Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: skagitsteel on October 29, 2017, 09:21:01 PM

Title: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: skagitsteel on October 29, 2017, 09:21:01 PM: My oldest has been hunting with me since she was 6 years old. She passed hunters safety at 8, took her first deer at 9 and repeated at 10, hopefully repeats again this year. This year she told me the beginning of the year that getting a bear was the most important. I primarily hunt the back country and see lots of bears every year (34 this year), most of them a long ways from the truck, these days I just let them walk for the most part. I even passed a bear I was after really hard a few years ago named 'Hank the Tank' (1st pic) This year as usual as we got into late summer and berries got ripe I started seeing bears out scouting and during the few days I got out for high buck.
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: skagitsteel on October 29, 2017, 09:24:11 PM: The first day we got out was in mid September, she made it about 9 miles round trip, the berries were just getting ripe and bears hadn't moved into this particular basin yet. The weather was also pretty rainy with limited visibility, I have never done well with high country bears in those conditions.
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: skagitsteel on October 29, 2017, 09:30:31 PM: The very last two days of September I planned a couple days off to help a friend get a first bear and help my daughter. It was prime time now with colder weather and the only berries ripe at high elevation. The first day was a school day for her so it was just my friend and I. It was a good hike and a pretty quick hunt, seeing 4 bears and having one down by about 9 AM
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on October 29, 2017, 09:39:41 PM: Very cool!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: skagitsteel on October 29, 2017, 09:46:40 PM: The day of the hunt we got up early and left the truck around 4AM. She made the long trek up the mountain and about 4 hours later were just getting to where I had seen all the bears the day before. The weather again wasn't playing games and it was snowing pretty good with a fresh dusting over everything. Ava got a bit cold and was about totally worn out from the hike. A quick 'you want to go back?' from me was replied with 'no! I want a bear!'. We got up to the first likely spot for a bear and I glassed the hill not seeing anything I turned to walk toward our next vantage point. I got about tow steps when I hear my daughter behind me 'Dad, bear!, Bear! right there! sure enough I turned around and a bear had just stepped out from behind a tree on the hillside. We got set up on the bear and another slightly smaller one steps out about 150 yards up the ridge. As we got set up the lower bear we wanted to shoot disappeared. The plan was for her to shoot and I would be ready for a quick back up shot with my rifle(I have a bear tag too!) if it was needed. I moved down the draw to see if I could spot the bear from a different vantage and left her set up where she was. I looked back up and she was motioning that she saw it again. I crawled my way back to her (no cover). I was almost to her and I hear the safety click off, I was expecting to have to calm her nerves and walk her through the shot like I had on previous deer. Not this time! Just as I reached my rifle she let it rip, bear dropped instantly and rolled back down the mountain towards us. 225 yard shot, quartering toward us, she went in the neck, got the spine and out the opposite lung behind the shoulder, perfect shooting! It was a long heavy pack out for me with the boned out meat, the hide, her rifle by the time we got back to the truck!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: Kit Carson on October 29, 2017, 09:50:10 PM: Awesome! Nice write up and pics.
Congratulations. :tup:
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: dan11011 on October 29, 2017, 10:02:44 PM: Awesome Story! Congrats to her! :tup:
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: kodiak 907 on October 29, 2017, 10:07:45 PM: Awesome!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: redi on October 29, 2017, 10:32:13 PM: Great job.
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: Elkcollector82 on October 30, 2017, 03:34:10 AM: Great job :tup:

This write up and the pictures to go with it makes me feel like I was on the adventure. Great memories for you and your daughter. :tup:
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: Stalkin Prey on October 30, 2017, 05:18:13 AM: Absolutely fantastic. Great job and congrats to both of you. Gotta be proud.

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Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: skagitsteel on October 30, 2017, 08:51:56 AM: Quote from: Stalkin Prey on October 30, 2017, 05:18:13 AM
Absolutely fantastic. Great job and congrats to both of you. Gotta be proud.

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Very proud Dad moment for sure, I actually teared up a bit after watching her spot it, set up the shot, decide where to put the bullet and get it done with no help from me. They grow up so fast!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: branches on October 30, 2017, 10:02:41 PM: That is a nice bear. Congratulations to you and your daughter!!! I bet you and your family are very proud of her success!! Great pictures of your hunt.
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: saylean on November 05, 2017, 09:44:44 AM: That's awesome SkagitSteel! Tell her congrats for me! Good work!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: huntnfmly on November 05, 2017, 10:14:40 AM: Very cool congrats.
Great pics and story thanks for sharing
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: pygmy1985 on November 05, 2017, 10:23:04 AM: That’s a great story with an even better ending! Especially cool that she spotted it herself! Congratulations to you both, good team work!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: Candcrods on November 05, 2017, 01:06:26 PM: Great story and good work dad!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: skagitsteel on November 05, 2017, 06:46:46 PM: Thanks guys! I am sure she will have many more to come.
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: wafisherman on November 05, 2017, 07:20:30 PM: Very inspiring. I have 3 who plan to take Hunter's Ed soon and I hope to have some of these awesome memories with them as well :tup:
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: skagitsteel on November 05, 2017, 09:50:07 PM: Quote from: wafisherman on November 05, 2017, 07:20:30 PM
Very inspiring. I have 3 who plan to take Hunter's Ed soon and I hope to have some of these awesome memories with them as well :tup:

I have two more behind her. I started her a little young, however I think getting them interested early is really important. Even with the youngest one (he's 5 now) teaching him about where our food comes from. Some of his 1:1 woods time with Dad will start this year
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: pope on November 06, 2017, 05:25:36 AM: Awesome job, dad and daughter. I sure enjoy reading your posts. Congrats! You have endured some brutal pack outs this season. Must have good knees. :tup:
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on November 06, 2017, 05:40:57 AM: Congrats! It's more fun watching them pull the trigger then doing it yourself!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on November 06, 2017, 08:51:24 AM: Great write up, love your daughter's smiling enthusiasm in all the photos and willingness to endure when the weather throws discomfort! Great job Dad!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: skagitsteel on November 06, 2017, 10:59:35 AM: Quote from: Wanttohuntmore on November 06, 2017, 05:40:57 AM
Congrats! It's more fun watching them pull the trigger then doing it yourself!

100% Agreed!!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: skagitsteel on November 06, 2017, 11:15:46 AM: Quote from: pope on November 06, 2017, 05:25:36 AM
Awesome job, dad and daughter. I sure enjoy reading your posts. Congrats! You have endured some brutal pack outs this season. Must have good knees. :tup:

i'm thankful that I do, although next year I'm starting a small herd of packgoats! I can handle a big buck a year pack out myself, but with the kids taking bears and eventually there own high country deer, I'll need some help from the goats!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: skagitsteel on November 06, 2017, 11:57:14 AM: couple more pics from the hunt, Ill try and make short video of it soon.
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: Decker on November 10, 2017, 10:48:42 AM: Awesome!!! Can't wait to take my daughter on her first bear hunt!!!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: Turner89 on November 11, 2017, 10:17:49 PM: Awesome .....one of my favorite posts this year..

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Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: bowhunterforever on November 12, 2017, 12:31:06 AM: Nice bear and write up :tup:
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: E35alex on November 19, 2017, 09:59:36 AM: 👍 one of the best stories of the year! Congrats to your daughter!

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Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: TeacherMan on December 13, 2017, 10:39:14 AM: That is so awesome!!! How far in were you guys you think?
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: 2MANY on December 13, 2017, 11:08:48 AM: Love the picture of you two together and that big laugh she is doing.
Nice work pops.
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: chiwawadan on December 13, 2017, 12:01:50 PM: My first post on the boards here to say how cool this post is! My first is only 9 months and this fuels my hope I can get her into hunting and fishing with me some years down the road.

Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: Dan-o on December 13, 2017, 12:37:38 PM: Thanks for sharing such a great story!!!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: pianoman9701 on December 13, 2017, 02:21:59 PM: Awesome write up and congrats to the accomplished huntress. :tup:
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: skagitsteel on December 19, 2017, 09:15:04 PM: Quote from: TeacherMan on December 13, 2017, 10:39:14 AM
That is so awesome!!! How far in were you guys you think?

We were just over 4 miles in and about 2500' up
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: Calvin Rayborn on December 19, 2017, 09:24:01 PM: Right on!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: Calvin Rayborn on December 29, 2017, 12:36:33 AM: Awesome!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: bearhunter99 on December 29, 2017, 06:38:58 AM: Great story and hunt! Congratulations on helping to educate the next generation. Just love seeing the smiles on the kids faces!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: bear hunter on February 20, 2018, 12:17:55 PM: Wow great memories there. Congrats
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: Gringo31 on February 20, 2018, 01:13:14 PM: Where is the video you teased us with?
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: skagitsteel on February 27, 2018, 09:42:19 PM: Quote from: Gringo31 on February 20, 2018, 01:13:14 PM
Where is the video you teased us with?

I’ll get it done eventually! Working on two years of Blacktail footage at the moment!
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: fortrich on March 04, 2018, 10:08:38 PM: She looks happy. Congrats on her first bear.
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: Star882 on March 04, 2018, 10:10:49 PM: Awsome story! Gets me excited for my boys hearing storys like this. Just took my 5 year old out checking trail cameras yesterday.
Title: Re: 11 year Old daughters first Bear
Post by: skagitsteel on March 07, 2018, 03:03:09 PM: Quote from: Star882 on March 04, 2018, 10:10:49 PM
Awsome story! Gets me excited for my boys hearing storys like this. Just took my 5 year old out checking trail cameras yesterday.

that's great! Starting them young is key, my oldest starting going hunting with me when she was 6, working on getting my next two interested now