1st bear for gutpile! WooHoo!

[Gutpile]

After several years of chasing I finally got one. This year I got drawn for a spring bear tag in huckleberry and I finally got a little luck. I had found a lot of sign in this particular area and after the 6th hunt she finally showed herself. Last weekend I saw a sow with cubs but nothing else. I had decided to forget it this year with gas prices being so high and frustration of again not getting a bear but at the last minute I figured what the heck I'll go up after work and hunt the last two days of the spring season. There really isn't much to tell about the hunt since I had only been out of the truck for 5-10 minutes. Got to the area at 6:30 in the afternoon and I walked a short ways down an old skid trail. She was walking up out of a draw onto the skid trail. She was only about 30 feet right in front of me! She stopped, looked, and bugged out. At about 50 yards I dumped her. I'll tell you what! Thats exciting when they're that close! Anyways I knew It was a decent bear, not huge but not tiny either. Just about any bear is good for me though!! There was some ground shrinkage but I'm still a happy boy. Man those things are hard to judge when your hurried! Anyways, the bear fell just below the trail and by the time I saw, shot, and dragged it to the trail for gutting only 20 minutes had elapsed It was 6:50. Good black coat and no rubs but lots of tics! Got home and skinned her out and was in bed at midnight. This morning met with the taxidermist and now I'm off to the butcher. Can't wait till next year! Going for a biggy now!

[boneaddict]

Congratulations!  Looks like a decent sow!

[Snowman]

Congrats on your first bear. She looks pretty.

[bearmanric]

great going it is exciting. i cant go back to the coast till the 11th. the wife and Daughter are in vermont. getting the fever. look's like it is a descent bear. Rick

[bucklucky]

Nice job! Now you can start your streak!!

[boneaddict]

anymore pics of the gun.  Nice looking firearm.....open sites?  Good way to get a bead on a running bear.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Great looking bear, congrats!

[Gutpile]

anymore pics of the gun.  Nice looking firearm.....open sites?  Good way to get a bead on a running bear.

Thanks. It's a marlin 45-70. I put a peep sight on the rear. Every bear I've seen here has been 50-60 yards or less. I bought it for this hunt. I may use it this fall for deer if I draw a doe tag.

[Rufous]

Right on Gutpile. Now you are hooked. I like hunting bears more than any other big game I have gone after so far (deer, elk and cougar). It is a kick in the pants for sure. I am real happy you were able to connect. That is a nice bear, one to be proud of. Rufous.

[tlbradford]

Great work.  I am glad you put that Huckleberry tag to good use.  She looks like a good one.  What are you going to do with her?

[Gutpile]

I'm going to let some bugs clean the skull, rug the hide, and everything else will be a variety of brats, breakfast sausage, smoked chops, and hams. I've only ate a little bit of bear meat so this will be an adventure for me. The butcher loved the bear he said it'll be a great one. There was virtually no fat on it.

[Gutpile]

incidentally, my daughter was across the street at a slumber party. She likes to see what I bring home so she came over with all the girls. They loved it! Every one of them! Usually with a deer or turkey theres some girls talking about how gross this or that is but there wasn't any of that even amongst the smell, the tics, and the blood. One girl even wanted to see the empty cavity. LOL!

[washingtonmuley]

 Congrats on the bear. Who is doing the rug?

[Ray]

Well done. Good thing you didn't give up hope. Congratulations.

[Slider]

Great Bear!!! Congrats