Back from Idaho! (Success...kind of)

[longstevo]

So I spent last week in western Idaho.  It was beautiful weather...for camping.  Deer weren't moving, so we had to hunt to get them up.  Not easy.  I put down what seemed like a million miles on my feet, and I ended up seeing over 30 deer on the first day with seven young bucks.  I passed on all of them.  

Every day was dry and crunchy with T-shirt weather and full moon.  The deck was stacked against us.  The one good thing was an ATV trail was gated at the trailhead, cutting off access for most hunters.  Not dad and I.  He can't hike as far as he used to, but I made use of it.  I finally got to see a nice four point buck after jumping him in his bed, but I didn't pull the trigger.  I'm still kicking myself for that.    I'm not sure why I didn't shoot him.  

But I got a nice consolation prize.  The next day I stumbled across a large black bear foraging on a bare sidehill at 1145 in the morning.  Two shots and he was down.  He ended up stretching about six feet and weighed about two hundred pounds, give or take.  I wish I would have got a good buck, but I can't complain about my first bear!

Picture is forthcoming.  Having computer problems...

[longstevo]

Here it is. 

[bobcat]

Nice bear! Sometimes all it takes is a little luck to go along with all that hard work.

[boonerboy]

looks like as pretty good bear! congrats!

[Hyde]

That's a "punkin head" bear there.  Nice work!  Rug or lifesize?

[Machias]

VERY nice bear, congrats!!!

[brianmtsinc]

Great bear! 
I have never killed a bear, so would be very happy with that outcome!
Congrats!!!! 

[markts]

Nice bear-looks easy 200lbs unless you are 4ft and 125lbs Congrats to you

[longstevo]

Nice bear-looks easy 200lbs unless you are 4ft and 125lbs Congrats to you

Nope.  I'm not quite that small. 

I skinned it out just in case I want to make a full rug out of it.  I'm going to do some price checking here pretty soon. 

[carpsniperg2]

good lookin bear. congrats to you

[bucklucky]

Heck ya, nice job on the bear!!

[Wyoming08]

Nice Job on the Bear. You didn't see any wolves over there did you? Congratulations on that Brute

[Michelle_Nelson]

  That is awesome longstevo that is a great solid bear for your first.  He looks a lot larger than 200lbs.

[MHWASH]

Did you use your deer tag or did you have a bear tag? Personally I'd would have used my deer tag on him.

[lewy]

Nice work! I would guess him being bigger than that as well, esp. this late in the season.....

[longstevo]

He had almost an inch of fat on him in some places.  He was a heavy sucker. 

I did use my deer tag because we were having a hard time seeing bucks to put it on.

And we didn't see any wolves in our area, nor did we see any sign of them.  But our hunting partner ventured over to the next basin and said he saw a wolf track.