Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: Whitelightning on September 13, 2009, 03:25:42 PM

Title: First Bear!
Post by: Whitelightning on September 13, 2009, 03:25:42 PM: Hi, I am new to the forum and thought I would start by posting my first Bear.

I took him in unit 117 this past Friday. Not a huge bear but a good one for my first I think. I took using a .504 cal White muzzle Loader at 75 yards, dropped in his tracks.

No one ever told me how much these things way for the size :o Any way he is good eatin so far just BBQ'd the tenderloins last night.

Any good recipes you have and would like to share would be awesome.

Here is a pic of him.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2FPICT1258.JPG&hash=9c30358c8a6a6b0baac81209d3f7798f334b0380)
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: markts on September 13, 2009, 03:28:48 PM: Nice bear for sure. Whats the details on the hunt. Welcome to a great site. Mark ;)
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: runningboard on September 13, 2009, 03:32:12 PM: details? what's the story? weight? congrats and keep those success stories coming
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: Whitelightning on September 13, 2009, 04:43:21 PM: Well not much of a story, a buddy had put out a cameras in the area looking for deer and this guy kept coming buy, real photo gentic ya know. I have hunted bear but never been successful. I took 9-11 off and headed for the area a 6 hour drive for me, I hunt Turkey in the area so its not a big deal. I got to the spot around 2:00pm and set up my ground blind looking towards the area of the camera.

I had just sat down when up the valley I heard a bunch of ruckus. Ten minutes later I hear some vocal noise that now I know was the bear. Twenty minutes into the hunt I hear branches breaking real close and the bear comes out into a opening thirty yards in front of me, he stops behind a tree blocking his vitals. I think just my luck!!

He then turns and walks straight away, no shot. He keeps walking up to a old skidder trail and stops, still facing straight away, looks back and continues up the small grade. Now I am thinking man at least i saw a descent bear he takes one step to his left I bring the M/L up and he brings his outside leg around and I pulled the trigger. He dropped right in his tracks. He was at 75 yards when i pulled the trigger.

There must be a marsh or spring close by because this guy was absolutely soaked to the bone. I guess this must be a bears air conditioner?

Any way I was real happy but real surprised as to how much a bear weighs, they sure are not easy to drag either. Took me 4 hours to get him 1/2 mile. On the plus side they sure are tasty critters.

This Bear had a couple inches of fat on his back and lots on the hams too. I assume this is normal for the time of year.

Thanks for the replies guy's. Hope to hang around for a long time.
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: Gutpile on September 13, 2009, 04:58:05 PM: I just shot my first fall bear last saturday and I agree they are fat dudes and heavy for their size. I was very happy that the bear grease cleaned off as easily as it did, it was coating everything.

Congrats and welcome to the site.
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: Huntbear on September 13, 2009, 05:03:36 PM: Congrats on your 1st bear. I am still looking for mine.
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: runamuk on September 13, 2009, 05:25:17 PM: Congrats, nice bear and I am another one looking for a first bear ;)
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on September 13, 2009, 05:51:10 PM: That is a nice looking Bear. Congrats. The amount of fat a bear has really depends on the time of year and each animal. Some you will find carry a good bit of fat this time of year others not as much all depends on the animal. I have noticed though that the smaller bears tend to look more plump and have better coats earlier in the year. Especially the ones in the high country.
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: robb92 on September 14, 2009, 04:24:25 AM: Congrats on a nice bear! Welcome to the site!
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: bearpaw on September 14, 2009, 04:29:37 AM: congrats on the bear....one piece of advice, be careful to cook your bear meat well done. I know lots of guys who have gotten trichenosis (not sure of spelling) from bear meat that was not well done. Just be sure you cook it long enough to be safe....welcome to the site.... ;)
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: LongTatLaw on September 14, 2009, 10:49:29 AM: I love bear meat! I just country fry steaks!

Nice first bear..any more pics?

welcome to the site!
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: Whitelightning on September 14, 2009, 05:21:01 PM: Quote from: bearpaw on September 14, 2009, 04:29:37 AM
congrats on the bear....one piece of advice, be careful to cook your bear meat well done. I know lots of guys who have gotten trichenosis (not sure of spelling) from bear meat that was not well done. Just be sure you cook it long enough to be safe....welcome to the site.... ;)

Thanks bearpaw, I have heard the same thing, I cooked it until all pink was gone, Hope that was enough.
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: Wea300mag on September 14, 2009, 06:00:05 PM: Well done Whitelightning, congrats on your first bear.
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: KillBilly on September 14, 2009, 06:45:39 PM: Well done, and there are some good recipes right on this sight..http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/board,28.0.html
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: Maligator on September 15, 2009, 12:22:34 PM: Congrats on your first bear. Always happy when others are successful. I'm still looking for my first but it'll come. Enjoy the meat! ;)
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: whacker1 on September 15, 2009, 12:40:26 PM: Congrats - other piece of advice. I have the best luck cooking on open flame. It helps cook the fat out, which is where the flavors most don't like come from. If you cook in a pan, it then cooks in its own fat.

I call it the dark pork. I am a big fan.
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: TopOfTheFoodChain on September 16, 2009, 10:15:13 PM: :) :tup: right on, always wanted to shoot one with my firestick.
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: Whitelightning on September 17, 2009, 07:09:03 AM: Thanks guy's
It was great getting him with the smoke pole.
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: Mo on September 18, 2009, 01:32:03 PM: Congratulations on a nice Bear.

As for cooking, we usually just cook em' like beef. We had some back-straps from my BIL Bear last week. Good eats!

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myhostedpics.com%2Fimages%2FPathfinder%2Fbearbackstraps.jpg&hash=93abf1073478374ff919a59844a982cba04d1a65)
Title: Re: First Bear!
Post by: CoryTDF on September 18, 2009, 01:43:53 PM: :puke: :puke: :puke: I cant stand to eat bear like i eat deer, elk, or beef. I have to make sausage or jerky out of it. Pathfinder101 shot a bear a few years ago and we tried everything to get it to taste good. we failed. I'm glad to see you like it. As for me I'll stick with the sausage.