Bear blunder of the week.

[HerbieDerby]

So and old friend and I head up in the hills last night after work to a spot he knows of. He happened to stumble across this gold mine of bear territory a few years back while hiking, and since has pulled out 4 bears in the last 4 years.

We hike around and glass for a couple hours without seeing anything except tons of sign and some really nice, well defined prints. After not seeing anything, we decided to head up the hill on this game trail he knew of. Up, and up, for what seemed like an eternity (my left foot was sore and swollen), we finally stop in this little clearing and just stand in silence and listen. Half an hour goes by and we hear some crashing off to the right of us. The wind was perfect and we decided to hike down, then back up this skid trail to make our way closer...

Slowly stalking up, we peek around a bush, and here, 20 yds away, is a nice bear. Must have been about 250 lbs or so. Beautiful coat. I decide to take the shot. Rifle up, and click. What  ? Oh, no round in the chamber. I can fix that. I slowly raise the bolt and take it back... >Insert uber loud metal bolt noises here<

Bear looks up and watches us, so we're perfectly still. He stared at us for about 30 seconds and looked like he was going to go back about his business, when he B-lined it for cover. I jammed that bolt forward and hauled ass up the hill to see him and take a shot. Just as I could make him out, his ass disappeared into the thicket.

Needless to say, no bear for me last night as by that point it was allready dark.

Sometimes, I need to kick my own ass. Next time, I WILL have one in the chamber. WTF was I thinking? 

[markts]

Shart Happens

[GoldTip]

An unloaded gun is simply a club.......  Good luck next tiem you go out.

[BlackRidge]

D*mn shame, sounded like a beaut

Probably better for your swollen foot though

[rasbo]

gotta laugh but hate to...I went calling bears alone,and found I took my 44mag in unloaded,heck went to look for epq21 bear and forgot my gun..Dont feel bad.Might mean something better for you to come...

[HerbieDerby]

Thats my excuse anyways, I'm waiting for something better. And I found out this morning that I have gout. Thats why my foot is messed up. Probably wasn't too good on it to hike like I did last night.

[uplandhunter870]

ouch tough break man, hope the foot gets better and you have better luck next time, theres a lot of season left

[ICEMAN]

" uber loud metal bolt noises" Now that's funny!  Been there, done that with a nice Muley. Sucks for sure...

[ML_Hunter]

That ok...At least you had bullets.  On opening day of bear season I headed out and took my rifle and a box of brass, brass...not bullets.  I saw a bear at about 80-100 yards out and was just able to watch him.

[high country]

I can relate. I had my scope blow up between the house and my hunting area, found out when I pulled down on a beauty........*censored*!

[skier2480]

I thought I had left my bullets back at the rig on one hunt. My hunting partner and I had hiked up to camp the night before the hunt go up at daybreak and spotted 3 bears right away just below our camp. Went to load my rifle and go after them and couldn't find the ammo. We got setup to hike back to the rig which was about 3-4 miles away and I decided to check my pack again and found them in the one pocket I didn't look in. Then I shot and missed the one I went after. 

[wadu1]

A buddy of mine drew tags for eastern Mt, whe he got to the area to sight in "no Bolt". It was still safe and sound in the gun safe in Renton!

[woodswalker]

" uber loud metal bolt noises" Now that's funny!  Been there, done that with a nice Muley. Sucks for sure...

Lost a 6x6 Mulie in a similar manner about 15 years ago...Took a knee, pulled the -06 down on the bruiser, slid the safety off, squeezed and was rewarded with a loud CLICK.  Up came his head and I made like a stump....SSLLOOWWLLYY tried to run the bolt....didnt work...the buck engaged warp drive and tore RIGHT THROUGH CAMP on his way to the steep-n-deeps....

Turned out that the round was a dud....I had grabbed the wrong box of ammo on the way out of the house...so stopped on Opening AM down in town to get a box of whatever 30-06 was available....was sure a shock to find that the primer was well whacked with no BOOM.  Usually i load my own and DO NOT have misfires....

Sigh 

[follow maggie]

Don't worry- I've done more stupid things than that.  I was elk hunting with a muzzleloader once, and the bolt fell out while I had the gun slinged over my shoulder.  I didn't know it fell out until I needed to pull the trigger.  We found it on the ground in camp when we returned for dinner that night.

[Blsum]

Tough break man. I've had some dumb things happen to me before as well. Like hunting most of the day with my muzzle loader only to find out I had been hunting with out a cap on the gun.  I heard a story once when my dad had a big 6x6 bull elk in his sights. He pulled the trigger and click. Not only did he forget to load a round he forgot the whole damn clip in the truck.