Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: skagitsteel on September 29, 2012, 08:32:23 PM

Title: Bear Down
Post by: skagitsteel on September 29, 2012, 08:32:23 PM: nice alpine color phase sow, 1st down bear for me 7th one I have seen this season... more details to come
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 29, 2012, 08:48:54 PM: Congrats :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: JakeLand on September 29, 2012, 08:52:38 PM: pics? story?
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: skagitsteel on September 29, 2012, 08:55:06 PM: self timer pic, was by myself
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: skagitsteel on September 29, 2012, 08:56:26 PM: the pack out
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: runamuk on September 29, 2012, 09:07:10 PM: congrats thats a great bear.....
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: skagitsteel on September 29, 2012, 09:24:43 PM: now for the story, more a story of the season learning about bears and blowing a couple opportunities earlier in the year... but for now friday mornings bear hunt:
Went up to an alpine area that I had been to once before thanks to a tip from a member here. started hiking from the truck around 5:45 AM solo hunt about 10 minutes from the truck heard something move behind me, though must be something passing bu a deer maybe? Kept going and hear it again about 30 yards behind me, turn back can't see squat with my headlamp in the thick timber. The third time I heard it I thought could be a cougar, so rifle off my back and round in the chamber. After that all was quiet. I reached the meadow about a 3000 ft climb above the truck, snuck through the berries and came upon a hikers camp around 7:30, talked to them for a bit and kept goin. I got about 70 yards from their camp and was looking over the basin below their camp. I turn around and a bear is looking right at me about 130 yards up the hill. I crept behind a tree. then started sneaking in for a shot when the bear went back to eating berries. The bear looks up again I freeze, bear is back to munchin blue berries. Happened 4 times before I got to the spot I wanted to shoot from. Wind was coming right toward me so I wasn't worried about him catching my scent. I threw up my shooting sticks, took a knee from about 115 yards and waited for the perfect shot. Bear quartered away I squeezed off right behind the shoulder and she rolled and rolled and rolled finally stopping at a bush about 30 yards in front of me. Probably startled the hikers a bit, but my buddy talked to them as he was heading in to help me pack out and they were cool with it. Was a loong pack out too I was right at 90 ibs packin out, gonna find some stuff I don't need in my pack before I go out with my second tag... Appreciate all the input on this site I learned a ton from it and ultimately it helped me see quite a few bears this year and get one down.. biggest piece of advice to new hunters from a new bear hunter HIKE away from easy access areas. gated roads and long hikes had by far had the most sign...
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: Huntbear on September 29, 2012, 09:31:09 PM: Way to knock down a Yogi! :tup: :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: losdaddy7 on September 29, 2012, 09:31:52 PM: :tup: Congrats!!!
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: X-Force on September 29, 2012, 09:33:52 PM: :tup:
Title: Bear Down
Post by: Austrian Hunter on September 29, 2012, 10:00:26 PM: Awesome!!!!
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: Jason on September 29, 2012, 10:05:42 PM: Congrats on a nice bear! :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on September 29, 2012, 10:38:40 PM: Right ON! Great looking bear!
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: skagitsteel on September 29, 2012, 10:46:01 PM: had a cool looking blond stripe all the way down the back, 1st time skinning one out, not sure if I did a good enough job to make a rug out of it (I poked a few holes) , but at least the tail and rear end skinned out perfect... Plus the exit wound totally blew out the shoulder leaving about a 5" diameter hole.
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: 3nails on September 29, 2012, 10:51:20 PM: Very cool first bear! Been there, done that with the pack out of there. The truck never looked so good did it? :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: skagitsteel on September 30, 2012, 12:10:06 AM: For sure! yeah I was thinking somebody added 10 switchbacks on the way out. But after I got in the truck and drove home I can't say I wouldn't do it again! Was glad to shoot it right off the trail and not in the meadow a mile or so to the East, that would have been a real pack
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: RB on September 30, 2012, 12:31:41 AM: Cool! :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: RadSav on September 30, 2012, 01:02:35 AM: Are you using your waist belt to secure the load in that picture? If so I would have mentioned in your, "biggest piece of advice to new hunters from a new bear hunter.." carry load straps!!! :chuckle: 90# pack with just your shoulders would put me in the hospital for another back surgery. But, then again I was young once too ;)

Great job not rushing the shot. Congratulations :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: 3nails on September 30, 2012, 08:11:59 AM: I've got 3 kill videos of bears from up there but they are in Hi8. If I can ever figure out how to transfer them to the computer I'll post them up.
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: 400out on September 30, 2012, 08:15:19 AM: I want one!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :bash: Great job on a beautiful bear! how much meat did you get off her?
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: skagitsteel on September 30, 2012, 02:19:37 PM: My shoulders were killing me! had to take the pack off several times on the way down. I packed the load just fine, legs and back were good, just the shoulders hurt. what do you recommend for load straps?
packed 85 Ibs of 'bear' off the mountain hide, and meat. Took out a lot of meat on both shoulders, the exit wound was 5" across and left the shoulder literaly dangling from the bear. We had about 50 ibs of meat, had to trim a ton of fat off before I packed it down. Was thinking the bear was probably 140 or so, super chunky bear.
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: RadSav on September 30, 2012, 02:56:14 PM: Any load strap that you can get to work with your pack is better than carrying 90# off the mountain with no waist belt. REI, Wilco or just about any fabric store will have nylon straps and buckles. My old packs I would mess around with a large bag of dog food finding the best combination to hold things secure. Most packs these days have straps in the right spots just rarely long enough. I carry extenders plus two extra compression type straps for those awkward loads. Also nice to have those extra straps when a buckle breaks or some stitching comes loose. Those guys with Badlands packs should know what I mean :chuckle:

My pack is never with out this stuff http://www.kelty.com/p-136-triptease-lightline.aspx (http://www.kelty.com/p-136-triptease-lightline.aspx) It's tough as all heck, dyneema core means no creap and 50 feet weighs only one ounce.

Back in my guiding days I used Duct Tape a lot. Heavy but it worked great.
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: madcow41 on September 30, 2012, 03:27:41 PM: what altitude where you at? where the berries ripe or rotting?
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: skagitsteel on September 30, 2012, 03:33:45 PM: Sorry didn't read your first post all the way, I had badlands 2200, did have a good waist belt it seems to hold the weight in that pack up to about 70-75 ibs, after that it's on your shoulders, do you have any suggestions? or I could always just hunt with a meat frame pack... was up around 5500 feet berries were ripe, the berries that were there were prime, but a lot of areas up high had no berries this year due to heavy snowpack, not enough time to ripen
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: RadSav on September 30, 2012, 03:52:21 PM: I don't think that pack was meant to carry more than 70# or so. But, I'm not sure I would carry a bulky pack all the time since most times you won't be hauling out meat. But, it is always nice to have the big one when you need it.

If I'm not back too far I often carry a smaller pack and then have a heavy hauler in the truck for a second load. If going way back I always take the larger pack. My bigger pack is an Eberlestock J107. There are better big load packs, but I like it's versatility and the company. Though even with my experience I'm always looking for a better option that fits an old cripple like myself. Ask 20 guys you'll probably get a dozen different recommendations on packs. Just keep killing back country bear and you'll figure out what you want and like in no time :chuckle: There are a lot of good options with about a $1,000.00 variance in pricing between them all.

If I was going to make one solid suggestion it would be to swap out the Badland's buckles with a more durable brand. Their packs are rather nice, but they do have a history of breaking hardware when you can least afford it.

BTW - Helluva job getting that one out with the 2200. Should be proud of that accomplishment. Now go kill her grand daddy with your second tag :tup: Good luck!
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: skagitsteel on September 30, 2012, 06:24:30 PM: Yeah I broke the buckle 1st day of bear season with just my hunting gear, so already got those replaced. Pack works pretty well overall, 2nd bear pack out with that pack this year, takes the hide real well... Most of the spots I have been hunting are def too far for a 2nd trip at least in the same day...
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: combs338 on October 01, 2012, 11:14:37 AM: Nice work!
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: saylean on October 01, 2012, 06:14:41 PM: Looks like a pretty spot! Pretty bear too! :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on October 04, 2012, 08:20:10 AM: Good job, sounds like you earned it and kudos for showing the patience to wait for the best shot!
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: shanevg on October 04, 2012, 08:37:09 AM: Looks like a great first bear! Congrats!

Those packs out can sure be bad, but no matter how horrible it was, as soon as I get to the car I'm looking forward to my next trip. I got my frist bear of the season yesterday - she was a bit smaller than we initially thought but when she stepped out at 62 yards I just took a snap shot. After getting her up to the 1200 feet elevation to the trail I was sure glad she was a small bear! After packing out more than 15 bears, I'm still looking for the best pack for packing things out. I can tell you one thing - it's definitely not the Sitka 45!

Loved your comment about the 10 extra siwtchbacks on the way out, I certainly know that feeling!!!
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on October 04, 2012, 08:42:13 AM: GOOD JOB BUD ! Nothen better than being up high and seeing all those different colors and whackin a bear ...awesome ...hoping we get out this weekend :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: mfswallace on October 04, 2012, 08:42:56 AM: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: skagitsteel on October 04, 2012, 09:22:17 AM: I hear ya on the doing it again, was short lived pain, can't wait to do it again, back at it tomorow, then again sunday, have one berry patch I found on labor day that I can't get out of my mind. My hunting partner now carries a pack frame for all of our bear hunting (I didn't have it on that pack because he was a work :chuckle: I was hunting solo) the first bear down this year was a serious hassle to get out, ever since then pack frame. He straps a smaller hydration pack to the outside of it, to hold water and hunting gear then when we get one down, the badlands takes the hide and all the gear the pack frame easily carries out an entire bear minus the hide and gear.
Title: Re: Bear Down
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on October 04, 2012, 10:14:42 AM: Great looking bear, that is awesome, big congrats. Now do it again next year!!!