Bear Down

[Navyhunter]

Okay, here's the story, now that I'm calmed a bit:
  I was on my way home from the Cowlitz after a morning of catching absolutely nothing.  I was talking to my wife on the phone and she screams "A bear!!!"  I told her to shoot it but it was too far back in the field and had just walked into the timber.  I get home about 10 minutes later and run out and try calling it to turn it around.  Well, my dog came to check me out, but no bear.
  We were prepping to head back down to the river for the evening bite and she walks by the living room window.  "Is that the bear?"  Yep, sure was.  I nice 5'10" (ish) jet black bear.  I grabbed my 300 out of the safe and put the dog in the house.  Made it to within 150 yards and had nothing else to hide behind.  I torched one off and he fell and then got up and ran.  I saw him one more time before he hit the timber, he was movin' pretty quick. 
  I've been under the impression that bears don't bleed a whole lot, but this one sure bled to beat hell.  There was blood EVERYWHERE.  I got it all over my pants (up to my lower thigh) just from tracking him through the brush.  About every 3-5 feet there was a circle of blood about 6" in diameter.  Dark red blood.  I'm thinking I hit him in the lung/heart area but missed the vitals.  Thoughts?
 
Rain is in the forcast.  I hate leaving an animal overnight.......

[TheHunt]

It is going to be cold.  So you should be fine.

[Navyhunter]

Ok, should be cold enough, but if it rains, I'm basically screwed.  I know the last spot that I saw blood, but....dogs aren't legal to track an animal, even if it's dead....this is going to bother me all night.

[saylean]

Let it rest over night. No need going into the brush after a wounded bear (possibly dead) at night.

I have recovered several bears leaving them overnight. Just mark you last blood spot, pray for no rain and if there is rain, do circles around where you saw it last. Look in all the little nooks and crannys, they can hide really well.

Also, pay attention to your nose. Smell that blood on your pants...remember the smell, it can help find that bear. There has been twice I have smelled the bear before I have found it.

Good luck!

[markts]

Nothing wrong with walking your dog Mark

[Navyhunter]

Thanks Saylean.  I know the bear smell, have smelled it many times myself.  The smell and the moan is something that you never forget.  
I just HATE leaving them overnight.  My dad's coming over tomorrow to help me look for it, so at least I'll have another set of eyes.  Same thing happened with my dads bear this year, he hit it hard at 150 yds and then I shot it at 5' with my colt 45 and the sumbeach ran off...they're tough buggers.
Thanks for the insight.  Will post if I find it or not.  Plan on spending from 2:00 tomorrow until dark looking for it.

[carpsniperg2]

you can take your dog for a walk on a leash and there is nothing not legal about that it says it in the regs to my reading hope it don't rain and it could also be liver blood being that dark thought i had heart on a few animals and it turned out to be liver blood good luck bud hope to see pics tomarrow

[Navyhunter]

My "dog" is dumber than a box of $hit...it came in when I was calling for the bear and gave me a "oh, hey there!" look as she trotted past in the opposite direction.  Walking someone elses dog'd do the trick though.  Kidding...I'm kidding.

[Navyhunter]

Liver...didn't think of that.  Thanks!

[saylean]

I hit one a few years ago in the heart, (exploded the heart)...dang thing still ran about 20 yards or so into the brush. Took two of us 3 hours to find it, smelled it first..this is what we found it in...had to cut the brush away to even get to it.

You'll get it.

[BENCHLEG]

what time did you shoot. i would go look tonight. dark and wounded bear now thats adventure. good luck. J

[Navyhunter]

That's about the type of brush I'm dealing with....it's not going to be pretty tomorrow.
  BENCHLEG:  Adventure, yes...I've had enough adventure for one day though.  Wanna come over?  You can go trapse around in chest high brush if you want!

[Navyhunter]

Oh, I shot about 1/2 hour before dark.  75 yds from my back porch...

[Machias]

You'll find it in the morning, congrats!!  It's gonna be a loooong night huh. 

[Navyhunter]

It rained....we can't find it.  Came in for a break.  Going out in a bit with my GPS and starting a grid.....this sucks.