Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2016 2:30:03 GMT -4
The spring of 2011 was my last bear (think I'm due for another eh?). My father who, lived vicariously thru my hunting adventure/misadventures, passed away in 2008 leaving my sister & I a little $. I swore years ago as a proud, younger punk that I would never pay for someone to guide me in my hunting endeavors. The College of the Woods & several years of mileage has a way of tempering one's outlook.
Sooo in 2010, at the tender age of 70, my wife easily talked me into a "thank you dad" paid, guided hunt for trophy black bear in the beautiful province of British Columbia. Thru an outdoor store I was working at, I became interested in Itcha Mountain Outfitters out of British Columbia, the province that is only 1 hr north of my WA residence.
In 2011 we found ourselves 450 miles from home at the camp of Itcha Mountain Outfitters. The wk I was there I shared the guide's time w/another hunter. This was the 1st & only time I experienced true spot & stock hunt'in. Being from the west side of WA, open country beyond a couple hundred yards was a true new experience for me.
It was my turn as a shooter as my companion client had missed a shot at a good sized boar who was standing on his hind feet look'in at us. Seems like bears are not a shortage in this area where our outfitter has sole rights to thousands of square miles of Crown land (which we are helping him pay the lease for). So soon we are spoiled! Go a whole hour cruising slowly the logging roads w/out seeing a shooter was cause for alarm!
It wasn't long before we spotted a bear, grazing grass & clover, on "our" road, on a collision course at about 300 yds. The well-used Chevy Suburban was pulled to the side of the road, hunter #1 was told to sit tight & be quiet as the guide & I exited the rig as quietly as possible. Following my guide, We hugged the saplings that were trying to narrow the road. W/guide leading, flapping his hand in some sort of signals, we proceeded single file hoping our middle-aged bodies would blend into the background. For about the 5th time, I chked to see that a 450 round was chambered in the Marlin levergun & that the blasted, newfangled safety was on.
At about 100 yds, the guide gave me the halt signal. He backed away to my left rear & whispered to get ready. I assumed the prone & got a good glance thru the 4x Leupold scope at the bear. I tried to not get excited as the bear's coat was glistening in the morning sun. Tried to get my breathing under control....how could I be so out of breath after just walking? At about 80 yds the bear stopped, lifted its head as though it sensed something wasn't right. The wind was right but it was de ja vue for me...animals seem to have another sense when something is amiss. She (yes she turned out to be a sow) slowly turned to her left & began to slowly walk across the road to the ditch & treeline affording cover on the far (my right) side.
As she slowly stepped across the road, the guide was whispering to me,...not yet, not yet, not yet......By now there was no slack in the trigger! and I had plenty of air left in my lungs to wait. So seldom that conditions were this good! Fortunately for my studying shot placement on bears, I was ready. Anyone reading this who is an experienced deer hunter, swallow your pride & study bear shot placement. The bear's vitals are lower & behind a crazy elbow/bone linkage system that will hinder a bullet or definately an arrow from finding its mark. If you are new to bear hunt't, no worry, just realize that this forum will help you avoid a serious mistake.
As her near (right) leg went fwd, the guide whispered or croaked...NOW!, About .5 sec later I let fly w/a Buffalo Bore 400+ gr hard cast lead bollit. She stumbled across the road & then expired in about a minute. The boolit (a cast lead bullet) went thru the vitals & then tossed splinters of the far shoulder a couple of feet up the road.
As we approached the bear, it appeared to be a decent-sized one but not a real big trophy. Pretty soon the guide was apologizing for having me shoot a sow which was a no-no among the professional guides. I felt a little disappointed as, in 2008, shot a bigger boar w/o needing a guide. Her coat was beautiful & made a beautiful,but expensive, rug. Our family named it Buehla & it is definitely a part of the family.
Yeah, it was a large-headed she-bear but not a boar. I, as a client, had the final say but judging bear size is not easy. Anyway, beneath Buehla's coarse hairs is a layer of fine, cat-like hair that is beautiful (good..as it cost $ 1500). You live & learn eh?
Sooo in 2010, at the tender age of 70, my wife easily talked me into a "thank you dad" paid, guided hunt for trophy black bear in the beautiful province of British Columbia. Thru an outdoor store I was working at, I became interested in Itcha Mountain Outfitters out of British Columbia, the province that is only 1 hr north of my WA residence.
In 2011 we found ourselves 450 miles from home at the camp of Itcha Mountain Outfitters. The wk I was there I shared the guide's time w/another hunter. This was the 1st & only time I experienced true spot & stock hunt'in. Being from the west side of WA, open country beyond a couple hundred yards was a true new experience for me.
It was my turn as a shooter as my companion client had missed a shot at a good sized boar who was standing on his hind feet look'in at us. Seems like bears are not a shortage in this area where our outfitter has sole rights to thousands of square miles of Crown land (which we are helping him pay the lease for). So soon we are spoiled! Go a whole hour cruising slowly the logging roads w/out seeing a shooter was cause for alarm!
It wasn't long before we spotted a bear, grazing grass & clover, on "our" road, on a collision course at about 300 yds. The well-used Chevy Suburban was pulled to the side of the road, hunter #1 was told to sit tight & be quiet as the guide & I exited the rig as quietly as possible. Following my guide, We hugged the saplings that were trying to narrow the road. W/guide leading, flapping his hand in some sort of signals, we proceeded single file hoping our middle-aged bodies would blend into the background. For about the 5th time, I chked to see that a 450 round was chambered in the Marlin levergun & that the blasted, newfangled safety was on.
At about 100 yds, the guide gave me the halt signal. He backed away to my left rear & whispered to get ready. I assumed the prone & got a good glance thru the 4x Leupold scope at the bear. I tried to not get excited as the bear's coat was glistening in the morning sun. Tried to get my breathing under control....how could I be so out of breath after just walking? At about 80 yds the bear stopped, lifted its head as though it sensed something wasn't right. The wind was right but it was de ja vue for me...animals seem to have another sense when something is amiss. She (yes she turned out to be a sow) slowly turned to her left & began to slowly walk across the road to the ditch & treeline affording cover on the far (my right) side.
As she slowly stepped across the road, the guide was whispering to me,...not yet, not yet, not yet......By now there was no slack in the trigger! and I had plenty of air left in my lungs to wait. So seldom that conditions were this good! Fortunately for my studying shot placement on bears, I was ready. Anyone reading this who is an experienced deer hunter, swallow your pride & study bear shot placement. The bear's vitals are lower & behind a crazy elbow/bone linkage system that will hinder a bullet or definately an arrow from finding its mark. If you are new to bear hunt't, no worry, just realize that this forum will help you avoid a serious mistake.
As her near (right) leg went fwd, the guide whispered or croaked...NOW!, About .5 sec later I let fly w/a Buffalo Bore 400+ gr hard cast lead bollit. She stumbled across the road & then expired in about a minute. The boolit (a cast lead bullet) went thru the vitals & then tossed splinters of the far shoulder a couple of feet up the road.
As we approached the bear, it appeared to be a decent-sized one but not a real big trophy. Pretty soon the guide was apologizing for having me shoot a sow which was a no-no among the professional guides. I felt a little disappointed as, in 2008, shot a bigger boar w/o needing a guide. Her coat was beautiful & made a beautiful,but expensive, rug. Our family named it Buehla & it is definitely a part of the family.
Yeah, it was a large-headed she-bear but not a boar. I, as a client, had the final say but judging bear size is not easy. Anyway, beneath Buehla's coarse hairs is a layer of fine, cat-like hair that is beautiful (good..as it cost $ 1500). You live & learn eh?
