Good Eastern Washington Bear Photo

[Smokepole]

Any one of you guys or gals have any good bear field photos from the east side?  I'm writing about Choke Cherry Black Bears in Okanogan County, and need a picture or two for my story.  It will be published in August. 

If anyone has hunted the chokecherry thickets and scored a nice bear, show me some pics.  If your picture is selected, the photographer will get credit for the pic, and I'll send him/her a free issue of that magazine.

Kevin   

[boneaddict]

I assume you want them in the chokecherry bush?

[Ridgerunner]

How did you get to writing for that magazine?

[boneaddict]

You can send them stuff unsolicited.  They really appreciate a defined format, such as what you see in every magazine.  You do not have to provide photos, though you make more money that way.  I'm trying to remember what their pay scale is, but you get paid most for a cover, then like a $150 for a color shot in th e article or magazine, and I think it used to be $75 for a black and white.  One of the hardest things about it is they want it about 6 months in advance, so say this bear article, needs to be in about 6 months prior to the August or September issue.

[tlbradford]

Smokepole, make sure you mention how the bears are really not very dense and odds are way low that you will ever see one.  Also, please state that most bears are under 100 pounds and there are no color phase animals.  Oh yeah, and mention how the hills are steep.

[WAcoyotehunter]

Yeah dude...no offense, but there's plenty of hunters in OK county already. 

[Smokepole]

Okay...  instead of jerking my chain, why don't you first find out who you're dealing with.  Somebody is going to fill this slot in the magazine, and it may as well be me, a real hunter from Washington. 

I've been hunting mule deer in the Okanogan Valley since 1970.  That's about 37 years, without missing a season.  Always been a lot of hunters there.  I guess we just like it in that area.  People have also been writing magazine articles for decades, but the crowds in the valley are still about the same as they always have been.  Okanogan is our largest county, and I don't see very many hunters where I go.  I'd just as soon everybody stayed home, and I could have the whole county to myself.  That would be cool, but somebody is gonna buy this magazine and page through it.  So I'm doing this bear story. 

Search my name on the web, and check out my stories if you want.  I don't broadcast your honeyhole.  I don't lie.  You won't hear me bragging about huge mounts, and you won't see me measuring tines and scoring them up on a calculator.  I'd rather write about my good hunting experiences, and encourage others to hunt and fish safely and ethically.  Maybe pass it on to their kids.  I consider it a bonus to harvest an animal. 

I care about wildlife, habitat, and opportunities for kids to get out and enjoy the outdoors, just like you guys do.  I'm not no pipe-smoking, armchair office worker pushing pencils either.  I still have the boot leather for just about any Cascade peak -- clear to the top, gun in hand.  I was there when Bearhunter shot his first black bear.  Taught him to hunt when he was a kid.  I was on the grunt end of that bear for 3 1/2 miles, and we took it out whole from an elevation of 6500'.

I got started writing for this magazine in 1992, and have had two dozen or so articles published in my spare time.  I don't do it for the money, though.  I've always liked writing, and I write about a variety of topics.  I grew up reading Outdoor Life when I was a kid.  Read Trueblood, Carmichael, and Gene Hill, too.  Wanted to be like them.  I do get paid $25 for a black and white, $50 for a color shot when I can dig them up.  End up making about 15 bucks an hour if I type fast.

The editor contacted me to write this piece.  He likes my stories, and most hunters really get a thrill out of seeing their pictures in the magazine.  The bear needs to be on the east side, but specific location isn't too critical.  No chokecherry bush needed, Bone.   


Got some...or not?

 

[tlbradford]

Kevin, I was just playing with you.  At least half of my reading is about hunting and fishing, so I appreciate your efforts.  If you want to talk about some hunting experiences up that way, give me a pm.  I do not have any magazine quality photos, but I will ask the in-laws and see what they dig up.

[Smokepole]

Okay.  You're off the hook.     Bone's a straight shooter, so he's in the clear. 

I guess I just get wound up piss-tight when some whippersnapper calls me dude.  Got it off my chest. 

[boneaddict]

I'll e-mail you a couple Smokepole, or would you like me to post a couple here for you for your review then for you to get the full size.  You may have seen a couple on here already.

[Smokepole]

There aren't enough good bear pics, so throw them up, Bone.  I want to see...

[boneaddict]

I looked at what I had, and none are really magazine quality.  shadows, blood, composure, etc. 

[boneaddict]

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[boneaddict]

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[boneaddict]

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