Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: shanevg on August 23, 2008, 08:35:13 PM

Title: Another Bear Down
Post by: shanevg on August 23, 2008, 08:35:13 PM: I brought my neighbor Brian up for his first bear hunt today. He and his dad have been hunting with my family for about 6 years now, but he has yet to discharge a firearm at a big game animal. We went up a trail where my (future) father-in-law shot his bear and goat over 25 years ago. We didn't really know where we were going but we made our way up the trail and broke into a small meadow around 7:20 a.m. The sun was shining and we immediately spotted 7 deer up the hill about half a mile away. We decided to move that direction to get a look at them since Brian has an multiweapon tag this year and archery opens in 8 days.

After about half an hour of hiking, we broke out into the meadow where the deer were feeding. I immediately bring up my binoculars to get a look to see if there are any bucks, but before I was even able to process what I was looking at, Brian spots a bear. The chase was on! We ranged the bear at 446 yards so we set up a stalk. We had an open shot at 276 yards, but felt we could get closer. Soon we were crawling over a ridge with our guns ready. We both set up our bipods and I waited for Brian to take the shot. The bear was now at 100 yards. Brian took the shot and I immediately backed him up. The bear spun around, ran about 10 feet than rolled down the hill 40 yards dead. Brian was very excited for his first bear and his first big game animal on his first bear hunt ever!

After we went up and tagged the bear we went around the ridge to see if the deer were still there, three of the seven were left about 300 yards away staring at us. All three of them were nice little 4 points, but too far away to get pictures with my camera. So now Brian has a spot to come deer hunting next weekend too!

So after 5 years of bear hunting, my buddies and I got our first bear in the end of September last year. Now (as a group) we've shot 3 bear in the last 2 weeks! It's pretty awesome!!! The sow weighed roughly 160-180. It was a black color phase with some pretty significant browning along it's back.
Title: Re: Another Bear Down
Post by: klikboom on August 23, 2008, 08:42:58 PM: Doh that looks like the country i was in, but you had better luck. How was the pack out?? Did you bone out the meat right there?
Title: Re: Another Bear Down
Post by: shanevg on August 23, 2008, 08:44:26 PM: No we just cut it in half and packed it out. Just shy of 4 miles, but all downhill and on a trail, so not too bad. BTW, the stomach contained about half blueberries and half grass. We couldn't find the blueberries, but the bear sure knew where they were.
Title: Re: Another Bear Down
Post by: BC CHASER on August 23, 2008, 08:48:06 PM: Nice! I went out last night for the first time this year and made a big mistake! My buddy and I saw one and it was facing us from 170 yrds. I looked quickly at him and thought he was a little guy. I set my rifle down and looked at him with the binos as he disappeared into the bush I should have shot him. He was a lot bigger than I first thought.
Title: Re: Another Bear Down
Post by: bucklucky on August 23, 2008, 08:56:11 PM: Congrats on the bear! Man its been a good bear year!
Title: Re: Another Bear Down
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on August 23, 2008, 09:07:57 PM: Nice Bear, congrats!
Title: Re: Another Bear Down
Post by: saylean on August 23, 2008, 10:20:20 PM: :tup: :brew:

Cheers to that guys. NIce pics. ;)
Title: Re: Another Bear Down
Post by: archery288 on August 23, 2008, 10:41:47 PM: Nice job and congrats!
Title: Re: Another Bear Down
Post by: Huckleberry on August 24, 2008, 12:09:00 AM: I like the browning ~ sure seems to be a lot of bears that size this year. I got in on 11 between Fridays evening hunt and Saturdays morning hunt but they're all that 120-200 pounders. Lots of ripe blueberries at 4,000-4,500 feet. Hopefully the big ones will start showing up so I can shoot something :)
Title: Re: Another Bear Down
Post by: Slack on August 24, 2008, 11:52:34 AM: Nice bear, how much did he end up weighing?
Title: Re: Another Bear Down
Post by: sasquatch on August 24, 2008, 11:59:01 AM: congrats and nice pictures
Title: Re: Another Bear Down
Post by: markts on August 24, 2008, 06:15:14 PM: :drool: Nice bear guys, just about all of my buddies have either got or shot at one. I have yet to see one. Congrats :(
Title: Re: Another Bear Down
Post by: Jackjr on August 24, 2008, 09:14:49 PM: Nice job guys
Title: Re: Another Bear Down
Post by: hard hunter on August 24, 2008, 10:14:05 PM: Congrats, you make me jealous