Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: saylean on August 02, 2007, 12:10:18 PM

Title: Opening morning follies
Post by: saylean on August 02, 2007, 12:10:18 PM: My little bro beat me to the punch and bagged this nice sow. She was sitting in a tree and ended up climbing down at the wrong time. He shot her bout 7 am...which made my opening morning more of an opening pack out. ;) She had great paws on her and is going to be a half mount project from some taxidermist.

He shot her with a .280 browning @ 44 yards. He missed with the first shot (jitters) and got her while on the run just in the left neck, exiting through the forehead/temple area. Dropped like a ton of bricks. We packed her out about a mile and a half....it was a great memory. ;) Grats Jimmy!

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/S4300005.JPG)
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/S4300011%7E0.JPG)
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/S4300006.JPG)
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/S4300001%7E0.JPG)
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: GoldTip on August 02, 2007, 12:22:57 PM: Very cool, looks like you guys got the fall started off with a bang!
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: Ray on August 02, 2007, 12:23:33 PM: Well Done! Nice looking bear.
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: Ridgerunner on August 02, 2007, 01:26:03 PM: That was quick, good job.
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: Machias on August 02, 2007, 01:45:40 PM: Tell him I didn't think cubs were legal in this state. :) And tell him to be proud of that bear, step up and stand next to him and not three feet behind her when taking photos! :):) Just kidding!! Tell him congrats. What is she about 80-85 pounds? That makes the pack out job a little easier. I shot a bear with my bow a few years ago that I was sure over 200 when I shot. I shot her at about 9 yards. She ended up being 105 pounds. Serious ground shrinkage. But I was sure happy when I was packing her out. Super nice eating too!!
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: saylean on August 02, 2007, 02:30:17 PM: Quote from: Machias on August 02, 2007, 01:45:40 PM
Tell him I didn't think cubs were legal in this state. :) And tell him to be proud of that bear, step up and stand next to him and not three feet behind her when taking photos! :):) Just kidding!! Tell him congrats. What is she about 80-85 pounds? That makes the pack out job a little easier. I shot a bear with my bow a few years ago that I was sure over 200 when I shot. I shot her at about 9 yards. She ended up being 105 pounds. Serious ground shrinkage. But I was sure happy when I was packing her out. Super nice eating too!!

LOL...we actually talked about how people stand back in bear photos, so he did it on purpose as a joke...the other photos I have of the bear are kinda dark (crappy camera). I am not sure on the weight...I am guessin about 150 or so, I really dont know for sure. It was heavy for both of us to move before we gutted it and he could barely pack it out by himself...he is used to back packing into places. I told him we had to shoot the first ethical bear we saw....he beat me to it. ;)

After I shot my bear last year...they called me the "cub scout" .. ;) His was bigger this year...
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: Shadow Cat on August 02, 2007, 03:18:17 PM: Nice bear. I just need to get out and find one.
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: Machias on August 02, 2007, 03:39:11 PM: How much fat did she have on her? Are they packing it on yet? What was in her belly? Thanks. The one I was talking about in the post above was full of boston berries and was the sweetest smelling gut pile I've ever had. She was a real nice chocolate color to boot.
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: saylean on August 02, 2007, 03:42:26 PM: Quote from: Machias on August 02, 2007, 03:39:11 PM
How much fat did she have on her? Are they packing it on yet? What was in her belly? Thanks.

Actually, she had a good amount of fat on her. I was surprised. I did not open up the belly, but in retrospect (last night) I wished I had. We shot her in a place PACKED full of salmon berries, huckleberries and a few others....literally, it smells like a berry pie in the area.
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: Machias on August 02, 2007, 04:21:49 PM: Yep that is what the gut pile smelled like, sweet berries. I bet she will taste outstanding.
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: saylean on August 02, 2007, 04:24:54 PM: Headed back out to the same spot tomorrow morning...perhaps a cougar or another bear is munchin on the gut pile...little bro wants to try to call in a cougar..so I get bear, he will try cougar...will update soon. ;)
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: boneaddict on August 02, 2007, 04:54:03 PM: Probably about 85-90 Saylean, but that doesn't take away from the trophy. Good job on a successful hunt. Mom may even be in the area, good luck!
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: Jerome on August 02, 2007, 05:09:24 PM: Congrats. We got 1 down in our group on opening morning. Another smaller sow.
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: saylean on August 02, 2007, 05:49:39 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on August 02, 2007, 04:54:03 PM
Probably about 85-90 Saylean, but that doesn't take away from the trophy. Good job on a successful hunt. Mom may even be in the area, good luck!

Thanks to all for the "grats"...I will be looking for mamma...or daddy ;) tomorrow...
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: billythekidrock on August 02, 2007, 09:36:37 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on August 02, 2007, 04:54:03 PM
Probably about 85-90 Saylean, but that doesn't take away from the trophy. Good job on a successful hunt. Mom may even be in the area, good luck!

Yeah, it would be hard pressed to hit 100lbs live weight, but still a great hunt and long lasting memories.
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: saylean on August 02, 2007, 09:38:38 PM: No doubts...im horrible at guessin weights...I need to get some sort of scale or something...and a game kart! ;)
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: billythekidrock on August 02, 2007, 09:44:54 PM: Quote from: saylean on August 02, 2007, 09:38:38 PM
No doubts...im horrible at guessin weights...I need to get some sort of scale or something...and a game kart! ;)

Both of those items changed my bear hunting. We weigh every bear we kill. The game cart has allowed me to hunt farther on gated road systems and get the critters out whole.
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on August 02, 2007, 09:49:18 PM: Nice bear, Congrats to him. Was this his first bear?
Title: Re: Opening morning follies
Post by: saylean on August 02, 2007, 09:52:39 PM: Quote from: Michelle_Nelson on August 02, 2007, 09:49:18 PM
Was this his first bear?

It was his second...he is one up on me...we ALMOST bet that the first one to get a bear gets 200 bones...im glad I didnt shake on it. ;)