Saw my (our) first bear this evening

[h20hunter]

So, the wife and I got a babysitter and off we went to check my cam. We headed up, had a nice walk, dropped a few pressed blocks for deer, changed out memory cards, that kind of stuff. We walked in a different area up there where we were and had a nice little walk. Heading home around 5 we are putting along below the speed limit just enjoying the cool breeze and out walks a little bear. He wasn't but a little guy, maybe 75, 80 pounds. I stopped the truck, double checked that the camera we had along was locked up in the back, it was, and just watched him walk across the road about 5 feet in front of the truck. He stopped by the ditch and kind of looked like, oh crap, now what. Off he went into the brush. So, that was my first time seeing a bear in the wild and not in my trail cam phots. Pretty cool and the wife was along with me to see it. I did get over 400 pics in a week on the cam. You'll have to check my threads to find out how that went.

[Goldeneye]

Congrats!  Now have one that close when your out in the field.  I had a cinnamon that close to me on a game trail once.  I let out a "HEY!" as he past by me.  His eye's got as big a saucers and then he ran down the mountainside talking to himself.  Then last year I had a sow come flying by me when I surprised her that I could have done a bull fighters Ole' on.  She was pretty close.  Killed my buck about a hundred yards further on the hillside.  Saw her and a lone cub the next day.  Glad I didn't plug her when she came running by me.  She was just getting the hell out of there.  Seeing a bear in the woods is cool.

[h20hunter]

You know what...it is cool. He was just a little guy, probably more cinnamon than black. Looked like a deer in the headlights when he realised there was a truck in his way and all he wanted to do was mosey on across the road. Way small though, not a shooter bear.

[saylean]

Now that you've seen one, hopefully you see lots more. Congrats on the first~!

[kbyers]

sounds like a great experience

[D-Rock425]

I thought they were all shooters 
Ok maybe not all shooters

[h20hunter]

Especially the little ones. They are simply easier to pack out. Also, if you shoot a big 'ol sow the cubs will hang around and follow you back to the truck. Then, you can call a couple of buddies over to pick one or two up for pets.



Now, don't get all wound up folks. I'm kidding. I've personally posted pics of shooters and little bears to help other get a good idea of how to judge a bear on the ground. This is just some banter between D-Rock and I.

[D-Rock425]

 

[Boss .300 winmag]

Yep, bears are one of the coolest creatures one can observe in the wild. Congrats on your first. Is it bear season yet, hell I just want to help my friends get them. I have my trophies, there are just fun to hunt and observe, more skill to them than deer in my oppion.