Post by: andrew_in_idaho on April 23, 2015, 09:19:29 PM
Post by: sled on April 23, 2015, 09:35:15 PM
Keep trying and it will happen sometime. The last 8 years I couldn't get bear off my mind. Now I'm broke and owe big time to the taxi!
Well worth it.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on April 23, 2015, 09:38:58 PM
Post by: andrew_in_idaho on April 23, 2015, 09:40:15 PM
Post by: bearmanric on April 23, 2015, 09:40:36 PM
Post by: andrew_in_idaho on April 23, 2015, 09:53:26 PM
Post by: wheels on April 23, 2015, 10:05:13 PM
Post by: RadSav on April 23, 2015, 10:15:55 PM
I left your club in 1997 when I finally got serious about getting one. :chuckle:
1981 for me (bow). Once the pressure is off and that first one is in the freezer they seem to come a lot easier.
Post by: Chesapeake on April 23, 2015, 11:55:33 PM
If you really want one get up above tree line in the berries come August. Pretty easy to see them in that kind of situation. If your willing to pack one out.
Post by: RadSav on April 24, 2015, 12:09:16 AM
I grew up in SE Alaska, so I guess I cheated.
If you really want one get up above tree line in the berries come August. Pretty easy to see them in that kind of situation. If your willing to pack one out.
If we get any berries. Past five years ripe August berries have been hard to come by.
Has always amazed me how much heavier a pack full of bear meat is compared to a pack full of elk meat :chuckle: Packing one out of the high country can be quite the good bit of work.
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on April 24, 2015, 04:59:34 AM
Post by: RadSav on April 24, 2015, 05:04:08 AM
You want bear? Hunt them seriously like you would deer. I think they are almost easier to get then deer.
I agree! Plus you don't have to waste time figuring out of they have three points or not. Looks big enough...Boom!
Post by: Jonathan_S on April 24, 2015, 06:53:45 AM
Looks big enough...Boom!
Said 1,000 guys who shot a cub :chuckle: Ground shrinkage is a real deal in bear hunting.
I had a self defense situation last year that I should PM you about.
Post by: ghosthunter on April 24, 2015, 07:13:10 AM
63 never shot one . Had several almost moments.
Post by: jrebel on April 24, 2015, 07:19:31 AM
Post by: Derailed on April 24, 2015, 07:24:26 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on April 24, 2015, 07:47:51 AM
I think this comment is underrated, judging bears has got to be the hardest thing to do sometimes. I've killed 5 bears and one was pretty darn small, they can fool you very easily if your newer to the situation. The small one I killed was 550 yards away and he looked like a pig! Look for the head and if the ears look big, it's more than likely a small bear. Look for small ears with space in between them. And a sway to there walk, in the spring when you draw a tag, take your time and watch the bear. Give some time for cubs to come into view or for a boar to bring up the rear (no pun intended)! When you kill your first bear you'll never forget it, walking up to a dead bear is a bit different than walking up to a deer or an elk. And if he/she does the death moan, you'll know it!Looks big enough...Boom!
Said 1,000 guys who shot a cub :chuckle: Ground shrinkage is a real deal in bear hunting.
I had a self defense situation last year that I should PM you about.
Post by: h20hunter on April 24, 2015, 07:49:48 AM
Walking up on a downed bear is indeed different.
Post by: Jonathan_S on April 24, 2015, 07:54:59 AM
When you kill your first bear you'll never forget it, walking up to a dead bear is a bit different than walking up to a deer or an elk.
I was 20 yards away from my bull last fall when I put a finishing shot on him. He kicked around and passed for a couple of minutes. I pet him and thanked him as he died.
My first boar bear was close to 300# and I couldn't touch him for like 10 mins :chuckle:
Post by: trophyhunt on April 24, 2015, 07:57:10 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on April 24, 2015, 07:58:13 AM
That made me laugh, I've done the same thing!When you kill your first bear you'll never forget it, walking up to a dead bear is a bit different than walking up to a deer or an elk.
I was 20 yards away from my bull last fall when I put a finishing shot on him. He kicked around and passed for a couple of minutes. I pet him and thanked him as he died.
My first boar bear was close to 300# and I couldn't touch him for like 10 mins :chuckle:
Post by: luvmystang67 on April 24, 2015, 08:22:46 AM
Also, I would like to once again point out that since D-Rock met me, he has not killed a bear by himself. :dunno: Just sayin :IBCOOL:
Post by: trophyhunt on April 24, 2015, 09:08:38 AM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: lokidog on April 24, 2015, 09:18:19 AM
I'm going to try harder this year since I want to do corned bear.
Good luck OP, and anyone else chasing them this year.
Post by: Chesapeake on April 24, 2015, 09:56:09 AM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1084.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj411%2FDieselchessy%2Fberries2%2520web_zpsilupnmuy.jpg&hash=3e67b38e0e6445048b4eb89f3fbf4c53c665e6cc) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/Dieselchessy/media/berries2%20web_zpsilupnmuy.jpg.html)
Post by: Jonathan_S on April 24, 2015, 10:28:04 AM
Look in this stuff in autumn.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1084.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj411%2FDieselchessy%2Fberries2%2520web_zpsilupnmuy.jpg&hash=3e67b38e0e6445048b4eb89f3fbf4c53c665e6cc) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/Dieselchessy/media/berries2%20web_zpsilupnmuy.jpg.html)
tough to find berries like that most years.
Post by: vandeman17 on April 24, 2015, 10:33:28 AM
Post by: Chesapeake on April 24, 2015, 11:19:22 AM
Look in this stuff in autumn.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1084.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj411%2FDieselchessy%2Fberries2%2520web_zpsilupnmuy.jpg&hash=3e67b38e0e6445048b4eb89f3fbf4c53c665e6cc) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/Dieselchessy/media/berries2%20web_zpsilupnmuy.jpg.html)
tough to find berries like that most years.
I haven't noticed any lack of berries in my areas, but I primarily hunt the western slopes of the cascades. If memory serves that pic is from the Eastern slopes of the Cascades up near Leavenworth.
This pic is up near St. Helen's a year or so back. There was a temptingly large bear in this area, but I was elk hunting so let him walk. (I have no idea why I took pictures of berries. LOL!! Those bushes didn't look the same when I left.)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1084.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj411%2FDieselchessy%2FIMG_0396_zps4ihtfohr.jpg&hash=6b214eab91d550d1ecd7823ed9307a7d560eb666) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/Dieselchessy/media/IMG_0396_zps4ihtfohr.jpg.html)
Post by: pashok23 on April 24, 2015, 08:40:47 PM
Post by: pd on April 24, 2015, 08:58:09 PM
Also, I would like to once again point out that since D-Rock met me, he has not killed a bear by himself. :dunno: Just sayin :IBCOOL:
Another reason why this forum is interesting. :tung:
Post by: Ghost Hunter on April 25, 2015, 08:00:53 AM
Post by: Cylvertip on April 25, 2015, 08:22:48 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on April 25, 2015, 08:31:28 AM
Post by: saylean on April 25, 2015, 08:35:26 AM
Post by: skagitsteel on April 25, 2015, 01:34:16 PM
I left your club in 1997 when I finally got serious about getting one. :chuckle:
1981 for me (bow). Once the pressure is off and that first one is in the freezer they seem to come a lot easier.
I agree with that! Way easier once you have done it. I missed two shots because I was so nervous before I tagged one.
Post by: ridgefire on April 25, 2015, 01:45:03 PM
Post by: andrew_in_idaho on April 26, 2015, 06:59:52 PM
Post by: elkrack on April 27, 2015, 06:54:15 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on April 27, 2015, 06:59:36 AM
I missed my first bear yesterday! kinda a downer :bash:Maybe a case of the nerves??? Don't beat yourself up too bad, you'll get another crack at it!
Post by: Maverick on April 27, 2015, 09:40:37 AM
Post by: elkrack on April 27, 2015, 01:07:25 PM
I missed my first bear yesterday! kinda a downer :bash:Maybe a case of the nerves??? Don't beat yourself up too bad, you'll get another crack at it!
You could say there were some nerves >:(
Post by: Bean Counter on April 27, 2015, 01:17:38 PM
Come to think of it I don't think I've ever seen a bear in the wild :o
Post by: RadSav on April 27, 2015, 01:23:12 PM
You could say there were some nerves >:(I missed my first bear yesterday! kinda a downer :bash:Maybe a case of the nerves??? Don't beat yourself up too bad, you'll get another crack at it!
I have witnessed a lot of misses on bear. Especially a hunters first bear. Few animals get the hunter as torn between anxiety, fear and excitement as does a bear. The internet world is filled with false vibrato, nerves of steel and certified snipers where success is a given 100% of the time. The world of reality is much more exciting and it does get the best of us all sooner or later.
I was lucky enough to kill the first bear I ever shot at. For some odd reason the excitement didn't hit me until the arrow hit the bear. Took me almost an hour before I felt safe to get down out of the tree. That wasn't because I feared the bear. It was because my legs turned to noodles, my hand strength could barely hold the bow and the shakes were dang near enough to rattle me right off the stand. No other big game animal has done that to me with such vigor...one of the greatest experiences of my life!
Congratulations in getting yourself in position to get off a shot. Sounds like it was worth every curse word afterward! Your heart should be better prepared for the next one. Good luck :tup:
Post by: elkrack on April 27, 2015, 01:44:54 PM
You could say there were some nerves >:(I missed my first bear yesterday! kinda a downer :bash:Maybe a case of the nerves??? Don't beat yourself up too bad, you'll get another crack at it!
I have witnessed a lot of misses on bear. Especially a hunters first bear. Few animals get the hunter as torn between anxiety, fear and excitement as does a bear. The internet world is filled with false vibrato, nerves of steel and certified snipers where success is a given 100% of the time. The world of reality is much more exciting and it does get the best of us all sooner or later.
I was lucky enough to kill the first bear I ever shot at. For some odd reason the excitement didn't hit me until the arrow hit the bear. Took me almost an hour before I felt safe to get down out of the tree. That wasn't because I feared the bear. It was because my legs turned to noodles, my hand strength could barely hold the bow and the shakes were dang near enough to rattle me right off the stand. No other big game animal has done that to me with such vigor...one of the greatest experiences of my life!
Congratulations in getting yourself in position to get off a shot. Sounds like it was worth every curse word afterward! Your heart should be better prepared for the next one. Good luck :tup:
That is well written! Spot on. i learned a couple things for next time
Post by: luvmystang67 on April 27, 2015, 02:28:45 PM
Note: I stuck my nose in the bushes and considered going in after it. Thankfully D-Rock made me wait. It died about 10' inside of those bushes. :yike:
The fear makes it more exciting I think.
Post by: jrebel on April 27, 2015, 02:45:31 PM
Talk about the adrenalin rush. :tup:
Post by: RadSav on April 27, 2015, 02:56:09 PM
I now bear hunt with a 454 casual (as back up) for these recovery missions. :chuckle: :chuckle:
I've had to tag a few of them in those tunnels. Makes for some real undy wetters :chuckle: Pistol is the way to go in there. I carried a 444 Marlin Trapper in the trees and a 1911 in the tunnels. Both worked very well at less than 10 feet. I hate to see animals suffer, but when the unexpected happens I love me some up close bear action.
Post by: trophyhunt on April 27, 2015, 03:29:13 PM
The first bear I had a chance to shoot was in green water, perfect situation, saw a big bear sitting on his butt eating huckleberries. I was prob 17 years old, had a good rest and missed it twice! It was only about 150 yards away, I bet w bear more people miss their first chance than any animal?I missed my first bear yesterday! kinda a downer :bash:Maybe a case of the nerves??? Don't beat yourself up too bad, you'll get another crack at it!
You could say there were some nerves >:(
Post by: LeviD1 on April 27, 2015, 08:44:51 PM
Post by: kukusya on April 28, 2015, 09:48:31 AM
I've had to tag a few of them in those tunnels. Makes for some real undy wetters :chuckle: Pistol is the way to go in there. I carried a 444 Marlin Trapper in the trees and a 1911 in the tunnels. Both worked very well at less than 10 feet. I hate to see animals suffer, but when the unexpected happens I love me some up close bear action.
What caliber 1911 do you use?
Post by: RadSav on April 28, 2015, 12:04:00 PM
What caliber 1911 do you use?
Who would have thunk back then we would ever be asked that question? There really is only one 1911, isn't there? :chuckle:
I did have a Delta Elite 10mm that I was very fond of, but it never saw any bear action. I would like to get another one of those. Would feel plenty confident tracking bear with that round. MY old OSP gamie friend says he thinks it is superior to the .45 ACP for such things. That is after putting down a lot of animals struck by vehicles.
Post by: D-Rock425 on April 28, 2015, 12:48:30 PM
Post by: h20hunter on April 28, 2015, 01:26:44 PM
Post by: RadSav on April 28, 2015, 02:26:01 PM
Carp is selling a Kimber in 10....step up and pay up!
Thanks, that one will do. It ain't no Delta Elite, but at $1,000 less who can pass that up? :chuckle:
Post by: JJB11B on April 28, 2015, 02:33:35 PM
Post by: LeviD1 on April 28, 2015, 05:05:47 PM
Ive decided that I will stay in the club until I can afford to pay for the skull mount and rugging
It gets spendy especially when they have nice hides. I have to get at least a rug made and always get all my predator skulls done besides coyotes.
Post by: sled on April 28, 2015, 05:36:21 PM
Ive decided that I will stay in the club until I can afford to pay for the skull mount and rugging. Good idea. Gets expensive.
Post by: mountainman on April 28, 2015, 06:27:19 PM
Post by: jrebel on April 28, 2015, 07:58:31 PM
#25 last year
Stop bragging.... :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: I'm hoping for 2 and 3 this year. #2 hopefully next week. :tup:
Post by: jpharcher on April 28, 2015, 08:35:16 PM
28 yard shot from my bow, bear jumped twice as high as he was tall, let out a god awful growl and took off running.
Waited 30 minutes and the arrival of my hunting partner before I moved.
Bear ended up piling up about 30 yards from where I shot him, double lung, heart.....lucky shot!
Post by: jrebel on April 28, 2015, 08:42:38 PM
Post by: jpharcher on April 28, 2015, 09:07:44 PM
His skull measured 18 14/16ths 3 years after he went on the wall.
It took 6 of us to carry him out of the woods in a litter.
Post by: jpharcher on April 28, 2015, 09:09:48 PM
Post by: RadSav on April 28, 2015, 09:56:19 PM
Bear ended up piling up about 30 yards from where I shot him, double lung, heart.....lucky shot!
You get heart or both lungs and bear really go down quick with the bow. But, like elk, make a bad shot or get just one lung and you can be in for some tracking and excitement! I'd bet every bow shot bear I have had to put down for someone I was told they made a perfect heart lung shot before we started tracking. :chuckle: All of them were shot either too high or too far back. It's a good idea for new bear hunters to study bear anatomy whether shooting a gun or a bow.
Bear have small lungs and a rather good sized heart. They also have a large belly and deceivingly long hair most of the time. The stomach pushes most everything forward tight to the shoulder. If you try to place a shot behind the front leg broadside chances are you are going to only get liver. If you are lucky you will get the diaphragm. That is why we bowhunters should always let a bear move that front leg forward before taking the shot.
Shots angled toward the hunter are rarely good shots with a bow, but I actually like them a lot with a gun. Even if slightly angled toward the hunter and you place an arrow tight behind the shoulder you will only get one lung and likely miss the heart completely. If you feel you must take that shot with the bow it's usually better to try going inside the shoulder rather than outside the shoulder. That is the shot I took on my monster nuisance bear. He was seven or eight yards when the arrow hit, tried to make a run at me (or the trail I was on anyway) and he ran out of gas before he made it there. Died about 8 feet from me! Talk about exciting :chuckle:
For the best chance at success and a quick kill with a bow there is a simple trick - Never aim for the shoulder closest to you! Always aim at a broadside or quartering bear by trying to break the opposite shoulder.
If your arrow, or even bullet, can break that opposite shoulder you are assured of betting both lungs and the aortic arch if not the heart directly. If your shot is steep down hill try to put the arrow so it is exiting out the front half of the opposite armpit. No such thing as a bad blood trail if you get that arrow out that armpit from above! Though likely you won't have to blood trail at all if your broadhead is good and sharp.
I don't normally agree with a lot of the IBEF/NBEF anatomy posters. But they did a good job with their bear pictures. Notice how almost all vitals are directly above the front leg. Not much there behind the leg, is there?
Post by: luvmystang67 on April 30, 2015, 11:10:25 AM
I feel like after deer and elk hunting all my life I've continuously shot low and back on bear. You need to aim high and forward compared to where you're used to aiming on deer and elk. At least, that is the rule I've set for myself. The hair and lack of shoulder definition often make this sound easier than it is.
Post by: tgomez on May 16, 2015, 07:49:32 PM
Post by: RadSav on May 16, 2015, 08:19:36 PM
Never harvested a bear, ive missed 5 of em. :bash: all 400plus yard shots. But i have watched my father kill 3 right in front of me. And ive had 4 different other hunters get them in our camp while hunting them. I hope to get my first this fall. Im ready to break the curse. :tup:
Getting inside 50 yards is a good way to break the curse :chuckle:
Post by: bearpaw on May 16, 2015, 08:40:35 PM
Post by: rtspring on May 16, 2015, 09:17:50 PM
Post by: pd on May 16, 2015, 09:24:08 PM
Post by: WA hunter14 on May 16, 2015, 09:27:42 PM
Post by: magnumb on May 16, 2015, 10:42:59 PM
im so deep inside the no bear club its rediculouse, god does not want me to kill a bear !!
If true and you can truly embrace that, just think about all those mornings you can now just sleep in...... :tup:.
Post by: RadSav on May 16, 2015, 11:29:50 PM
im so deep inside the no bear club its rediculouse, god does not want me to kill a bear !!If true and you can truly embrace that, just think about all those mornings you can now just sleep in...... :tup:.
:chuckle: :chuckle:
One of the reasons I like bear hunting...if you sleep in you haven't lost your advantage at all. Not exactly sure why it is, but we have never killed a bear over 300# in the morning. Big boys just seem to love the afternoon! :dunno:
Post by: Romulus1297 on May 17, 2015, 12:27:48 AM
Post by: magnumb on May 17, 2015, 12:33:38 AM
im so deep inside the no bear club its rediculouse, god does not want me to kill a bear !!If true and you can truly embrace that, just think about all those mornings you can now just sleep in...... :tup:.
:chuckle: :chuckle:
One of the reasons I like bear hunting...if you sleep in you haven't lost your advantage at all. Not exactly sure why it is, but we have never killed a bear over 300# in the morning. Big boys just seem to love the afternoon! :dunno:
I believe that's more true than not..... ;).
Having said that, I started my scouting a bit late yesterday and didn't get to the mountain range I hunt until about 1:15PM. At 1:30 ('cuz I always keep times and locations of game sightings), I hit the '** mile' marker travelin' slowly in my truck and just around the corner about 30 yards in front of my lady friend and myself, the largest, most beautiful, healthy, indigo shiny black bear had just decided that the middle of that loggin' road just wasn't his thing.
I wouldn't say he 'blew out', but he certainly didn't take his time either. Over 4 decades of huntin' and I've seen probably 25+ bears and none came close to matching the size nor condition that this bear displayed......bar none! Even though it was a only a full right side viewing of this majestic animal and only for a few seconds, it was enough to truly impress us both (she had spent a great deal of outdoor time in Idaho). Huge, thick, short legs, his body/hair somewhat moved in waves as he sauntered off the road into the thick undergrowth as if he'd never missed a meal or anyone else's and his hair was a ultra shiny, jet black. Oh boy.......... :IBCOOL: :IBCOOL: :IBCOOL:.
For my own reasons that I can't explain nor feel the need to do so, I have passed on all five 'coug's that I've seen (4 quite shootable) and all 25+ bears that I've come across (the vast majority also quite shootable) in these last 40+ years of hunting. Granted, a few of those sightings were not during hunting season for those animals, but many were during season and I had valid tags for both cougar and bear. I have never had any issue with droppin' the hammer on bucks, bulls and a bunch of other game, waterfowl, predators, varmints, etc., but never really could 'justify' to myself, the taking of something this large that I really knew that I wasn't going to really enjoy eating.......if eaten at all. If I've talked to 100 guys about eatin' bear, I'll bet 95 of them placed bear dead last on their 'favorite' game meat list. Not encouraging, but as usual, it's somewhat saving grace was the typical comment, "it makes great jerky or summer sausage!!". What doesn't if seasoned enough and done right......OK, coots probably don't....... :yike:.
Well, since the #'s of bear and cougar sightings has dramatically risen for me these last several years and the deer populations in my usual and accustomed hunting haunts have dramatically declined, my position and or insights on the matter has changed with the realization that this correlation seems pretty darn near......indisputable.
As luck would have it, last year (again during open season for coug's), I saw the largest cat of the five that I have ever seen. Again.....a truly gorgeous specimen observed, no less, on public lands while scouting for deer. He looked like an artists rendering of what a cougar looks like after living at and eating deer which have only been residents of Hanford all of their lives. Funny thing (not ha-ha funny, however), this particular area where I saw this cat, once held large populations of blacktails. For the last several years, most people who know the area like myself could not figure out what was going on...? I think that I now know.......ya think? And truth be told, it would be my guess from seeing that particular cougar last year, that he himself, all alone, has eaten every single deer on that entire mountain range....... :yike:. Again.....Oh boy... :IBCOOL: :IBCOOL: :IBCOOL:.
Sooooo.......off come the gloves and I'm looking forward to more actual huntin' days and opportunities. Instead of just pre-scoutin' deer for months prior to the season, I can spice things up a bit in August and Sept. I have taken many bucks that I've 'stayed with' for several weeks before the season opener and truly enjoy the accomplishment. I have a feelin' however, that 'stayin' with' Mr. Huge Bear won't be nearly as easy and 'stayin' with' Mr. Obese Cougar will be darn near impossible.
But I do like a good challenge.......or two....... :tup:
Post by: RadSav on May 17, 2015, 12:49:19 AM
BTW...Bear jerky - not my favorite. But coot sausage is pretty darn good :chuckle:
Post by: Romulus1297 on May 17, 2015, 12:50:21 AM
Post by: magnumb on May 17, 2015, 12:52:28 AM
September and October bear in the high huckleberries will change your impressions on eating bear meat. It was very close to making my top three on the "Favorite Wild Game" thread. Burger, ham, steaks, sausage, pepperoni...all delightful! I'm sure it would take #2 on my wife's list! Does take a little more in processing correctly due to all the trimming and avoiding cutting bones with a saw. But man!!! It is worth every morsel. :drool: Offer me huckleberry bear or beef and I'm choosing bear...yep, that good :tup:
And you seemed to be one of a very few believable, honest members here on HW.....now what......... :dunno:
We do, however, share the same propensity for never giving, "short, simple answers".......... :tup:.
If I could break up most of my posts into the average length post here on HW, I'd be close to 10k by now........ :chuckle:
Post by: RadSav on May 17, 2015, 01:05:43 AM
Off topic story:
First date with the wife we went to a Chinese restaurant. I ordered broccoli beef. The wife looks completely disgusted with me. "How can you eat that green nasty stuff?", she asked. Not thinking I asked the stupid question, "Have you ever eaten broccoli before?" Her answer was.....Yep, you guessed it..."No". :chuckle: :chuckle: After insisting she try some she decided I wasn't completely crazy.
Fast forward a year and we started living together. To my surprise, and delight, she fixed broccoli about three days a week. One of her favorite vegetables now! Silly girl.
Post by: magnumb on May 17, 2015, 01:12:08 AM
:tung: Call me when you shoot a nice huckleberry bear. We'll cook some up and have a party!
Off topic story:
First date with the wife we went to a Chinese restaurant. I ordered broccoli beef. The wife looks completely disgusted with me. "How can you eat that green nasty stuff?", she asked. Not thinking I asked the stupid question, "Have you ever eaten broccoli before?" Her answer was.....Yep, you guessed it..."No". :chuckle: :chuckle: After insisting she try some she decided I wasn't completely crazy.
Fast forward a year and we started living together. To my surprise, and delight, she fixed broccoli about three days a week. One of her favorite vegetables now! Silly girl.
So what........I've got to sleep with you before I can appreciate bear....... :yike:.
Being fairly recently divorced, that could be the best clandestine offer that I'm gonna get.....LOL.
Post by: RadSav on May 17, 2015, 02:07:48 AM
Post by: magnumb on May 17, 2015, 08:13:29 AM
In all seriousness........do you pass on the earliest bear seasons and only hunt the later/berry producing season for the 'taste' preference or perhaps for the coat.....?
Was this bears coat, from my description, unusually nice for an early spring bear coat and would you expect it to be even more desirable during the berry season....?
Thanks RadSav......... ;).
Post by: RadSav on May 17, 2015, 08:44:52 AM
Everything revolves around berries for us when hunting fall bear in Washington. Not that I won't tag a good bear if one walks in front of me as darn near all of them taste good to me. But we don't normally hunt bear exclusively until the berries really come in strong and ripe. Plus the later you get into the season the bigger they get. Wife's big monster I took 80# of fat off him. He was not a really old bear and skull barely made 18". But his live weight was at least 450#. I'd bet three months earlier he was closer to 380. He was delicious!! ;)
Post by: magnumb on May 17, 2015, 10:37:59 AM
Headin' up 'his a way' in a few minutes, we'll see if I can find some others or perhaps even start to pattern him, if that's even a prudent approach on bear this time of the year.
Post by: boneaddict on May 17, 2015, 10:45:22 AM
Post by: jrebel on May 17, 2015, 11:22:43 AM
Saw a bear at about 20 feet Friday. Baited him in with my smoked salmon lunch. I was sitting on a rock eating and enjoying the view when I heard him moving. All of a sudden he pocked his head out with his nose in the air sniffing. Apparantly the smoked fish was more appealing than my pungent odor. He had a gorgeous coat.
Were are the pics....Pics or it didn't happen. :chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: boneaddict on May 17, 2015, 11:54:44 AM
Post by: steen on May 17, 2015, 10:09:49 PM
Post by: huntnnw on May 17, 2015, 10:15:56 PM
September and October bear in the high huckleberries will change your impressions on eating bear meat. It was very close to making my top three on the "Favorite Wild Game" thread. Burger, ham, steaks, sausage, pepperoni...all delightful! I'm sure it would take #2 on my wife's list! Does take a little more in processing correctly due to all the trimming and avoiding cutting bones with a saw. But man!!! It is worth every morsel. :drool: Offer me huckleberry bear or beef and I'm choosing bear...yep, that good :tup:
BTW...Bear jerky - not my favorite. But coot sausage is pretty darn good :chuckle:
NOT ME!.. Ive had many bears and its not my thing...It is all made into sausage and I love it that way.
Post by: magnumb on May 17, 2015, 11:16:48 PM
I did come across momma grouse and her 10-12 golf sized, neurotic chicks, however....... :chuckle:. Cute or what...... :). If she stood just a bit taller and confronted me as she did, I might have taken shelter in my truck! She blew up to be about as big as she could, started tellin' me off and stood her ground at no more than 5 feet from me while standing in front of her. Every move I made, however slowly, she would cut me off if I was headed in the general direction of her chicks. 'Course, they were so scattered by that time, so any move I made was in the direction of one or more of her chicks.
She never backed down prior to me headin' for my truck. I've had scoldings before, but this bordered on 'hunter abuse'..... :yike:.
I truly enjoyed that encounter and it was not nearly a first for me, but they all are very cool interactions and made my whole day worthwhile..... :tup:
Post by: tgomez on May 21, 2015, 06:22:29 PM
Never harvested a bear, ive missed 5 of em. :bash: all 400plus yard shots. But i have watched my father kill 3 right in front of me. And ive had 4 different other hunters get them in our camp while hunting them. I hope to get my first this fall. Im ready to break the curse. :tup:
Getting inside 50 yards is a good way to break the curse :chuckle:
Ive almost hit one on a 80 Susuki dirtbike while driving up logging roads in 105 Kelly Hill area. There are a TON of bear up their by the Canadian border. Ones got my name on their hide this fall.
Post by: xXLojackXx on May 21, 2015, 09:21:02 PM
Said 1,000 guys who shot a cub :chuckle:
Ahh the infamous "Hunt Wa 300lb bear"
Post by: cryder on May 26, 2015, 04:33:09 PM
Post by: Jarhead Chase on May 26, 2015, 08:35:24 PM
Post by: jasnt on May 26, 2015, 08:59:46 PM
Post by: Ripper on May 27, 2015, 09:59:13 AM
Post by: luvmystang67 on May 27, 2015, 12:30:10 PM
Post by: RadSav on May 27, 2015, 12:58:20 PM
Once you start targeting them you see a lot of deer. :chuckle:
:chuckle: So true!
Post by: gilroym on June 01, 2015, 07:07:18 AM
Post by: andrew_in_idaho on June 01, 2015, 10:57:02 AM
Post by: elkrack on June 01, 2015, 12:00:10 PM
Post by: huntingbaldguy on June 16, 2015, 03:50:29 AM
Post by: Ghost Hunter on June 16, 2015, 04:30:17 PM