Post by: gwpsage on October 04, 2010, 05:11:04 PM
Post by: Ray on October 04, 2010, 05:16:42 PM
Post by: Gutpile on October 04, 2010, 05:18:28 PM
Post by: saylean on October 04, 2010, 05:19:34 PM
Post by: Kain on October 04, 2010, 05:27:46 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 04, 2010, 05:42:46 PM
Post by: hoyt5199 on October 04, 2010, 06:15:56 PM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on October 04, 2010, 06:35:14 PM
Post by: gwpsage on October 04, 2010, 10:50:41 PM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on October 04, 2010, 10:55:31 PM
Post by: 87Ford on October 04, 2010, 11:01:27 PM
Post by: haugenna on October 04, 2010, 11:02:45 PM
Post by: Kain on October 04, 2010, 11:04:26 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 04, 2010, 11:19:03 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 04, 2010, 11:54:33 PM
Post by: scout88 on October 05, 2010, 12:58:29 AM
Post by: Ripper on October 05, 2010, 06:55:34 AM
Post by: agchawk on October 05, 2010, 07:28:19 AM
Post by: Gobble on October 05, 2010, 07:47:16 AM
Post by: 400out on October 05, 2010, 08:17:38 AM
Post by: skier2480 on October 05, 2010, 08:41:42 AM
Post by: saylean on October 05, 2010, 08:48:18 AM
Post by: washingtonmuley on October 05, 2010, 08:51:55 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on October 05, 2010, 09:05:59 AM
Post by: gwpsage on October 05, 2010, 09:57:53 AM
good job on a great bear!!! Did you see any nice deer on your hunt?
I'd like to thank everyone for the comments. It is a beautiful bear. She has a real thick and long chocolate coat. A real trophy in my eyes.
We saw a lot of mule deer, but no bucks. They are up there though. I saw some buck tracks that were the size of a young elk.
Post by: gwpsage on October 05, 2010, 11:52:48 AM
We headed to the cascades Friday morning. We arrived at the trailhead around 0930. Made some adjustments to our packs and hit the trail. Both our packs were a little above 30 pounds not counting our rifles. We were prepared to stay for 2 nights and 3 days in the wilderness. We hiked for 4 hours until we found what we were looking for in bear terrain. It was about 5000 feet that we started seeing the berries. We set up camp that afternoon and glassed the slopes that evening. We didn't see any bears that first night, but we watched 7 mule deer browse across the hillside. We stayed up a little late trading hunting stories and planning our next day in the wilderness. Neither one of us had ever been on a high hunt before so we figured we'd glass the same slope in the morning and just roll with it. We got up just before daylight Saturday morning and moved into our positions to glass. About 0730 we spotted our first bear. He was a little over 500 yards. We just caught a glimpse of him before he moved into the thick stuff. That sighting got us excited for the days hunt. Our first high hunt in a place we've never been and we spotted a bear. Success in my book. So we decided to pack up camp and hike further till we found a better vantage point and a place to setup camp. 2 hours later we found ourselves at 6000 feet in beautiful country. The country that you can picture bears being in. We dropped the packs and ate some lunch. It was pretty warm that day so we decided just to hang out and maybe catch a little nap. My buddy layed down I tried to but I couldn't relax cuz of the flies. I was having flashbacks of the flies in Afghanistan. So I picked up the binos and started glassing. Not 30 min later I spotted a bear on the opposite slope at 770 yards straight line distance. It was about 1300 at this time. I told my buddy nap time was over and let's go get him. We watched for another 30 min just to see if he was staying in the same general area and he was. My buddy was feeling sick from tuna he had just ate so I decided to go on my own. I didn't expect this to be the beginning of the most exciting and physically exhausting stalk of my life. 40 min later after pulling myself up 700 feet of elevation I got within 100 yards of where I had spotted the bear last. I tried to gather myself for a few min and checked the wind. The thermals had begun to go up and I knew I didn't have much time before I was busted. So I crouched down and closed the distance staying below an iv line. I still hadn't seen the bear yet. I knew I was close when I heard the bear woof at me. So I popped over the iv line and saw the bear at 70 yards broadside looking at me. Not only was this the first bear I had ever made a stalk on but it was a giant. Its head was so big that it looked like it didn't have any ears. I quickly mounted my rifle and tried to steady the crosshairs on its shoulder and squeezed a shot off. The event proved to be too much for me and I shot over the bear. I sat down and tried to take it all in. Then I went and searched for sign just to make sure I missed. I didn't find anything at the site and continued my search 100 yards in the direction of travel. I was worried that I had wounded the bear cuz of all the horror stories I've read about bears not leaving a blood trail and being tough. The bear didn't show any signs at the shot besides a dead sprint no noises or limp in its run so I moved back down the slope to link up with my partner. I got back still shooken up and he told me he watched the whole thing unfold. He said the bear had winded me much earlier then I thought and was running back and forth trying to find me before I had spotted him. I was pretty excited that I even got that close. So we moved to set up camp in a spot I had found on my ascent to the bear. We set up camp then hiked further down the trail to see what was around the corner. Took lots of pics of the glaciers and glassed for bears. Didn't see anything and it was getting cold so we headed back to camp. I slept like a baby that night and got up just before sunrise. About 0900 I spotted the same bear from my stalk on the same slope further down the mountain. I was relieved to confirm that I had not wounded him. So we decided to go after him again. I told my buddy that it was his turn since I had my chance the day before. We thought that the bear would feed towards where I had seen him the day before. So our plan was to get up there and setup in a bowl waiting for him to show up. Waited there an hour and he never showed so we decided to take it to him. Never did find that bear and it was getting late. We still had to pack out the 9.5 miles to the truck. So we decided that our hunt was over and we headed back to camp. We got 3/4 of the way back and my buddy saw a bear feeding on the slope above our camp. He turns around and says tell me that's not a bear. I laugh and say it sure is. Let's get him. We came out here to get a bear. So we start jogging to close the distance. My buddy drops the pack frame at 300 yards and we sneak in closer. Opposite slope of a drainage with nothing for cover. I stop at 250 from the bear and get in the prone with a nice rest and he closes to 200. The bear was feeding closer so we waited. About 10 min later the bear winds us and acts like she's going to take off. So my buddy shoots and misses. The bear started running upslope and I put one behind her shoulder. She tumbles a little and starts heading downslope and towards the camp so I wait for a few to see if she would expire. Then she cuts back upslope this time at a 100 yards and I squeeze of another shot this time finishing her off. She tumbled down the hill to the drainage and I thought for sure that she had broken every tooth out of her skull. We waited a few min then we hiked over to her. I could not believe that 30 min before our hunt was over. Now I'm standing over a beautiful color phase bear. We estimated her at 180 to 200 pounds. She's just under 6 ft. Then the work began. We started to tube the bear and realized we didn't have the frame so me being the younger guy I got sent on what felt like a snipe hunt looking for the pack frame. Eventually I found it and got back just in time to pack her up. We headed to camp as the fog rolled in on us. It was like nothing I had experienced before. It was amazing. The cold air eased my mind about the bear cooling quickly. We packed up camp split the loads and started our journey to the trailhead. It took us 4 hours to get back. Arrived just before dark. We were both in serious pain but it was well worth. I will remember this hunt for the rest of my life. First high hunt in the wilderness, first crazy stalk on a bear, and first bear being a color phase. Great experience with good company. And tons of pics for the album.
Post by: 400out on October 05, 2010, 11:59:53 AM
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on October 05, 2010, 12:18:31 PM
-Steve
Post by: GoldTip on October 05, 2010, 12:20:36 PM
Post by: hoyt5199 on October 05, 2010, 12:33:05 PM
Post by: Guy on October 05, 2010, 06:35:11 PM
Superb scenery - you were up in the Alpine stuff - love it!
Congratulations & Thanks for your service.
Semper Fi, Guy
Post by: shedcrazy on October 05, 2010, 09:13:16 PM