Okanagon Bear

[tlbradford]

All of you westsiders were making us eastside guys look bad this fall.  Here is one from Saturday.  No field pics because some *censored* (me)  forgot the camera.  We snapped a few photos before rushing her into the freezer.  I'll post hunt details later, but I wanted to share some pictures with you for now.

[DeKuma]

Nice!  I was wondering what was going on with the Eastside.  I have not gotten mine over there yet, but am still working on it.

[snohohunter]

Awesome - congrats.  Looking forward to hearing the story.

[Gutpile]

Nice. Great job. Can't wait for the story.

[tlbradford]

Teeth


She forgot to brush the Huckleberries off before she came into the call.

Rainshadow knife had her skinned out and the meat in the packs in no time.  I didn't get to break it in on a coyote yet, but this was good too.  Handled great and kept its edge the whole way through.



I have some more pics but they aren't uploading right now.

[snohohunter]

I've been working on my calling....any advice for success?  How long did it take, etc?

BTW, great pics!!  Looking forward to the others.

[billythekidrock]

Nice!

[wastickslinger]

Nice looking bear. Kinda gave away your spot if that is really where you got him

[cascademountainhunter]

how much did she weigh dressed out?

[Sagedawg]

Very nice!!! I bet it was hotter than hell ........even up there. Congrats.


  Sage

[tlbradford]

We hiked up the hills first thing in the morning.  It is about a 4 mile hike, very steep to the top of the area we like to hunt.  We pushed through afew draws on the way up, but didn't see much sign.  At the top was a different story.  Berries were ripe, grass was still semi green, and we found a couple of real fresh tracks that head into a huge canyon with a thick bottom of choke cherries, huckleberries, and large timber.  We called one strip of trees and berry patch for 45 minutes and didn't have any response.  On the way to the next area we got buzzed by a 4' rattlesnake.  We decided that we would come back for the snake on our way out.  We set up on the canyon abot 8:45am with my brother in law on a chute and about 75 yards above me.  I started calling, medium volume, fawn distress.  I go for about a minute and about 10 seconds after I stop I hear a boom and acrash of brush.  She had been heading up the chute my partner was sitting on to get to a flat area to approach me.  When I stopped calling she stopped on a rock ledge about 10 yards away from him and he put a failsafe through both shoulders.  She jumped off/knocked off the ledge she was on, right into a chokecherry bush.  I worked my way up to him and wehad to saw her out of the tree.

We got to work skinning and boning.  Thank goodness she fell into the shade.  We loaded up and proceeded down the mountain.  We got the bear in the freezer by 12:30.  It was 102 when we got back to the house.

I don't know what she weighed and I am terrible at judging bears, but our packs weighed in around 90 and 70 lbs.  She had a nice layer of fat on her.  If someone put a gun to my head I would guess around the 230 mark.  She had great girth. I am still having trouble loading up pics this morning so I will try to get more pics later tonight.  It is just more advertising for Steve, the call I used, The other side of her teeth with a broken canine, and a closeup of the head so you can see her coloration better.  Pure chocolate brown with a light brown muzzle.

[bucklucky]

Beautiful bear. SHe will make a nice rug! Congradulations!!

[Ridgerunner]

Great story and a great looking bear, good to see one on the eastside hit the dirt.

[tlbradford]

Snoho,  If you read BTKR's article on this web site you are pretty much ready to go.  I like to set up where I hunt so I have a nice open area from the heavy cover to my calling stand.  That way I usually can get a shot if a bear approaches.  Take your time and look all around a bear when they come in to make sure no cubs are present.  Keep your ears open and if you hear a "woof" prior to a bear coming in that may mean she sent some cubs up a tree first.  If you can spot the bear and notice the direction it is traveling, then get ahead of it, it is much easier to call.  They are only thinking of food this time of year.  Now take that advice and throw most of it away since you are hunting thick areas on the west side, but try to apply those principals if the terrain allows you to.

Sage - It was real hot.  We hustled off that mountain and my hip flexors are paying the price today.  We normally would not hunt in that weather, but it was an open weekend for me, so we made sure we had a cooler and ice in the truck and that we flew through the field dressing.

[saylean]

I missed this thread somehow...Good work Tlbradford. Looks to be a nice bear. Thanks for the pics/write up. Way to call it in!

Cheers