Post by: DeerThug on May 15, 2011, 08:39:06 PM
We left last Thursday to the Wenaha. Got there in the dark. Was greeted to OK weather when we got up. Then the challenges started. The road still had snow drifts and trees across the road. By 8 in the morning we made it to the place where we could hike in to a bowl where we have not gone without seeing bears. 100% sure thing. After 2 hours of ridge climbing, we found the wild onion fields only 1/2 inch high. We found 1 old track in the snow, but no bears. We decided to head out and try to get further around the mountain range we were on. We had to cut 9 more trees out of the road and dig some snow drifts to get to where we could make it up a good ridge. It was now after noon. We kept climbing and glassing and figured we could make it to the top - take a nap in the sun and then hunt the evening on the way out. But at 2 we spotted a bear way across two canyons. We decided we had enough time to get to it and he was a good one. 50 minutes later we were climbing the knife ridge that would put us 200 yards from the bear. The boys were up there with the pack ready to shoot off of. The bear was in an onion patch feeding up. Jeff and i were climbing hard, but we are not 17 any more. We had 10 feet before the top, when the boys said he is gone. He had went into the timber. We sat there for about 15 minutes glassing and nothing. I thought we should get to where he was and see if we could see it in another onion field. 25 minutes later we were in his onion field 20 yards from the timber when mathew hissed at us pointing to the trees. This bear was coming back. Jeff had to take one side step. What he saw was this bear swinging his head side to side. He shot and dumped him. After pictures we looked back up the ridges from where we came and thought what have we done, we were so far into this ridge it was crazy. Luckily we all had game bags in the packs. We dressed him and started up and down the two ridges to the trail that lead to the truck. At 7:30 we could see the truck.
The lessons of the Wenaha is to go prepared, be willing to be physically challenged and reap the rewards.
that night we got the storms that came through, mountain thunder.
We stayed another day to get a turkey, but the birds must have froze out. In years past we see tons, this year we saw 6 and only one tom. Did not have the heart to shoot it - figured we better leave him with his ladies.
As usual we came home with everything wet dirty and we were tired and a trophy in the back.
Another epic adventure....
Post by: rasbo on May 15, 2011, 08:42:39 PM
Post by: yelp on May 15, 2011, 08:43:12 PM
Post by: blindpig on May 15, 2011, 08:44:33 PM
Post by: runamuk on May 15, 2011, 08:45:51 PM
Post by: Guy on May 15, 2011, 08:52:08 PM
Congrats!
Post by: oldleclercrd on May 15, 2011, 08:55:19 PM
Post by: Kain on May 15, 2011, 08:55:35 PM
Post by: D-Rock425 on May 15, 2011, 08:56:34 PM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on May 15, 2011, 08:58:19 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 15, 2011, 08:59:44 PM
Post by: saylean on May 15, 2011, 09:01:01 PM
Good work and thanks for posting!
Post by: Huntbear on May 15, 2011, 09:02:25 PM
Gorgeous bear!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :tup: :tup:
Post by: TW GUIDES on May 15, 2011, 09:06:03 PM
Post by: PacificNWhunter on May 15, 2011, 09:06:46 PM
Post by: bowsandhose on May 15, 2011, 09:20:56 PM
Post by: agchawk on May 15, 2011, 09:25:46 PM
Post by: windygorge on May 15, 2011, 09:28:20 PM
my buddy got a tag for wenaha. what elevation were you at. he thought there would still be snow right now
Post by: True Sportsman on May 15, 2011, 09:39:54 PM
Post by: SkookumHntr on May 15, 2011, 09:45:18 PM
Post by: bearmanric on May 15, 2011, 09:45:43 PM
Post by: DeerThug on May 15, 2011, 09:51:14 PM
Post by: ORCA_SIX on May 15, 2011, 09:54:49 PM
Post by: bobcat on May 15, 2011, 09:54:57 PM
Post by: 10heiau on May 15, 2011, 09:55:47 PM
Post by: sled on May 15, 2011, 10:19:30 PM
Post by: bucklucky on May 15, 2011, 10:26:47 PM
Post by: zackmioli on May 15, 2011, 11:03:09 PM
Post by: windygorge on May 16, 2011, 05:45:19 AM
The SE side is mostly clear of snow. The main big ridge has a lot on it, but no need to get up in that stuff - the mid elevations is where the onions are at and that is what they are feeding on. We did see one that was as big or bigger last night - all black. Hopefully the weather will change and get better so the onions grow and a guy can hunt without fear of getting struck by lightening.
thank you a ton. i have cut and pasted your reply and sent it to him through email.
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on May 16, 2011, 06:02:44 AM
Post by: Todd_ID on May 16, 2011, 06:06:05 AM
Post by: washingtonmuley on May 16, 2011, 06:24:04 AM
Post by: 180-GRAIN on May 16, 2011, 06:54:54 AM
Post by: wamuledeer on May 16, 2011, 07:13:13 AM
Post by: halflife65 on May 16, 2011, 08:44:58 AM
I saw a bear after you guys left real close to where you were camped - about 300 yards OUTSIDE of the unit. Safe bear for now. All black; wonder if it was the same one you guys saw before you left?
Saturday evening I got way the heck back in there and ended up double-timing it out with lightening flashing all around me. Got back to the truck right at dark in driving rainstorm. Wasted Sunday morning because I was too high and in the fog and lots more rain. Walked back to the pickup and got a good afternoon hunt at lower elevation. Saw tracks but no bear. I saw was a couple of guys that had built a fire on a ridge over from me - I think that they'd been messing around in the area for a couple of days. Lots of deer and elk including 2 bucks and 3 bulls and a ton of does and cows. Also saw a bobcat. That was pretty cool.
Post by: SuperDave on May 16, 2011, 08:52:51 AM
Post by: shedcrazy on May 16, 2011, 09:10:00 AM
Post by: Machias on May 16, 2011, 09:15:10 AM
Post by: MuleySniper on May 16, 2011, 09:18:09 AM
MS
Post by: Hornseeker on May 16, 2011, 09:20:45 AM
Post by: BENCHLEG on May 16, 2011, 09:30:40 AM
Post by: wapiti hunter2 on May 16, 2011, 10:04:46 AM
Post by: MHWASH on May 16, 2011, 10:22:56 AM
How did you access the area? I'd like to go camping for Memorial Day and have really locked down a spot yet because of the snow.
Post by: bigpaw 77 on May 16, 2011, 10:26:05 AM
Post by: 7mmfan on May 16, 2011, 10:39:53 AM
Post by: arees on May 16, 2011, 11:22:56 AM
Post by: DeerThug on May 16, 2011, 04:47:42 PM
Besides it worked.
Post by: deerdog on May 16, 2011, 05:14:56 PM
Post by: DeerThug on May 16, 2011, 05:35:19 PM
Don't think the one we saw was the same, it was across the river. We always like the view in the evening and went there just to glass.
Thought we had a wolf sighting sat night on the way back. Two of us saw it in the road for just a second, it was all black, knee high bout the size of a half grown German Shepherd. They said it was not a fox or coyote. the only thing left is a yearling wolf. This was just down the from where we saw the two a couple years back.
Keep after it and go as many times as you can - let us know how you do.
Post by: halflife65 on May 16, 2011, 06:52:58 PM
I'll be back next weekend.
Post by: bodangles on May 16, 2011, 07:44:59 PM
Post by: Rufous on May 17, 2011, 11:52:58 AM
Post by: CJ-5 on May 17, 2011, 12:51:36 PM
Post by: KopperBuck on May 17, 2011, 12:58:10 PM
Post by: Ripper on May 17, 2011, 04:00:02 PM
Post by: Curly on May 17, 2011, 04:03:20 PM
I'm no expert on bears, but I've seen lots of pics and that is one of the biggest black bears I've seen.
Congrats. :tup: :brew:
Post by: Austrian Hunter on May 17, 2011, 04:14:18 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on May 17, 2011, 04:26:23 PM
Once.
Post by: BLUEBULLS on May 17, 2011, 09:03:18 PM
Oh yeah, I would've said bigger than 6'1" too.
Post by: klickriverchromer on May 25, 2011, 08:37:42 PM
Post by: millertime89 on May 26, 2011, 10:03:57 AM
Post by: TheHunt on May 26, 2011, 10:18:42 AM