Post by: Gutpile on September 06, 2009, 04:54:47 PM
Went up to my favorite Huckleberry unit spot for a little bear/grouse hunt. Had been seeing a fair amount of bear sign so we were pretty stoked. I was really actually excited to get some grouse since I've never even seen a bear in the fall in this particular area. It's just so thick that all we ever see is sign. In the spring we see them quite often. Anyways, Saturday morning we decided we'd go cruise around looking for grouse and scout for sign, then we'd go get some lunch and chase bears in the evening. We didn't see any grouse but did find some fresh bear sign but it was a small bear. Probably 4" wide tracks. We got back to camp and I decided I wanted to check "the high road" which is right near camp. Bighorns2bushytails decided to stay at camp and maybe take a nap, it was probably 11:00 or so. I hopped on the quad and drove to the head of the high road (an old skid trail) and walked in to the end, probably a mile or so. I saw another set of tracks so thought I'd give calling a whirl.
This is a pretty big clear cut so I went to the far end where it's starts to get really thick and called for 30 minutes or so. I heard guys at their camp off in the distance to the left and to the right but figured "what the heck" I'll keep calling. Got nothing there so walked back to the middle of the clear cut and did another set. I'd say 20-30 minutes or so. All of the sudden accross the valley at 3-400 yards I see a stump I didn't remember before. I glassed it and it was a bear!! I just about crapped this is the first bear I've called in and let me tell you the juices were flowing!! I was stoked!!
It walked from my left to right sidehill accross the canyon and I waited till it got a tree between me and it and I ran down the road back to the spot where I called earlier. I peeked from behind a tree and it was still there but looking towards me. I waited for a second because I was about 250-300 yards away and I really needed to find a rest. It finally looked away and I hustled down to a burned out stump and got set up. The bear then stopped for a minute or two right behind a larch tree so I had to wait. While he stared I got a pretty good look at him and he seemed average. Not real big but certainly not small. Jet black coat- real shiny. Very pretty. Anyways it turned to go up hill so I called. It stopped and looked again but I did want to shoot it in the ass. It started walking again so I called and this time it stopped, turned and walked to a stump and rested it's front paws on it and just stared.
This bear was very interested in the call but if I continued I was scared it'd walk to the bottom and I'd lose it in the brush. I just didn't want to shoot it straight on but I felt like I had no choice. I rested, drew a breath and smacked him with the 350 rem mag. I heard the smack so I knew I hit home. I found the bear in the scope again and it just collapsed in a heap over the stump like you'd pose it for a pic. Now keep in mind this is only my second bear and I'm really hyped up. I sit and watch for movement as I wanted to be sure to anchor it if it need it. Not a twitch. Then it slid off of the stump and rolled like a snowball down the hill and piled up in a large alder bush. From where I was I just couldn't see the bear so I watched for the brush to move, again just to be sure this bear is dead. Got no movement and started to run back to the quad which was a mile or so away.
Man it's HOT, I'm sweating my ars off, I'm totally jacked but I needed help getting this pig out. Finally I reach the quad and THE KEY!!!! IT'S GONE!!! WTF!! I'm checking my pockets over and over and I can't find the key. I start running back to camp which is another mile or so and realized the key was in my teeth. What a jack ass.
I get back to camp and get Nyles so he can help me get the thing out. I tell him to wait till he sees me across the canyon and not to come till I find the bear. I get across and can't find the bear anywhere. I had marked the spot but lost track in the thick creek bottom and had veered to the right. Anyhow I searched for about a half hour and gave up. I figured I'd go back to the spot I shot from. Show Nyles which bush it was in and go back and get the bear. While I was showing the spot we measured with a ringefinder and it was 188 yards. I thought "Oh crap! This might be a small bear. Anyways thats how it worked. I showed him where it was and he guided me right to it.
And wouldn't you know? This bear was TINY!!!!!!!! It's about a four footer and just cute as a button. I wiped the milk off it's lips so I didn't have the guilt while I was gutting it. It was a heavy little F****r though. :chuckle: Got it back to camp and skinned and quartered it and promptly took a nap. I was thoroughly wooped.
So I learned how hard it is to judge those darn things. I would have passed on this bear had I known but when looking across a steep canyon to a bear on the other side they are VERY hard to judge.
By the way the bullet hit right between the eyes. I'll post pics later I need to get cleaned up and grab a bite to eat.
Post by: shoot-em-dead on September 06, 2009, 05:11:29 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on September 06, 2009, 05:18:34 PM
Post by: markts on September 06, 2009, 05:20:57 PM
Post by: Gutpile on September 06, 2009, 05:54:00 PM
Anyhow here's the pics. I was in a hurry to clean the bear up and forgot to take pics until after it was skinned. Sorry you cant fully appreciate the awesome smallness of the bear but thats how it goes sometimes. :chuckle: :chuckle: I put the skin on a log to give it a little size. :dunno:
The bullet passed through the head through the lower jaw shattering it and then into the chest exiting on the top of the back near the tail. It took out a lung and liver on the way out but didn't blow up the guts thanks god. Yuk.
Post by: boneaddict on September 06, 2009, 05:57:12 PM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on September 06, 2009, 06:09:00 PM
You could always make a toilet seat cover out of it. :)
Post by: Gutpile on September 06, 2009, 06:11:36 PM
Any Bear is a good bear. You could always make a toilet seat cover out of it. :)
:chuckle: :chuckle:
The fir was thick and shiny I'm going to tan it and probably just keep it in the corner. Just to small to rug but too pretty to get rid of. I hope I can salvage the skull. That'd be a great trophy with the bullet hole in it. We'll see. :dunno: :dunno:
Post by: littletoes on September 06, 2009, 06:16:08 PM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on September 06, 2009, 06:38:04 PM
Post by: boneaddict on September 06, 2009, 06:44:03 PM
Post by: TeacherMan on September 06, 2009, 06:51:15 PM
Post by: robodad on September 06, 2009, 06:57:45 PM
Nice work, adrenaline can be a SOB sometimes, great story !!!
BTW what is a "larch tree" :dunno:
Oh and don't forget to post him in here !!
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,33131.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,33131.0.html)
Post by: Gutpile on September 06, 2009, 07:00:17 PM
Quote
BTW what is a "larch tree"
People call them Tamarac which is incorrect. Western Larch are native to western states Tams are native out east.
Quote
Oh and don't forget to post him in here !!
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,33131.0.html
Already did.
Post by: robodad on September 06, 2009, 07:04:07 PM
QuoteBTW what is a "larch tree"
People call them Tamarac which is incorrect. Western Larch are native to western states Tams are native out east.QuoteOh and don't forget to post him in here !!
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,33131.0.html
Already did.
;)
Post by: alecvg on September 06, 2009, 07:27:36 PM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on September 06, 2009, 07:33:50 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on September 07, 2009, 10:19:57 AM
The fir was thick and shiny I'm going to tan it and probably just keep it in the corner. Just to small to rug but too pretty to get rid of.
Remember, bathrooms need rugs too!
Post by: runamuk on September 07, 2009, 02:49:17 PM
Post by: LongTatLaw on September 07, 2009, 02:56:58 PM
it was a lovely shot!
Post by: Abolt338 on September 07, 2009, 08:50:18 PM
RW
Post by: Wea300mag on September 07, 2009, 08:51:26 PM
Nice shot!!!
Post by: ICEMAN on September 08, 2009, 06:05:51 AM
Great story and congrats!
Post by: boneaddict on September 08, 2009, 06:06:44 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on September 08, 2009, 06:12:22 AM
Post by: boneaddict on September 08, 2009, 06:14:37 AM
Post by: Gobble on September 08, 2009, 06:48:57 AM
Post by: Machias on September 08, 2009, 10:48:52 AM
Post by: littletoes on September 08, 2009, 07:38:57 PM
Been there......! ;)
Post by: bearpaw on September 09, 2009, 06:26:04 AM
Post by: runamuk on September 09, 2009, 10:29:11 AM
The problem is AIR. Some are full of air, and GIANT! But you punched a hole in it and let it all out!
Been there......! ;)
So that's how it works :chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: fishcrazy on September 11, 2009, 05:54:16 PM
The problem is AIR. Some are full of air, and GIANT! But you punched a hole in it and let it all out!I had girlfriend like that. I think she was full of HOT air I couldn't get the air out she just kept blowing up!!
Been there......! ;)
Nice bear. same story with my first bear. looked alot bigger untill I shot it! then it deflated.
Kris
Post by: MagKarl on September 12, 2009, 09:02:01 AM
Post by: Wacenturion on September 12, 2009, 11:50:48 AM
Post by: Gutpile on September 12, 2009, 02:36:57 PM
the bad juju that constantly hangs over you because of all the weird avatars you make us look at on a daily basis....LOL. :chuckle:
That was funny. :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :tup: :sas: :brew:
Post by: sisu on September 12, 2009, 06:34:52 PM
Post by: rasbo on October 13, 2009, 05:04:39 AM
Post by: ratherhunt on October 26, 2009, 02:13:23 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 26, 2009, 02:18:15 PM
Post by: saylean on October 27, 2009, 09:06:44 AM
I know I do... ;)
Nice shot and congrats on the bear. ;)
Post by: rasbo on October 27, 2009, 09:08:29 AM