Post by: bearpaw on April 20, 2021, 10:06:32 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 20, 2021, 10:20:19 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 20, 2021, 10:31:30 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 20, 2021, 10:33:55 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 20, 2021, 10:49:48 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 20, 2021, 10:53:38 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 20, 2021, 10:59:59 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 20, 2021, 11:06:51 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 20, 2021, 11:09:17 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 20, 2021, 11:16:39 AM
Post by: Machias on April 20, 2021, 11:17:15 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 20, 2021, 11:20:07 AM
Awesome start to the spring!!!
Yeah we got a good start on the birds, still no bear sign though, we've got a lot of our baits out in Idaho already and none are getting any bear yet. This warm weather should get them out soon though?
Post by: bearpaw on April 21, 2021, 06:20:26 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 22, 2021, 06:31:24 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 23, 2021, 09:56:40 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 23, 2021, 10:00:22 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 23, 2021, 06:08:11 PM
Post by: bearpaw on April 23, 2021, 08:12:54 PM
Post by: mburrows on April 23, 2021, 09:28:32 PM
Post by: bearpaw on April 23, 2021, 10:24:39 PM
Good work Dale. Love the first time success!
Yeah, that first hunt is always one of the best memories a hunter has for life! We are very fortunate to be a part of quite a few first hunts.
Post by: bearpaw on April 23, 2021, 10:34:13 PM
Post by: bearpaw on April 24, 2021, 08:09:57 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 24, 2021, 08:17:53 AM
This is possibly the best turkey hunting season I've seen, all our hunters have had opportunities at mature toms thus far! :IBCOOL:
Post by: Machias on April 24, 2021, 10:14:45 PM
Post by: bearpaw on April 25, 2021, 10:56:17 PM
Post by: bearpaw on April 28, 2021, 08:38:55 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 29, 2021, 06:02:47 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 29, 2021, 06:55:28 PM
Post by: bearpaw on April 29, 2021, 07:36:52 PM
Post by: jstone on April 29, 2021, 07:38:07 PM
Are they still strutting
Post by: bearpaw on April 29, 2021, 07:49:11 PM
Very cool
Are they still strutting
Yes, all day long :tup:
Post by: bearpaw on April 30, 2021, 06:15:33 AM
Post by: mburrows on April 30, 2021, 08:43:14 AM
Post by: bearpaw on April 30, 2021, 09:26:06 AM
Looking forward so some bear hunt pics and stories
We are booked full for Idaho spring bear hunts, I don't think I have any WA spring bear hunts planned, this year I've had more interest in my spring bear maps for WA, we do have quite a few turkey hunters for WA this spring.
Post by: jrebel on April 30, 2021, 09:47:16 AM
Looking forward so some bear hunt pics and stories
We are booked full for Idaho spring bear hunts, I don't think I have any WA spring bear hunts planned, this year I've had more interest in my spring bear maps for WA, we do have quite a few turkey hunters for WA this spring.
This surprises me a bit.....I can vouge for Dale and Bearpaw outfitters guides on their spring bear hunts in the NE. I have been part of 3 different hunts and all three went home with bears.....not to mention the other hunters in camp that also whacked bears while we were there. Wonder if you will get some who decide last minute when the figure out how hard it is to find the little buggers in that thick brushy country.
Nice birds as usual Dale.
Post by: bearpaw on May 03, 2021, 07:24:28 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 03, 2021, 07:30:40 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 03, 2021, 07:39:07 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 03, 2021, 07:57:07 AM
The next morning was a little slow but we decided to hunt the same area in the afternoon, we had heard birds in the morning. Finally in mid afternoon he connected with his second Washingron bird, an even better bird than the first. Well done David!’
Post by: Machias on May 03, 2021, 11:41:47 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 04, 2021, 08:34:35 AM
Some great photos!!!
Thanks Fred 👍🏻
Post by: bearpaw on May 04, 2021, 08:37:13 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 05, 2021, 06:33:13 AM
Post by: teanawayslayer on May 05, 2021, 06:38:27 AM
Mark arrived last night and started hunting this morning, we had birds roosted but they fooled us a bit this morning doing what we didn’t expect, but lots of patience paid off and Mark just notched his first tag.is that in someone’s yard? Looks like a nice plush lawn :chuckle:
Post by: bearpaw on May 05, 2021, 06:55:20 AM
Mark arrived last night and started hunting this morning, we had birds roosted but they fooled us a bit this morning doing what we didn’t expect, but lots of patience paid off and Mark just notched his first tag.is that in someone’s yard? Looks like a nice plush lawn :chuckle:
Yes, it sure is, it's in my yard next to the skinning area, bird was killed on a mountain top and I took more photos when they got back because the first photos were fuzzy. If you look back through my posts you will see that quite a few phots have the same background! :chuckle:
Post by: Ridgeratt on May 05, 2021, 07:02:48 AM
https://www.dominionmeadowsgolfcourse.com/
Post by: bearpaw on May 05, 2021, 07:03:05 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 05, 2021, 07:05:53 AM
I would have guessed this place.
https://www.dominionmeadowsgolfcourse.com/
That would actually be a good place to hunt turkey or deer hunt if it was outside the city limits! :chuckle:
The Metaline golf course is a pretty good place if you have an elk tag in your pocket! :chuckle:
Post by: Ridgeratt on May 05, 2021, 07:17:47 AM
I would have guessed this place.
https://www.dominionmeadowsgolfcourse.com/
That would actually be a good place to hunt turkey or deer hunt if it was outside the city limits! :chuckle:
The Metaline golf course is a pretty good place if you have an elk tag in your pocket! :chuckle:
Cousin was a PO.county PUD lineman. :tup:
Post by: bearpaw on May 05, 2021, 07:28:14 AM
FYI: This bear measured 6'3" but he is pretty skinny, you get the hide off of some of these spring bear and their isn't much there, no wonder some of them die in their dens on long hard winters, this winter was an easy one and there were lots of huckleberries last fall but this bear is still pretty skinny. When you butcher a spring bear there isn't much fat to trim!
Post by: teanawayslayer on May 05, 2021, 09:12:43 AM
gotchyaMark arrived last night and started hunting this morning, we had birds roosted but they fooled us a bit this morning doing what we didn’t expect, but lots of patience paid off and Mark just notched his first tag.is that in someone’s yard? Looks like a nice plush lawn :chuckle:
Yes, it sure is, it's in my yard next to the skinning area, bird was killed on a mountain top and I took more photos when they got back because the first photos were fuzzy. If you look back through my posts you will see that quite a few phots have the same background! :chuckle:
Post by: Katmai Guy on May 05, 2021, 11:22:29 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on May 05, 2021, 11:48:21 AM
Post by: Timberstalker on May 05, 2021, 12:57:44 PM
Looks like awesome rugs on those bears. :tup:
Post by: Machias on May 06, 2021, 09:01:05 AM
Post by: HillHound on May 06, 2021, 10:59:58 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 07, 2021, 07:22:20 AM
Glad to see some bears hitting the ground. I’m headed back over next week for 3 or 4 days and am getting hopeful I will at least find some fresh sign this time.
The bear are just starting to get active, should be good hunting from now onward. These 70+ days are bringing them out!
Post by: bearpaw on May 07, 2021, 07:27:27 AM
Post by: hunter399 on May 07, 2021, 07:53:13 AM
Low elevations or what ,just curious.
Great look in spring so far. :tup:
Post by: bearpaw on May 07, 2021, 09:54:56 AM
Post by: jrebel on May 07, 2021, 10:33:03 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 07, 2021, 07:32:05 PM
Those last two birds are gorgeous!! Beautiful fans.Yes, they were really nice ones! 👍🏻
Post by: bearpaw on May 07, 2021, 07:42:17 PM
Post by: Machias on May 07, 2021, 09:00:31 PM
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on May 07, 2021, 09:27:44 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 08, 2021, 08:53:08 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 08, 2021, 09:04:42 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 08, 2021, 09:28:49 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 08, 2021, 09:39:29 AM
(I was informed later in the day that this was John's first bird ever, how sweet is that?)
Post by: jstone on May 08, 2021, 09:43:33 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 08, 2021, 09:48:16 AM
How is the bird population looking this year?
Incredible, the best in many years!
Post by: bearpaw on May 08, 2021, 11:35:18 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 08, 2021, 11:44:36 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 08, 2021, 11:58:24 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 09, 2021, 01:17:49 AM
We took a few pics where he lay and then I picked him up and we headdd back to the truck, we got more photos along the way and exchanged comments about how exciting it was for both of us! Nice shot Trip, I love it when a plan comes together.
I am still amazed at how close these birds can pinpoint your position from a long distance, the bird walked straight to us and the last time I called was at about 350 yards!
Post by: teanawayslayer on May 09, 2021, 08:38:03 AM
Post by: jrebel on May 09, 2021, 12:30:43 PM
I had a situation several years back. Called in a big old Tom that had no beard. We were in a ground blind. My son at the time was 10. He was up and ready to shoot. I could not see a beard and knew it was a mature Tom. Not seeing the visible beard we did not take the bird. As the regs state visible beard. Is there an exception?
I read the law as “male turkeys AND turkeys with visible beards”. I would interpret that as any male turkeys and hens with visible beards.
Post by: MtnMuley on May 09, 2021, 02:05:25 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 10, 2021, 11:35:17 AM
I had a situation several years back. Called in a big old Tom that had no beard. We were in a ground blind. My son at the time was 10. He was up and ready to shoot. I could not see a beard and knew it was a mature Tom. Not seeing the visible beard we did not take the bird. As the regs state visible beard. Is there an exception?
I read the law as “male turkeys AND turkeys with visible beards”. I would interpret that as any male turkeys and hens with visible beards.
Jrebel has it right 👍🏻
Post by: bearpaw on May 10, 2021, 11:37:26 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 10, 2021, 01:26:07 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 10, 2021, 01:28:18 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 10, 2021, 01:33:39 PM
Post by: Machias on May 10, 2021, 08:55:21 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 11, 2021, 06:03:54 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 11, 2021, 06:06:48 AM
Post by: fishngamereaper on May 11, 2021, 06:27:10 AM
Post by: Machias on May 11, 2021, 08:58:54 AM
They say the birds are higher pitched and hard for them to judge how far away with the terrain variations, sometimes further away and sometimes closer.
Yep, same thing I found when I first started chasing birds up here!
Post by: bearpaw on May 11, 2021, 12:57:14 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 13, 2021, 09:32:39 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 14, 2021, 10:39:55 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on May 14, 2021, 10:42:41 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 14, 2021, 10:48:09 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 14, 2021, 10:49:48 AM
Nice looking old bear. :tup:
Yes it definitely had some age going on 👍🏻
Post by: bearpaw on May 14, 2021, 10:57:58 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 14, 2021, 12:11:19 PM
Post by: Twispriver on May 14, 2021, 12:38:08 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 15, 2021, 06:21:53 PM
That's a great picture of the hunter and his bear :tup: to whoever snapped the shutter and thanks for all the updates to this thread.
👍🏻 I agree it was a nice picture taken by the guide. They got another bear last night just before dark but I don’t have any photos yet.
Post by: Taco280AI on May 15, 2021, 06:23:32 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 15, 2021, 06:24:51 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 15, 2021, 06:26:56 PM
Lot of happy hunters :tup:
It’s been a super season, probably going to be our best season ever!
Post by: bearpaw on May 16, 2021, 09:02:14 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 16, 2021, 09:06:01 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 17, 2021, 06:44:20 PM
Post by: teanawayslayer on May 17, 2021, 06:51:36 PM
This photo was completely incidental, we are sitting in a blind this afternoon and I snapped a photo of some quail, a wood pecker happened to fly by, LOL!cool pic
Post by: bearpaw on May 18, 2021, 06:24:52 AM
The smaller bird with an 8" beard, probably a 2 year old had lost his tail, part of the fan was growing back, but part of the actual tail was missing so not all the tail feathers were growing back, I'm guessing a predator must have almost had a turkey dinner?
Post by: bearpaw on May 18, 2021, 07:11:34 AM
Post by: Timberstalker on May 18, 2021, 07:33:00 AM
My goodness. What a toad.
Post by: trophyhunt on May 18, 2021, 07:33:09 AM
Post by: Rob on May 18, 2021, 12:09:32 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 19, 2021, 08:35:21 AM
how much does a 7'3 bear weigh? is that from tip of tail to tip of nose?
Yes nose to tail, there is no specific weight, but remembering back to fall bear that I have measured that were 7'+ here in Washington, they were all well over 400 pounds in the fall. I'm guessing a fat 400 pound fall bear might only weigh 250-300ish in the spring, but I don't know that for sure and it would depend on how tough of winter it was too?
This bear has a good looking noggin on him, he's a big bear but not as big as some taken in previous seasons in Idaho or Washington. I haven't seen it myself, I'm in WA doing turkey hunts, my son runs the Idaho bear hunts. The head will get green measured at the taxidermist just in case.
I decided to google weight loss in hibernation and got this, my guess was fairly close:
Quote
Weight loss during hibernation is extreme. Male black bears will typically drop between 15 and 30 percent of their body weight, while reproductive sows can lose up to 40 percent. Despite this grave weight loss, more than 90 percent of black bears survive the winter.
Post by: Rob on May 19, 2021, 09:23:52 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 23, 2021, 08:01:28 AM
Post by: idaho guy on May 23, 2021, 08:13:16 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 23, 2021, 08:37:28 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 23, 2021, 08:45:59 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 23, 2021, 08:53:24 AM
Post by: Machias on May 23, 2021, 09:08:33 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 25, 2021, 11:29:15 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 25, 2021, 11:38:12 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on May 25, 2021, 11:39:42 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on May 25, 2021, 12:29:21 PM
Ira with his other bird, congrats Ira for finishing your one year grand slam with us!That's awesome, I bet he's a fun guy to guide, looks happy as heck! Congrats Ira!
Post by: bearpaw on May 25, 2021, 08:52:06 PM
Ira with his other bird, congrats Ira for finishing your one year grand slam with us!That's awesome, I bet he's a fun guy to guide, looks happy as heck! Congrats Ira!
Yes, we had a blast.
Post by: bearpaw on June 01, 2021, 01:45:17 PM
Post by: Machias on June 01, 2021, 02:34:31 PM
Post by: bearpaw on June 01, 2021, 08:54:58 PM
Post by: BreezyBear on June 01, 2021, 09:33:29 PM
Post by: bearpaw on June 02, 2021, 10:46:53 AM
Post by: Bob33 on June 02, 2021, 11:56:59 AM
Post by: Timberstalker on June 02, 2021, 12:08:42 PM
Post by: Machias on June 02, 2021, 06:59:14 PM
Post by: Rob on June 02, 2021, 07:22:22 PM
Post by: bearpaw on June 07, 2021, 05:54:56 AM
Post by: bearpaw on June 08, 2021, 01:33:09 PM
Post by: bearpaw on June 10, 2021, 09:20:02 AM
Some of you guys probably remember Ruby, she was eaten by a cougar two winters ago, Chewy is her replacement, he doesn’t have the same unique personality, but he is turning out to be just as effective at tracking and finding wounded game. In Idaho we are allowed to recover wounded game with blood dogs, during her life Ruby was responsible for finding many wounded game animals including a 6x6 bull elk, a trophy nontypical mule deer, whitetail deer and many wounded bear and cougar.
Post by: bearpaw on June 10, 2021, 09:45:00 AM
The bear measured 6’2”
Post by: Machias on June 10, 2021, 09:46:05 AM
Post by: Go Blue on June 12, 2021, 09:34:44 PM
Post by: bearpaw on June 14, 2021, 03:36:04 PM
Post by: Rob on June 14, 2021, 03:40:35 PM
Love the leaping dog photo up above!
Post by: bearpaw on June 15, 2021, 01:07:31 AM
Post by: HillHound on June 15, 2021, 07:19:05 AM
Post by: bearpaw on June 16, 2021, 08:54:57 AM
Looks like a stellar turkey season and an even better bear season. Your clients are Getting some good ones on the ground this year
:tup:
Thanks, it's been a great spring, we had a record breaking turkey season, our best turkey season ever, and our bear season is going very well too, the bear season probably won't be our best but will probably be in the top 5 or 10 out of more than 40 years in the outfitting business.
Post by: bearpaw on June 16, 2021, 09:21:25 AM
Post by: bearpaw on June 18, 2021, 10:04:04 PM
What a great bear for a life size mount!
Post by: Rob on June 19, 2021, 05:50:41 AM
Post by: Platensek-po on June 19, 2021, 10:32:47 AM
John from Tennessee pulled off a great stalk this morning on this off color boar with guide Grant. Nice job guys!
Man you guys are hammering them this year!! Good job! Love the color on this bear. Super cool face
Post by: bearpaw on June 21, 2021, 07:53:41 AM
How about getting two color phase bear on the first morning of your hunt! Father and son Joe and Brad from Washington did that this morning, congratulations to both of them!
Post by: Machias on June 21, 2021, 08:37:14 AM
Post by: bearpaw on June 23, 2021, 08:10:42 AM
Awesome, what a great spring season!!!
Thanks Fred, our last hunter nailed an old sow last night so we are pretty much finished for the spring season, it was our best spring season ever for turkey and one of our best for bear. Now have to finish a few ongoing building projects and start prepping for the fall hunts, I'm looking forward to what will be a busy fall season.
Post by: HillHound on June 23, 2021, 08:22:26 AM