taxidermist you most likely took him to.

Michelle_Nelson · « **Reply #29 on:** June 15, 2007, 02:18:04 PM »

What position are you going to get him mounted in? Standing, Walking, on a branch, fishing for Salmon, Open mouth, closed mount?

Otto1 · « **Reply #30 on:** June 15, 2007, 06:10:37 PM »

forgot to mention I have a full mount (standing) of a large chocolate I shot a few years ago. Really think about about where it will go in the house. If ya got a trophy room designated for stuff like that great. I wished that I had made a rug insted, as he just sits in the closet now.

Michelle_Nelson · « **Reply #31 on:** June 15, 2007, 07:19:16 PM »

Thats a big closet!

Otto1 · « **Reply #32 on:** June 15, 2007, 08:56:10 PM »

Quote from: Michelle_Nelson on June 15, 2007, 07:19:16 PM

Thats a big closet!

it sticks out

Timber · « **Reply #33 on:** June 19, 2007, 09:43:40 PM »

I haven't made a decision yet on the exact position for the mount. For sure a closed mouth and on all fours, maybe his front feet on a rock or log. Something similiar to this mount.

Otto1 · « **Reply #34 on:** June 19, 2007, 10:10:47 PM »

make sure your taxidermists puts wheels on the base.

Mine is standing up with a little lean over as it saves a little space and the only way I could get it in the closet

I'll pull it out and take a photo and post it.

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Author Topic: Got my Spring Bear (Read 24177 times)

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