Post by: MDGrand on August 02, 2012, 07:14:06 PM
I got this girl in AZ.. 250 lb + sow in the White Mountains. GORGEOUS country.. really a dream to hunt. 9K elevation, open grasslands, surrounded by timber.. PRIME elk country and it just so happens to have a great Bear Population!
One of the best hunts I have ever had. Got her with my .45-70 from 100 or so yards with a Hornady Revolution 325 FTX. HUGE fan of this round now. She ran 10 yards and the blood trail was super obvious.
Post by: Wea300mag on August 02, 2012, 07:16:22 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on August 02, 2012, 07:23:36 PM
Post by: Kola16 on August 02, 2012, 07:41:05 PM
Post by: h20hunter on August 02, 2012, 08:35:35 PM
Post by: MDGrand on August 02, 2012, 09:11:24 PM
Good work! Getting ready for an elk tag?
Absolutely!
How did you know?
Post by: Bean Counter on August 02, 2012, 09:19:48 PM
Post by: Tony on August 02, 2012, 09:23:17 PM
Post by: Ripper on August 02, 2012, 10:06:48 PM
Post by: Cap.Silver on August 02, 2012, 10:09:15 PM
Post by: rb2506 on August 02, 2012, 10:32:32 PM
Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2
Post by: Todd_ID on August 02, 2012, 10:36:31 PM
Post by: MLBowhunting on August 02, 2012, 10:45:08 PM
Post by: bearpaw on August 02, 2012, 11:29:05 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on August 02, 2012, 11:31:22 PM
Post by: RoyBoy on August 03, 2012, 01:20:54 AM
Post by: Huntboy on August 03, 2012, 06:16:42 AM
Post by: MDGrand on August 03, 2012, 06:43:50 AM
Look outside your window... :tinfoil:
?
Post by: Bean Counter on August 03, 2012, 07:51:01 PM
Just a little deduction. The White Mountains aren't exactly destination #1 for black bear hunting in the U.S. but they are for bull elk. I would venture a guess that many non residents who come early to the area would slap a black bear hunt on the to do list whilst out scouting. Good luck with the tag!
Here's some photos I snapped up there couple of years back.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=57698.msg710246#msg710246 (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=57698.msg710246#msg710246)
Post by: MDGrand on August 03, 2012, 08:41:54 PM
Only yankin' your chain, man. :chuckle:
Just a little deduction. The White Mountains aren't exactly destination #1 for black bear hunting in the U.S. but they are for bull elk. I would venture a guess that many non residents who come early to the area would slap a black bear hunt on the to do list whilst out scouting. Good luck with the tag!
Here's some photos I snapped up there couple of years back.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=57698.msg710246#msg710246 (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=57698.msg710246#msg710246)
I know. Yeah the area is a premier elk area. Probably the best elk habitat I have ever seen for elk. For bear.. Maybe not number 1 but the bears are everywhere! And... Even though I got a nice traditional black bear I saw several color phase bears.. And from what I have learned if you want a color phase bear this is the place to go. Either way... Love the area and wish we had country like that here in WA.
Post by: atc250r18 on August 05, 2012, 09:31:12 AM
There's not much better then high mountain Arizona trout fishing this time of year, it's the best way to beat the heat.
Post by: MDGrand on August 06, 2012, 08:54:38 AM
Congrats! But isn't a 10 yard recovery pretty much impossible to evaluate the blood trail? :chuckle: Good luck on the elk, too!
Granted the trail was not long and there is a bit of backstory on why I said "blood trail..."
The story is that the outfitter told me the importance of making a good shot because he rarely if ever gets blood trails from the bear they have taken out of this area. Well, the .45-70 I used with the Hornady FTX bullet did a complete pass through as I place the shot right on the shoulder.. the blood was sprayed all over the ground where the bullet exited and all the way up to the bear only 10 or 15 yards away from where he was shot. So while there was not a LONG blood trail.. it was pretty obvious and countered his experience of not getting ANY blood trails before.
Post by: MDGrand on August 06, 2012, 08:56:07 AM
Nice bear, where abouts did you get her, Big lake area? I grew up in the Springerville area, lots of pretty country but the only bear I've ever seen in AZ was the one by cousin plugged on the Kiabab.
There's not much better then high mountain Arizona trout fishing this time of year, it's the best way to beat the heat.
Yup, right near big lake.. closer to Reservation Lake though. You are right about the fish! Nice area for that too!
Post by: washelkhunter on August 06, 2012, 09:38:38 AM
Post by: South Texas on August 08, 2012, 06:34:36 PM
Here is a nice AZ bear we called out of a canyon a couple of springs ago: