Well, a lot of this isn't news to some, but thought I'd start my own thread and quit jacking others! While I've killed nuisance bears when I worked for Wyoming Game and Fish, and culvert trapped them and relocated them both there and in WA, I freely admit limited expertise about hunting them. I USED to feel pretty blase about bears - but about four years ago my wife mentioned wanting to get a rug, and I've got the itch. I've passed on 3 sows with cubs, and missed a small black one in the Blues on a spring permit hunt. I'm starting to put it together, but am also racing time, so am asking for any advice you experienced killers care to share.
My dad's genetic gift to me was Type IIa hypercholesterolemia, aka precocious familial severe, diffuse coronary artery disease. In plain speak, even though we are outwardly healthy, we develop early heart disease and die young. All of my dad's male ancestors died between 21 and 42 years of age, my dad had his first heart attack at 29, and I felt my first chest pain at 36 despite tons of medications to control numbers. (Unmedicated, my total cholesterol runs around 430, regardless of diet and exercise; with medication, the numbers are great - my cholesterol is 130-160 medicated, BUT the disease progresses rapidly anyway). In November 2007, an incident while hunting elk alone in Wyoming pretty much ended my usual m.o. of hunting. I just had my 5th coronary artery stent placed, which means this early season I have a pretty good window of moderate activity to try and get it done (i've had 3 placed in the last 14 months, so I don't think I should plan on too many more seasons).
Not looking for pity - my life has been great, and probably will be until it ends. I would really like to get my wife a bear rug this fall. I am getting fit as fast as I can, and expect to be hunting within a few weeks - realistically, I will be restricted to fairly moderate terrain within 3 miles of the truck. I do have friends to help with the packing out, fortunately.
So, bear killers, any advice is greatly appreciated. I will probably restrict myself to day trips in Chelan County, and since I've wasted most of my leave time with medical stuff, I am mostly a weekend warrior.
Thanks!
