Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on June 01, 2011, 04:07:56 PM
We woke the first moring to 28 degrees and almost four inches of snow, not the weather we were hoping for. Sure, the snow makes bears easier to spot, but they weren't moving at all, so that made it harder. We hunted hard that first day, but nothing to show for it except cold, wet and muddy. Day two started out much the same, cold weather, rain showers and no sightings. We finally saw our first bear that afternoon, but way too far away and no real option for a stalk.
I'll make several postings so can add lots of photos...
Post by: Machias on June 01, 2011, 04:10:46 PM
Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on June 01, 2011, 04:23:09 PM
Well, that got her energized and off we go. It took us about 30 minutes to get down there and by then the bear was on top of the ridge, but still feeding. We made one last stalk to the saddle to shoot from and in the five minutes it took us to get there the bear had dropped over the ridge and back into the brush. She was pretty bummed out, but the nasty hike back out took her mind off that real quick. Now she didn't want to hike anymore at all!
At least now we were starting to figure out where to find them. There were all at the same elevation and feeding/digging on the same types of rocky/flowery ridges/hillsides. Couldn't figure out exactly what they were feeding on, but they were sure honed in on something specific.
Post by: h20hunter on June 01, 2011, 04:25:50 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on June 01, 2011, 04:31:54 PM
C'mon man.....type faster!
:yeah: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: hoytem on June 01, 2011, 04:33:11 PM
Post by: jackelope on June 01, 2011, 04:39:11 PM
Now...on with it.
Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on June 01, 2011, 04:40:05 PM
We pull out on our glassing point again and start walking over to glass. I look down and another bear, but this time it's on our side and close enough for a shot. My daughter runs back to get the gun while I keep an eye on it. When she gets back we get her set up on the bipod and she takes a crack at it. It bolts back over the ridge and out of sight... well, grab your stuff and we'll go check to see if you got it. We slip down the ridge and are just about where I thought it had been feeding when all of the sudden there it is digging/feeding on the ridge again. Obviously she didn't hit it, or even scare it too badly... never hurts to be lucky!
I slip her down another 75 yards to where she can finally get an angle on the steep downhill slope to get another shot. As it's feeding between a couple trees (the photo she's standing in) she takes another shot. At that shot the bear turns inside out and bails back over into the steep, thick, brushy draw. We get down there and can't find any blood, but slip into the draw it ran into. Still no blood or noise, but after slipping in about 75 yards there it is, just standing there, leaned up against a tree. After a couple more shots the bear is finally down for good, though she couldn't hardly even move.
Now she's all smiles again!
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on June 01, 2011, 04:43:41 PM
So what kinda mount is dad doing for her?
Post by: Woodchuck on June 01, 2011, 04:48:57 PM
Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on June 01, 2011, 04:49:01 PM
Here are a few packing photos too.
Thanks to those who offered some insight to the hunt.
Enjoy!
Post by: rebal69972 on June 01, 2011, 04:57:56 PM
Post by: PacificNWhunter on June 01, 2011, 05:03:47 PM
Post by: Austrian Hunter on June 01, 2011, 05:18:04 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on June 01, 2011, 05:21:35 PM
Post by: fair-chase on June 01, 2011, 05:24:30 PM
Post by: wadu1 on June 01, 2011, 05:29:41 PM
Post by: Machias on June 01, 2011, 05:35:41 PM
Post by: CAMPMEAT on June 01, 2011, 05:36:13 PM
Post by: Bigluke1981 on June 01, 2011, 05:54:53 PM
Post by: saylean on June 01, 2011, 06:03:55 PM
Post by: 87Ford on June 01, 2011, 06:28:05 PM
Post by: zackmioli on June 01, 2011, 07:07:10 PM
Post by: BENCHLEG on June 01, 2011, 08:25:38 PM
Post by: wapiti hunter2 on June 01, 2011, 08:51:06 PM
Post by: agchawk on June 01, 2011, 09:00:24 PM
Post by: BLUEBULLS on June 01, 2011, 09:07:00 PM
My daughter's 4 and I hate to see her grow up but I can't wait for the days like you had.
Post by: bearpaw on June 01, 2011, 09:07:44 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on June 02, 2011, 06:35:50 AM
I believe I can help on the feeding pick: the yellow flower on the upper right, with the parsley-looking leaves and the discarded top to the left of it, is lomatium, a.k.a. desert parsley, a.k.a. biscuit root. It has a big, edible tuber, and is one of the earliest flowering tubers. My guess is that because the onions may be scarce with the late spring, they were digging biscuitroot.
Post by: wamuledeer on June 02, 2011, 06:49:19 AM
Post by: kckrawler on June 02, 2011, 06:54:08 AM
Just to set the stage, my daughter took hunter ed when she was seven and immediately got her first deer that season. She turned 13 this year and has harvested several deer, a cow moose and threee antelope since her first season. She drew a Huckleberry spring bear tag three years ago, but we couldn't connect on a bear. This year she drew another spring bear tag in the Tucannon. We waited til the last weekend hoping the late spring would finally arrive, providing us a better opportunity at getting her on a bear.
We woke the first moring to 28 degrees and almost four inches of snow, not the weather we were hoping for. Sure, the snow makes bears easier to spot, but they weren't moving at all, so that made it harder. We hunted hard that first day, but nothing to show for it except cold, wet and muddy. Day two started out much the same, cold weather, rain showers and no sightings. We finally saw our first bear that afternoon, but way too far away and no real option for a stalk.
I'll make several postings so can add lots of photos...
Screw my lucky rabbits foot...I need a hunting partner with luck like hers :chuckle:
Congrats on her first bear!
Post by: 180-GRAIN on June 02, 2011, 07:08:43 AM
Post by: bowsandhose on June 02, 2011, 09:48:23 AM
Post by: arrowflinger on June 02, 2011, 09:51:09 AM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on June 02, 2011, 10:12:49 AM
I think WDFW awards extra "secret" points to young ladies in the draws. :chuckle: I have a 17 year old student in one of my classes that has about the same luck drawing tags as your daughter does. Bull Elk tag and Any Moose tag since she started hunting at age 12, filled both of them with nice animals too. :tup:
Post by: X-Force on June 02, 2011, 10:24:46 AM
Post by: Gringo31 on June 02, 2011, 03:22:26 PM
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on June 02, 2011, 04:00:47 PM
Quote
My daughter runs back to get the gun while I keep an eye on it.
Now let this be a lesson to many. Never get out of the truck without the binoculars and the rifle. :chuckle:
-Steve
Post by: DeerThug on June 02, 2011, 04:54:22 PM
Post by: Wea300mag on June 02, 2011, 06:51:34 PM
Post by: Ripper on June 02, 2011, 08:13:19 PM
Post by: bucklucky on June 03, 2011, 07:31:51 AM
Post by: JLS on June 03, 2011, 08:02:15 AM
Post by: iRem on June 03, 2011, 10:11:13 AM
Post by: huntlakewood on June 03, 2011, 10:53:12 AM
I want to be just like her when I grow up
Post by: ORCA_SIX on June 03, 2011, 10:58:52 AM
Nice looking bear and she looks happy in all weather conditions. If only all kids could experience what happiness nature and hunting brings.
Post by: wildwood on June 07, 2011, 07:20:51 PM
Post by: Dean44 on June 07, 2011, 08:09:07 PM
Post by: ratherhunt on June 09, 2011, 09:06:08 PM
Post by: elkoholic1 on June 13, 2011, 09:16:16 AM
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on June 16, 2011, 12:07:23 AM
Congratulations to the little lady, she is already a better hunter than some adults I know that have been hunting longer than she has been alive.
And kudos to you too pop, awesome job!!
Post by: PA BEN on June 19, 2011, 02:07:27 PM