Thanks for the encouraging/instructional replies. I have tried to reply w/a short story twice but managed to lose it both times. BTKR-the reason it took so long for me to post the pictures was it took me that long to make this computer do it! Yeah, I was stillhunting but on my way to a calling spot w/an "official" BTKR call.
Spotted his scat on a spur road 2 1/2 wks ago. After driving it that 1st time, I went out twice a wk-each time finding more fresh scat & only on that road. He was very consistent so I hunted this road each time I drove out to Sierra Pacific. The day I got him I was wearing a head net, OD gloves so no white skin was showing. I was lucky to have a cross wind. I was walking slowly, 3 steps & pausing, when rounding a curve I paused & looked up. When I glanced down the curve thru some brush limbs I thought I could see a stump at the side of the road although I had walked this road about 3 times now & never remembered seeing any stump there. Well the "stump" & I remained frozen staring at each other for a long 8 seconds or so. Then the stump slowly turned its head towards the downhill side of the road, immediately he turned left & took two steps across the road. I was amazed as every bear I had ever encountered before was gone at the first glance & never stopping running until way out of sight in the next drainage. I think the camo & scent control had him confused-he knew I was something moving but he didn't know what (he had spotted me first). I didn't have too much time & I put a quick shot behind the shoulders I thought (so excited I can't even remember the sight picture). The slug ended up a little high & lodged against the far shoulder blade. He went down hard. I jacked another shell into the chamber & waited-still about 30 paces away. Sure enough, in about 4 seconds he started getting up so I put another slug below & slightly behind the right ear-that explains the hole in his face. I don't think he would have gone far w/the 1st shot but being by myself I didn't want him to roll down the embankment & I owed it to him to finish it quickly.
This forum has been a lot more than entertainment for me this last year. I particularly want to thank BTKR, Shannon, Hogsniper, & Bscman for their advice & encouragement.
