2012 Hunt-WA Head Competition

[Wea300mag]

With all the great spring bears hitting the ground I thought it was time to announce the 2012 Head Competition. There are no major rule changes since last year. Entries will be accepted as soon as we receive our contest permit from the WDFW.

2012 Hunt-WA Head Competition

1 )  Hunter must have a valid WDFW hunting license and tag for the species hunted
2 )  Only legally harvested and tagged Cougar and Bear species taken in Washington are eligible
3 )  Entries must have been taken during the contest year beginning April 15, 2012 to March 31, 2013 and posted by midnight, March 31, 2013
4 )  Entries must include an "approved" story of the hunt, weapon used, picture of the animal, and claimed score on www.hunting-washington.com
5 )  Official B & C or P & Y scoring rules must be used, except that heads may be scored while green prior to the normally required waiting period.
6 )  The score that compares highest in percentage to the state record for that species and weapon wins. For example, a modern firearm black bear will be compared to the state record modern firearm black bear and an archery cougar will be compared to the record archery cougar. Three weapon categories are eligible; modern firearm, muzzleloader, and archery. Washington Big Game Records will be used as the state records.
7 )  Prizes: A perpetual (traveling) trophy will be awarded to the winner to keep for 11-1/2 months.
8 )  Additional prizes may be announced (total of all prizes may not exceed $2000 in value).
9 )  Hunters entering bear or cougar must be H-W members prior to the beginning of the season in which the animal was harvested.
10 )  The contest judge has the right to challenge any claimed score, if requested, top entries may be required to get an official score.

[bearpaw]

Is anyone going to enter an animal in this competition this year? Looks like an easy competition to win this year?

[Eli346]

 I haven't got the skull back to have it scored or I would. I'll check and see if it's done on Monday and then try to get it scored.

[180-GRAIN]

Did we receive our permit for the competition yet? I plan on entering my bear as soon as I get a score on it.

[Wea300mag]

The permit has been recieved and the contest is open.

[Eli346]

 I'm taking my skull up to the Sportsmen's Show to get it officially scored and registered for the books on the 26th. I've had it measured and remeasured and I still can't believe the size of this bear! It's at 21 3/16 without the lower jaw. I knew he was big but I really had no idea. This should qualify him for the Boone and Crockett all time list also.

[Eli346]

 This is my Thurston County bear I shot on Aug 4, 2012. I had dropped into the bottom of a clearcut where we have seen several bears before the season but as I got to the spot I wanted to set up the wind changed on me and started blowing down the hill. I decided to head back up in a circle working the timber edge with the wind in my face. I came up over a little ridge and caught movement at about 80 yds. All I could see was his back as he was working on a log with his head down. I knew he was big but still waited to make sure it was what I wanted and also make sure it wasn't a sow with cubs. I got a rest on a stump and just kept watching but didn't see any cubs around so I waited for him to pull his head up. As he raised his head I could tell by the distance between his ears that he was definitely a shooter. I dropped him with a shot to his shoulder with my 300 WSM. I couldn't believe how big he was when we got up to him. I'm not very good at estimating weight on a bear but I would say he was all of 375 lbs. Originally I thought the skull might go 19" but the taxidermist measured him at 21 4/16. We re-measured to make sure and I've measured a couple times since not really believing what I was reading. I think he will come in at 21 3/16 without the lower jaw but I'm taking it up to the Sportsmen's Show in Puyallup on the 26th to get it officially scored and registered.
 I originally posted this under 'Bear Down' a few days after I got him but I'm not sure how to add that link. I really don't think the pics do him justice but I will post them again.

[Eli346]

 More pics.

[180-GRAIN]

Dam good one Eli! He will be hard to beat if he scores that high. Congrats on the HuntWa trophy!

[Eli346]

 I took the skull up to the Sportmen's Show today and the official score is 21 5/16. I'm still in awe of it. I'm going back tomorrow to pick it up at 2:00 as that is when they hand out the awards. It's #1 so far this year and tied for #4 in the state books.

[Wea300mag]

Congrats to Eli346 for winning the 2012 Hunt-WA Head Competition. I will get the trophy engraved and shipped off to you. 

[jackelope]

A booner. Congrats!! That's huge.

[Jerome]

Your name deserves to be on that plaque with a score like that.  What a year for melon heads hitting the dirt, 3 made all time books.

[bearpaw]

Awesome bear, congrats... 

[Guy]

BIG ol' noggin on that bear. Wow! Congrats.