Post by: saylean on May 02, 2009, 09:59:41 PM
This is the beginning of this story...
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,26465.msg303929/topicseen.html#new
And heres the rest:
A pic from where the bear was standing...(by douglas fir in center of pic), shot with a .300 WSM 165 grain bullet.
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/P1010436.JPG)
Arrived at the spot after picking up my little brother, bout 8 am (I was up at 5, but had a drive). We decide the best way to find a trail is to follow the brush line the bear went into, hoping to cut a trail. We would then go from one end to another, going deeper into the brush until we find something.
930 am, I find his tracks and some blood on some sticker bushes, 80 yards in the brush from were he was shot originally. Keep in mind, much of this is crawling on hands and knees cause its so thick. He bolted out of the brush and made it to a log spur road, that is slightly overgrown with alders, etc. He came out at the dead end of the spur...minimal blood....in fact, we lose the trail of blood there. This is why I only heard him crash through brush for about 5-8 seconds after I shot...he hit the road and was quiet.
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/P1010440.JPG)
From 930 am to 4 pm nothing...no tracks, no sight, no blood. We circle, go up, down, all around, look everywhere, walk much of the spur road, still not finding blood, tracks, hair or any direction as to where he went.
Its frustrating...to add things to it, its raining some. :bash:
I decide to head down the spur road as much as I can, even though I have already walked it a few times to some extent (giving up not finding any blood).
I get a 1/4 mile down the road or so and I find bear tracks in a muddy puddle along the right side of the road...he had took a dip in the pool. Looking for blood...no good...tracks look like his.
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/P1010445.JPG)
He crosses the road and goes into the brush, heads down into another ditch area that leads to a swamp....I follow the tracks out of the ditch....they disappear into the briars. After about 40 yards of going throught the briars, I come upon a swamp and look over a log...
there he is! The pics dont really do him justice.
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/P1010444.JPG)
I was very grateful to find the bear, as I owed it to the animal to put forth all the effort possible. We went back and got the gear, truck etc.
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/P1010449.JPG)
We were able to drive up the log spur so we only had about a 60 yard drag out, which we just wrapped the bear up in a tarp and hauled.
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/P1010447.JPG)
We weighed the bear, gutted, with his legs and butt still on the floor...he was just under 250 lbs, so we can only assume with guts and proper weighing..he would be close if not at least 300 lbs.
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/P1010451.JPG)
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/P1010452.JPG)
The boar has scars on his ears, head and has lived a long life. 2 inches of fat were on the belly.
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/P1010453.JPG)
I am 6'1 and 200 lbs...laying next to the bear...
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/P1010454.JPG)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATED:
Wet skull measurement: 18 1/4 inches (11 3/4 length, 6 1/2 width)
Measured 6' 2" from nose to tail when skinned.
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/P1010458.JPG)
I will get more exact measurments tomorrow..Cheers! :hello:
Post by: 7mag. on May 02, 2009, 10:03:52 PM
Post by: Curly on May 02, 2009, 10:05:16 PM
Post by: robb92 on May 02, 2009, 10:06:50 PM
Post by: Moose Eyes on May 02, 2009, 10:11:13 PM
Post by: BENCHLEG on May 02, 2009, 10:14:14 PM
Post by: arees on May 02, 2009, 10:16:00 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on May 02, 2009, 10:19:47 PM
Post by: bow4elk on May 02, 2009, 10:21:08 PM
Post by: scroder on May 02, 2009, 10:24:33 PM
Post by: X-Force on May 02, 2009, 10:26:36 PM
Team Slayer...
FYI Dave is feeling the pressure. :chuckle:
Post by: bearmanric on May 02, 2009, 10:43:13 PM
Post by: 509er on May 02, 2009, 11:26:01 PM
Post by: catwithboost on May 02, 2009, 11:42:16 PM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on May 03, 2009, 12:06:03 AM
Post by: addicted on May 03, 2009, 12:53:34 AM
Post by: popeshawnpaul on May 03, 2009, 01:04:29 AM
Post by: Huntbear on May 03, 2009, 01:08:38 AM
Very nice animal!!
Post by: PacificNWhunter on May 03, 2009, 01:25:01 AM
Post by: River on May 03, 2009, 02:09:18 AM
Post by: rasbo on May 03, 2009, 04:21:06 AM
Post by: billythekidrock on May 03, 2009, 06:17:16 AM
Great job by the two of you.
I will second those that mentioned your dedication. This is a valueable lesson and a great example to new bear hunters and to all hunters in general. Even with a solid hit they can go a long ways with little to no sign.
Congrats on a great bear and a great story.
Post by: ICEMAN on May 03, 2009, 06:42:32 AM
A question: Was it cold enough, do you feel you can save the meat on this bear? I am not really sure how bear hide holds heat like deer or elk.... Anyones thoughts ?
Post by: Wea300mag on May 03, 2009, 07:02:51 AM
Post by: Red Dawg on May 03, 2009, 07:05:30 AM
Post by: MAGhunter on May 03, 2009, 07:41:38 AM
Post by: Slider on May 03, 2009, 07:46:35 AM
Post by: markts on May 03, 2009, 07:54:31 AM
Post by: ihunt on May 03, 2009, 08:16:45 AM
Post by: saylean on May 03, 2009, 08:22:57 AM
I believe 99% of his meat will be fine as well. Its been cool out.
Thanks for all the grats. Tracking is half the fun for me, even though, I prefer more sign!
Rasbo, I think in the first thread on the hit of the bear, you said you thought I might of hit low (and you asked where I got him in this one)...you were correct. I shot him low in the center mass, not sure why...nerves I guess? I checked the gun not long ago at the range and everything was fine...of course that is 'at the range' on a table. I am going to continue to work on my shooting with this weapon. In retrospect I should have laid my gun on the stump I was standing by to steady the shot, but I shot freehand, as I normally do.
The gun used was a .300 WSM with a 165 grain bullet...I will update the story to include this.
Post by: MuleySniper on May 03, 2009, 08:25:32 AM
MS
Post by: yorketransport on May 03, 2009, 08:41:09 AM
Andrew
Post by: Blsum on May 03, 2009, 10:23:12 AM
Post by: rasbo on May 03, 2009, 12:05:17 PM
The meat I think will be fine. I have recovered 2 other bears (one was mine, one was my brothers) that were shot and left over night. Both were fine, meat wise, and this was in the summer (although I dont recommend this by any means).it sounded like a bear I shot same thing,went for the heart hit low,found a chunk of jerky sized meat,long time to find that one
I believe 99% of his meat will be fine as well. Its been cool out.
Thanks for all the grats. Tracking is half the fun for me, even though, I prefer more sign!
Rasbo, I think in the first thread on the hit of the bear, you said you thought I might of hit low (and you asked where I got him in this one)...you were correct. I shot him low in the center mass, not sure why...nerves I guess? I checked the gun not long ago at the range and everything was fine...of course that is 'at the range' on a table. I am going to continue to work on my shooting with this weapon. In retrospect I should have laid my gun on the stump I was standing by to steady the shot, but I shot freehand, as I normally do.
The gun used was a .300 WSM with a 165 grain bullet...I will update the story to include this.
Post by: whacker1 on May 03, 2009, 12:21:44 PM
Great looking bear.
Post by: bucklucky on May 03, 2009, 12:22:43 PM
Post by: Jeremy S on May 03, 2009, 12:33:51 PM
Post by: Elkstuffer on May 03, 2009, 01:05:37 PM
Post by: agchawk on May 03, 2009, 01:40:23 PM
Post by: elkkiller on May 03, 2009, 02:39:45 PM
Post by: BONE COLLECTOR on May 03, 2009, 03:25:07 PM
Post by: mulehunter on May 03, 2009, 03:26:17 PM
Mulehunter 8)
Post by: Diehard0123 on May 03, 2009, 03:50:36 PM
Post by: Rufous on May 03, 2009, 04:45:03 PM
Post by: Sideswipe on May 03, 2009, 06:01:37 PM
Post by: Backstraps on May 03, 2009, 06:51:41 PM
Post by: jager on May 03, 2009, 06:59:27 PM
Quote
Congrats on the nice bear Saylean! Kudos to you for searching all day long for him! Awesome story and pics!:yeah:
Two big :tup: :tup: for going the extra mlle to find him! Great job!
Post by: Timber on May 03, 2009, 07:53:15 PM
Post by: gramps on May 03, 2009, 08:16:00 PM
Post by: saylean on May 04, 2009, 08:38:55 AM
wet skull measurement was 18 1/4 inches.
measured 6' 2" from nose to tail.
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10186/P1010458.JPG)
An odd note....while skinning his back, I found a small hole in his hide on his back bone area...underneath the hide, he had obviously been wounded not long ago (fight) or perhaps cancer? It looked stange so I cut around that section...looked like it was wearing away or something.
Thanks to all again.
Douglas~
Post by: Machias on May 04, 2009, 08:43:51 AM
Post by: jackelope on May 04, 2009, 09:25:31 AM
Post by: RustneckNW on May 04, 2009, 09:58:42 AM
Post by: saylean on May 04, 2009, 12:10:27 PM
Just out of curiosity how far did the bear go after you shot it?
probably a 1/4 mile. On a side note as well, he was living in a very heavily damaged (peeled trees) area, so I think I did what was expected of a "spring bear" hunter.
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on May 04, 2009, 12:38:54 PM
Post by: saylean on May 04, 2009, 12:40:23 PM
Post by: jackelope on May 04, 2009, 12:42:52 PM
Post by: saylean on May 04, 2009, 12:46:14 PM
just not sure where to put him.
Post by: jackelope on May 04, 2009, 12:47:53 PM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on May 04, 2009, 12:59:56 PM
worry about that later.
:yeah: You will always find a place to put him once you get him back, lol.
Post by: tlbradford on May 04, 2009, 01:22:38 PM
Post by: Ray on May 04, 2009, 02:02:32 PM
Post by: Alan K on May 04, 2009, 02:15:47 PM
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Post by: oneshotkill on May 04, 2009, 05:43:36 PM
Post by: LongTatLaw on May 05, 2009, 02:55:52 AM
Post by: JBar on May 05, 2009, 03:50:57 AM
Post by: strutnrut1984 on May 05, 2009, 03:06:29 PM
Post by: bighorns2bushytails on May 05, 2009, 06:52:03 PM
--BH2BT
Post by: Intruder on May 07, 2009, 09:41:49 AM
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Post by: Pathfinder101 on May 08, 2009, 10:28:50 PM
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Post by: Hunting Cowboy on May 09, 2009, 08:20:53 PM
Post by: lewy on May 11, 2009, 06:58:23 AM
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Post by: hardcore carnivore on May 11, 2009, 07:42:39 AM