Post by: jrebel on August 10, 2012, 09:04:12 PM
Here is the scenaria
45/70 325gr bullet at approx 50 feet.
I shot this bear and it turned and ran for approx 5-10 seconds....sounded like a freight train in the brush.
No more crashing and I hear the "Death Bawl" that lasted for approx 15 seconds. With this I could hear very clearly gurgling in the lungs. I have hunted for approx 27 years and have heard this numorous times with my archery kills.
Wait for an hour and hear absolutely nothing......then start the search. I cannot find blood and the bear. It is literally a jungle of tangled mess and every trail down there has bear sign. I looked for 3 hours tonight and nothing. Me and my hunting buddy are hitting it hard tomorrow. I know this bear is dead and in my estimation it is within 50 yards of where I shot it.
How do you find these animals in this kind of jungle/thicket without blood. Is is normal for them not to bleed, enough to find easily, for the first 20-30 yards??
Will they ever give the death bawl just becaus....I know I hit this bear, but I cannot believe I can't find blood with that gun and ammo.
Any suggestion or words of wisdom would be great. I plan on using my nose tomorrow but everything in this jungle smells like bear.
Post by: buckfvr on August 10, 2012, 09:07:36 PM
Post by: DoubleJ on August 10, 2012, 09:09:26 PM
Post by: NW-GSP on August 10, 2012, 09:10:08 PM
Post by: buckfvr on August 10, 2012, 09:11:26 PM
Post by: Cap.Silver on August 10, 2012, 09:11:44 PM
Post by: Harborhunter on August 10, 2012, 09:16:07 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on August 10, 2012, 09:23:48 PM
Post by: Ridgerunner on August 10, 2012, 09:27:14 PM
Post by: jrebel on August 10, 2012, 09:28:04 PM
The load was 45/70 325 grain leverevolution (factory load).
It was so thick in there tonight and I was by myself, that I would be a liar to say I was not scared for my life. All I could think about was this bear or another bear eating me. I looked for hair or broken vegitation and truth be told there is so much bear sign in there that you could not tell what was the bear I shot.
I have no doubt with the 15 seconds of bawling and gurgling that it is a mortal wound. I just can't believe that it got up after the shot and then did not bleed.
Post by: demontang on August 10, 2012, 09:28:22 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on August 10, 2012, 09:28:35 PM
Fat will plug the hole......you may have to near step on it to find it, could have gone down between blow down or fell in under the brush and is covered.......
100% correct.
Do a grid search. Use flaggy and work on your hands and knees if needed. Even an average bear can ball up under some firns or a blowdown and be invisible from above.
Take your time in your search and make sure every foot of the grid has been checked before moving on to the next grid.
Post by: billythekidrock on August 10, 2012, 09:31:40 PM
Post by: jrebel on August 10, 2012, 09:36:00 PM
Post by: RadSav on August 10, 2012, 09:37:36 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on August 10, 2012, 09:42:01 PM
Yeah, but how much ground can he cover in 10 seconds or less. After that initial burst I never heard another branch brake and prior to shooting him you could hear every step for 100 yards. :dunno: :dunno:
Bears can be extremely silent even after beind shot and if you are jacked on adrenaline your heart will be pounding in your ears. All I am trying to say (from experience) is that a death moan can travel and the last place you thought you heard it may not be as close or as far as you thought.
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 10, 2012, 09:45:20 PM
Post by: ridgefire on August 10, 2012, 09:56:10 PM
Post by: RadSav on August 10, 2012, 09:57:38 PM
Post by: jrebel on August 10, 2012, 09:59:54 PM
Post by: dirty24d on August 10, 2012, 10:01:08 PM
Post by: D-Rock425 on August 10, 2012, 10:05:38 PM
Post by: jrebel on August 10, 2012, 10:17:25 PM
Post by: deleted BGS on August 10, 2012, 10:25:57 PM
Post by: dirty24d on August 10, 2012, 10:29:01 PM
You will be surprised with the meat. We shot one 2 years ago at night, didnt even go look, came back in the morning, found it and it was stiff and kinda smelly. Meat was still good, oh and it was in the 80's that day. I would recommend yellow caution or high vis tape, mark where you thought you seen him last then walk circles from there placing tape every 10 yards or so.
yep could get lucky. happened to my buddy and he got away with about 50 % of the meat still being good.
Post by: saylean on August 10, 2012, 10:52:59 PM
GOOD LUCK!~ Give it your all!
Post by: RadSav on August 10, 2012, 11:12:46 PM
When are you starting you search? I might be able to make the trip over in the morning.
I was going to say, "Time to call the D-Rock hotline" :chuckle:"
Fill those coolers up with A LOT of ice on your way up. If you can't save the meat at least you should be able to save the hide. I'm hoping you get to save both. Again, good luck to you.
Post by: windygorge on August 11, 2012, 06:08:45 AM
Post by: mtman on August 11, 2012, 07:40:57 AM
Post by: CAMPMEAT on August 11, 2012, 07:45:13 AM
Post by: NW-GSP on August 11, 2012, 07:50:23 AM
Post by: ribka on August 11, 2012, 08:10:55 AM
Post by: jrebel on August 11, 2012, 09:20:56 AM
Post by: DoubleJ on August 11, 2012, 09:21:42 AM
Post by: billythekidrock on August 11, 2012, 09:23:45 AM
This is JRebel's wife. He asked me to update you to let you know the bear was recovered! Story and pics will follow. He is on his way home now.
Congrats.
Post by: Huntbear on August 11, 2012, 09:27:22 AM
This is JRebel's wife. He asked me to update you to let you know the bear was recovered! Story and pics will follow. He is on his way home now.
:whoo: :whoo: :whoo: :whoo: :whoo:
Can not wait for pics! Congrats on the bear!
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 11, 2012, 10:23:36 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on August 11, 2012, 10:32:54 AM
Post by: seth30 on August 11, 2012, 10:36:11 AM
Post by: scottfrick on August 11, 2012, 10:36:29 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on August 11, 2012, 10:39:30 AM
Post by: bearpaw on August 11, 2012, 10:39:57 AM
Post by: bearmanric on August 11, 2012, 10:47:52 AM
Post by: muzbuster on August 11, 2012, 10:48:14 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on August 11, 2012, 10:53:55 AM
Post by: runamuk on August 11, 2012, 10:55:51 AM
This is JRebel's wife. He asked me to update you to let you know the bear was recovered! Story and pics will follow. He is on his way home now.congrats.....way to go
Post by: kyle78 on August 11, 2012, 12:57:49 PM
Post by: fillthefreezer on August 11, 2012, 01:41:40 PM
Post by: whitetailslyr on August 11, 2012, 01:45:54 PM
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on August 11, 2012, 01:47:43 PM
Post by: NW-GSP on August 11, 2012, 01:58:02 PM
Post by: jrebel on August 11, 2012, 02:04:04 PM
Yesterday got home from work with the plan of going to check trail cam pics and glassing for bears. Had the wife and kids so a ton of hiking was out of the question. Left the house at 1000 hrs and was checking trail cams at 1400 hrs. Was leaving that area (1600 hrs) to head to blewitt pass 2 hour drive to glass for bears. I thought by time I made the drive the heat would be tolerable and it would be a good time to find a bear. Well much to my surprise on the drive I pushed this bear out of the road (1445 hous).
It bailed off the road into some of the thickest brush I have ever seen. I started walking down the road thinking I may be able to follow it in the bush and maybe catch up to it. I knew it was a younger bear, but the color was awesome and for my first bear I wasn't going to be too picky. After about a hundred yards of following this bear (hearing it walk parallel and sniffing me) I thought I would never see it again. The brush was so thick all I could see was the tops of bushes moving. Finally I see the brush move about 50 feet in front of me and out of the brush appears booboo. I take the safety off the 45/70 when I saw the bear climb up on a stump. I leveled the 45/70 off and fired. The bear fell and all I heard was about 5-10 seconds of thrashing (what I thought was him running) and then the death bawl. The death bawl lasted for approx 15 seconds and I could hear gurgling like a lung shot during this period. Then the woods went silent.
I knew I had hit the bear hard and knew it was a leathal shot. Having never shot a bear before and hearing how tough they are, I backed out and waited for approx 45 minutes. I go in after it (scared for my life) and start looking.....Keep in mind the brush is so thick you can't see much more than 5 feet in front of you. I could feel my pulse in my finger tips as I gripped the rifle pointing it in front of me waiting to face off with an angry bear. I search for blood at point of impact and find none. I start looking in what I thought was the direction I heard the bear run and bawl (after the shot I never actually saw the bear again cause of how thick the brush is). Still no blood. Every trail, and there were a ton of trails / tunnels, had bear sign in it so that made tracking even more difficult. After approx 3 hours of searching and finding nothing, I am more than frustrated.
It was getting dark so I made the decision to leave and seek the expertise of Hunting-Washington.com members. I make the two hour drive home and post immediately. I also call my hunting buddy and secure help for first thing in the morning. Needless to say I could not sleep. I knew it would be an early morning so after reading some posts I head to bed.
0430 I am up and headed to what is now been labeled bearville. I have the 870 home defense gun stacked with buck shot and slugs and all the supplies needed to skin and process the meat rapidly. Thanks for the advise of taking a cooler full of ice. Also thanks for the advise of looking real close to where you shot the bear. One stop for coffee and Ice and away I go. I make it to bearville at 0630. Walk in to where I believed point of impact to me. Start searching.....and low and behold the darn thing was less than 10 feet away under some broad leafy vegetation. All the thrashing I thought was running was actually the bear rolling circles down a small hill into the thicket. I had literally walked within 5 feet of this bear twice yesterday. Honestly had I not stepped on him I probably would have walked right by him again. Again thank you to the member that said look hard around where you shot him.
Upon arriving at 0630 the temp gauge in my truck said 47 degrees...pretty cold. I instantly skin the bear and prep the meat. The meat does not smell rancid and looks good. I put it on ice and then prep the hide. On the way home I call the taxidermist and arrange to drop off the bear. It measures 54 1/2 inches tail to nose and is estimated to be around 120 -140 lbs. I am having a full mount done on him where he will be sniffing a beehive I have. I couldn't be more excited.....For my first bear it is beautiful, though small. Can't wait for the mount.
For those who are interested...the shot was slightly quartering away from me. The bullet entered just behind the front shoulder half way up the bear and exited center of off shoulder. The hole was amazing and the bullet performed exactly how it should have. Not finding the bear was a result of me and the thick vegetation.....the bullet devistated that bear. I love my 45/70. :tup:
Post by: jrebel on August 11, 2012, 02:08:06 PM
Post by: buckfvr on August 11, 2012, 02:10:31 PM
Post by: Curly on August 11, 2012, 02:13:17 PM
Post by: dirty24d on August 11, 2012, 02:13:26 PM
Post by: X-Force on August 11, 2012, 02:22:46 PM
45 70 can do some damage.
Post by: whackmaster on August 11, 2012, 02:26:43 PM
Post by: D-Rock425 on August 11, 2012, 02:27:58 PM
Post by: Huntbear on August 11, 2012, 02:33:47 PM
Glad you went back and found that yogi... should be some good eating, and that mount will look very cool....
Congrats! :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup:
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 11, 2012, 02:40:38 PM
Post by: jrebel on August 11, 2012, 02:42:58 PM
1. Bears actually have bones in their penis. I actually thought the bear had a broken off arrow shaft in it, come to find out I was fondling its manhood. :yike:
2. If you want a full size mount cut down the back not the front.....though the taxidermist said it will still work it just adds a ton of work (stitching) and will cost me. :chuckle: :chuckle: Dohhhhh
3. Trust your shot / weapon. I knew the bear did not go far, so I should have spent more time looking under bushes close to point of impact.
4. Most important.....Hunting-Washington.com members are some of the coolest sportsmen around. I had tons of great advise and a handful of people even offer to come help find the bear. Thanks to all of you.
Johnny
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on August 11, 2012, 02:46:23 PM
Post by: CAMPMEAT on August 11, 2012, 02:50:50 PM
Post by: Kowsrule30 on August 11, 2012, 03:05:44 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 11, 2012, 03:10:28 PM
Post by: RadSav on August 11, 2012, 03:24:50 PM
Oosik is a cool thing when cleaned up. I have a jar of them along side my quail head feathers.
Don't beat yourself up for not finding him yesterday. The squaw, who is an excellent tracker, once stepped on one before she found it. And that was in the snow! They can be slippery for sure.
Post by: jrebel on August 11, 2012, 03:36:06 PM
The bears *censored* bone is called an"usick " FYI. I think that's how you spell it. I hope you saved it.....
I didn't kepp it, but I know where it is if it is really something I should keep. Why on gods green earth would you save the weiner bone??? I am getting a full mount, between that the skull and the 45/70 case I should have enough to remember my first bear.
Post by: CAMPMEAT on August 11, 2012, 03:46:31 PM
The bears *censored* bone is called an"usick " FYI. I think that's how you spell it. I hope you saved it.....
I didn't kepp it, but I know where it is if it is really something I should keep. Why on gods green earth would you save the weiner bone??? I am getting a full mount, between that the skull and the 45/70 case I should have enough to remember my first bear.
You use them for swizzle sticks.....................
Post by: RadSav on August 11, 2012, 03:50:57 PM
Post by: jrebel on August 11, 2012, 03:53:25 PM
Plateau would know better than I. But, I believe it is considered a charm of good luck and fertility. To me they are just cool looking and one more reminder of a successful hunt that rekindles the memory.
I could definitely use the good luck when it comes to bear hunting....maybe I should go get it. I don't need the fertility, I'm done with that deparment. I really like the idea of having them as a memory of the successful hunt. Next time I keep the *censored* bone. :tup:
Post by: RadSav on August 11, 2012, 04:05:02 PM
Post by: jrebel on August 11, 2012, 04:17:52 PM
Thanks
Johnny
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 11, 2012, 04:31:32 PM
Post by: bearpaw on August 11, 2012, 04:41:02 PM
Post by: demontang on August 11, 2012, 05:12:01 PM
Post by: ribka on August 11, 2012, 05:44:17 PM
Nice write up and pics
Post by: mountainman on August 11, 2012, 05:52:49 PM
Post by: hornhunter1987 on August 11, 2012, 06:23:41 PM
Post by: upwind on August 11, 2012, 06:48:09 PM
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on August 11, 2012, 07:43:04 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on August 12, 2012, 11:56:05 AM
Post by: saylean on August 12, 2012, 01:13:08 PM
Congrats on a well deserved first bear. Cool coloring. Thanks for putting in the effort!
Post by: b.roberts on August 12, 2012, 03:43:02 PM
Post by: MuleyorBust on August 14, 2012, 03:42:44 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on August 14, 2012, 04:10:12 PM
Post by: epq21 on August 14, 2012, 04:46:21 PM
Post by: CoyoteCowboy on August 14, 2012, 06:25:13 PM
congrats on your 1st bear! great campfire story.
Post by: billythekidrock on August 15, 2012, 06:00:22 AM
Great job! Oosik is actually an Inuit word for the penis bone, and it may be specific to walrus (not sure); in English it is baculum. Kind of like elk ivories or turkey spurs, they are a secondary trophy for some, others don't see the point. As was noted, they are used in certain hunting cultures (e.g., cheeseheads and Mainers) as swizzle sticks for the new guy in camp's drink. He doesn't find out what it is, until the olives have been eaten.
:yeah:
Post by: Rooster1981 on August 15, 2012, 06:42:29 AM
Congrats on a great lookin bear :tup:
Post by: sirmissalot on August 15, 2012, 09:09:07 AM
Post by: Machias on August 16, 2012, 06:40:35 PM
Post by: Nilehunter on August 18, 2012, 06:13:39 AM
Congrats!!!!!:yeah: :tup:
Post by: Alphamax on August 20, 2012, 09:34:01 PM
Post by: MatthewHunter98 on August 20, 2012, 10:30:47 PM
Post by: washelkhunter on August 20, 2012, 10:36:57 PM