Little (?) Bear Down

[Shannon]

Dandy for sure. A nice color phase is next on my list.

[Head-shot]

Great looking bear. Nice color good size, well done

[RubblesPH]

Sorry about the delay on the story, but had to take the boy to baseball practice.

Here's the story:

Took me six years to draw the tag. It was my fourth trip up and I was seeing between 5-10 bears a day.  I hunted with a friend (Todd Peyser - Peyser Taxidermy) one day and hunted on my own the rest of the time.  

Thursday - I got up on the mountain a little after five p.m. and spotted the bear with the bino's and then lost him in the tree's for about an hour and a half.  In the mean time I was able to glass up four other bears (two sows and two cubs) while I was waiting on this one to come back out.  When he finally came out, it was a pretty quick decision process with regards to shooter/no shooter.  I spent the rest of the evening glassing and trying to find a way to get to him.  He was in a big drainage with limited access in rough/steep terrain.  I'd have to walk down one mountain, cross a creek and climb up the other side about three quarters of the way.  I wasn't looking forward to the pack out, especially all by myself.  

Friday - After getting some keys to a gate and some guidance from the land owner, I was at the top of the ridge at 5 am in my truck.  Only problem was, I was fogged in.  Sixty yards visibility.  I hiked, slept and eat breakfast until 9 am and then unloaded the four wheeler.  I spent the rest of the day learning new roads and looking for a way into the bears territory.  I wanted to be set-up at 4 pm and waiting on his arrival, but after a days worth of unsuccessful hiking, riding and much frustration, I resorted back to the extensive pack out option.  As I was taking the hour long ride back over to the drop in point, I ran across another skidder road and took a chance on it.  It lead all the way to the bottom of the drainage where I could jump off my ride and run up a hill above the timber to get my bearings.  After the frenzied locating process and a wet water crossing I was sitting under a tree better than halfway up the ridge.  I was only there about a half an hour when I felt the ticks crawling up my neck.....needless to say, it was a long wait under that tree.  As I was glassing other ridges I looked back and there he was feeding on grass.  I ranged him (311 yards) set up the shooting sticks - ranged him again, got behind the scope, out of the scope, adjusted the scope to 14 power, took some deep breaths and waited until he turned and quartered towards me.  I put one through his shoulder and it exited out the other side through his ribs.  A double lung shot that sent him running up hill.  I put another one in the chamber and got him in the scope when I saw a flying bear!  He had ran up a 12-15 foot ledge and then turned and jumped down the ledge and a considerable distance down the hill.  I pulled my head out of the scope and realized that I wasn't crazy and was actually seeing a flying bear.  He landed on his feet and then charged down hill and out of sight.  I collected my thoughts and then walked over to where I shot him - no blood, but you could see his landing area and his stride in the wet ground.  I knew I made a good shot since I could hear it connect.  After about 40 yards of tracking I found blood and it looked like he had started tumbling.  I checked my gun and scope to make sure everything was in order and then proceeded into the brush....pucker factor 10 since I was alone, no visual on the bear, I was loosing light and I had just stuck my boot inside his back foot print!  I got up to the brush and there he was...10 feet in and lights out.  I had to hike back down the hill get my camera (found a nice 6 point elk shed on the way down), take some pics and then field dress him so he could cool out over night.  It was a long night ride back to the truck and then down the mountain.

Saturday - A buddy comes over from the tri-cities and brings one of his kids and my eight year old to help skin, quarter and pack it out.  Thanks Troy!

Great hunt!    

[catwithboost]

Great story! Also very great bear like the color!

[Jackjr]

Nice bear.  I would like to shoot a small one like that some day

[PacificNWhunter]

great story, that's a stud bear too!

[bucklucky]

Nice job! Great bear.

[Rufous]

Little bear my foot! What a beaut. What unit were you hunting? Sounds like you worked for that one. Good job. Rufous.

[Ridgerunner]

Thats an AWESOME Bear.  Good job

[boneaddict]

Now thats a hunt! Well orchestrated, not just blind asss luck off the road.  WELL DONE!

[Broken Arrow]

I can tell you after helping RubblesPH pack this dang thing out...(back and knee's still sore)...this "little bear" was a pig! Thanks for letting me help....made for a great day.

[Bearhunter]

Awesome bear, what a beautiful coat, thanks for the story

(Well orchestrated, not just blind asss luck off the road) whats up with that, Bone the bear over here on the wetside are in the roads eating grass, we dont have open hillsides for grass to grow in the best stuff is along the road systems.  I wouldnt call it luck.

[DeKuma]

That is one gorgeous bear.  Definite shooter, without hesitation.

Congratulations.

[Alchase]

Great bear and great story, shows hard work does pay off.......very well.

[GoldTip]

Great looking bear, congrats.