Post by: shanevg on September 28, 2013, 08:27:27 AM
A couple weeks ago, my wife and I had a great morning hike in the sun with a bow in tow. The scenery was great but we didn't see any animals.
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With the weather system moving in last week, I made it out with a buddy on Saturday hoping to find some bears moving. Unfortunately, with fog moving in and out, we weren't able to spot anything. I've never had luck hunting bears on rainy days, but it sure hasn't stopped me from trying!
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Over the weekend, the snow level dropped below 5000 feet and I thought it might really start getting the bears moving. I got out of work a couple of hours early and convinced my wife to go on an afternoon hike with me. This is my favorite time of the year with snowcapped mountains and fall colors everywhere.
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We made it up to alpine and it wasn't long before we spotted a large boar feeding right below snow line.
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I was able to position a group of trees between me and the bear and stalk down a 50 degree snow covered slope to the trees. After slipping and sliding my way down I was within 100 yards of the feeding bear. I straddled a tree on the steep slope and used a branch to steady my rifle. I took the safety off and slowly squeezed the trigger only to hear a very loud "CLICK". I had forgotten to chamber a shell!!! The bear immediately looked uphill straight at me, luckily the wind was in my favor and he started feeding after 15 seconds or so. Then I pulled the bolt back to jack in another shell and of course he started looking right at me again. I quickly jacked the shell in and got settled in for a shot. My first shot was a perfect heart shot and he only made it about 15 yards before he was rolling down the hill.
It was the first time my wife has ever been with me when I got something. She's quite the animal lover and I didn't know how she'd handle it, but she was so excited she couldn't believe it! It was so much fun having her along when I actually got an animal!
The bear was an old, gnarly boar. He probably weighed in at roughly 250lbs and his teeth were all yellow and broken or missing. Unfortunately, it was 6pm and below freezing and I was more worried about getting my wife off the mountain before she froze than taking a ton of pictures. These are the best pictures we got:
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I was able to get the front quarters and the head and made it out the 3+ miles to the car by 9pm. I had to get up early to go to work the next day and start calling around for a buddy to help me pack out the rest of the bear the next night. Finally, TJ agreed to help me pack and we made it back to the bear at 6pm the next night. Luckily it had been below freezing all day and the bear was in great condition. This time, we made it back to the car with the rest of the bear by 8:30pm.
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TJ has never hunted before but was so excited to help me with butchering the bear. He did about half the butchering work himself! He has already asked time off work for opening weekend of modern firearm season to pack into the backcountry with me. I can't wait to get back out there!
Post by: ghosthunter on September 28, 2013, 08:42:37 AM
Post by: boneaddict on September 28, 2013, 08:44:40 AM
Post by: bugs n bones on September 28, 2013, 08:47:56 AM
Post by: Jason on September 28, 2013, 08:50:45 AM
Post by: bearpaw on September 28, 2013, 08:57:21 AM
Post by: Natures Way on September 28, 2013, 08:58:54 AM
Post by: buckfvr on September 28, 2013, 09:00:20 AM
Post by: saylean on September 28, 2013, 09:12:12 AM
Very cool, thanks for posting. I really have to make it up in our local high country more often. Nice boar!
Post by: viva_che1363 on September 28, 2013, 09:16:51 AM
Post by: Cap.Silver on September 28, 2013, 09:30:39 AM
Post by: CoyoteCowboy on September 28, 2013, 11:51:24 AM
Post by: MP123 on September 28, 2013, 12:04:39 PM
Don't get much better than that! Nice work :tup:
Post by: pianoman9701 on September 28, 2013, 12:08:42 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on September 28, 2013, 12:09:36 PM
Post by: shanevg on September 28, 2013, 12:10:29 PM
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on September 28, 2013, 12:11:40 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on September 28, 2013, 12:21:24 PM
No video this time. Still need to edit my Alaska video though.That works ... :tup: :chuckle:
Post by: seth30 on September 28, 2013, 12:25:56 PM
Post by: elkoholic1 on September 28, 2013, 12:39:50 PM
Post by: FSTaxidermy on September 28, 2013, 12:42:57 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on September 28, 2013, 03:45:16 PM
Post by: X-Force on September 28, 2013, 03:57:09 PM
great bear!
Post by: rasbo on September 28, 2013, 04:06:13 PM
Post by: KFhunter on September 28, 2013, 04:36:58 PM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on September 28, 2013, 04:47:55 PM
Post by: Machias on September 28, 2013, 05:53:12 PM
Post by: norsepeak on September 28, 2013, 06:04:28 PM
Post by: 3nails on September 28, 2013, 06:49:58 PM
Post by: D-Rock425 on September 28, 2013, 07:20:55 PM
Post by: shanevg on September 28, 2013, 08:08:30 PM
Spent a lot of time in there! :chuckle: Nice boar. Is he your biggest?
Probably my biggest. I have one old fat sow that was pretty comparable in size but this is definitely my most mature boar.
Post by: Wea300mag on September 29, 2013, 02:40:11 PM
Post by: steen on September 29, 2013, 06:52:34 PM
Those pictures are great! AND you got a bear... AND your wife was with you...:yeah:
Don't get much better than that! Nice work :tup:
Post by: hoyt2002 on September 29, 2013, 06:55:31 PM
Post by: shanevg on October 19, 2013, 08:11:34 PM
I'll keep you all posted on final score.
Post by: bearhunter99 on October 19, 2013, 08:35:32 PM