Bear Hunting Story

Limbhanger · 04-09-2007, 12:27 PM

Instead of flying solo Saturday I took Hailey, my 11 year old daughter along for her first bear hunt. After a 2.5 hour drive we stopped at a homey little place in Bear Country for a pancake and egg breakfast. After we had our fill we reloaded our coffee and hot chocolate and headed for the hills.
The morning started out rainy, windy and chilly. Very little glassing was possible because the fog was heavy in the canyons. At noon I decided to change locations and try an area I found during the fall season. This spot looked good because it had water running in the bottom, mature timber bordering the clear cut and a flat open bench near the bottom on the other side with lots of green grass. Judging from the type of vegetation it looks like there is a seep or spring there. Definitely a spot I wanted to remember for spring time, it just looked good. As we were heading over there the clouds began to lift, it stopped raining and the sun broke through�..warming up instantly to about 60 degrees.
After about 30 minutes we were there. I grabbed up my stuff and slipped down the little skidder road and started glassing down on the little flat. The flat is about 600 yards from where I was glassing, so it is well out of the way and well protected. I glassed for about 20 minutes and then noticed something suspicious. I threw my glasses on it and the biggest bear I have ever seen came out of the timber and was feeding directly away from me through the flat. The first thing I noticed when I saw this bear was the grizzly like hump on his shoulders and how wide his back end was. You could not see the ground beneath him. He was a brute and when he walked you could barely see his legs move. He was the shape of a VW Bug. To top it off he was BROWN. His hindquarters were chocolate brown, his front quarters and head were chocolate brown and his sides were a rust color. Honestly, a bear of a lifetime for me.
With adrenaline pumping, I instantly headed down the canyon to get closer for a shot because as I learned last year, they don�t hang around long. This thing is steep as a cows face and there are 2 main benches on my side. I had to get to the end of the second bench for a 300 or so yard shot. As I got to the first bench he was still feeding and started to arc back toward the timber. As I began sliding down on my rear to get to the second bench he must have heard me and looked up and stared in my direction for a second, so I froze until he started eating again, he must have thought it was a deer or elk. I just couldn�t be totally quiet and sound travels in those canyons. I was only half way down the steepest part of the bench and he was now facing the timber broadside with only about 60 yards between him and gone, so I had to make a decision��.
I guessed the yardage to be about 400 to 425 yards. I decided to take the shot. I found a decent stump, got him lined up and settled the crosshairs on his hump and waited for him to stop then squeezed one off. Startled, the bear trotted forward to the edge of the timber and stopped looking around. Right when I was going to shoot again he turned and disappeared. The shot felt good, steady with a good solid squeeze, but by the way he reacted I knew deep down that I had missed. The next morning I was back and looked the area over carefully plus I confirmed the yardage with my range finder to be 480 yards, so I definitely shot under him. If I would have known he was that far I would not have shot. I did not have the rangefinder with me at the time because I don�t normally pack it rifle hunting. The yardage is deceiving in that country and from now on I will have it for those huge coastal canyons.
I waited on him all day Sunday, but he never came out. If I am fortunate enough to kill this bear I doubt I could ever top it. He is a real dandy. On the way home Hailey finally let me know that she honestly thought she was going to see a grown man cry. I don�t really remember this but she said I pulled my hat down over my face and sat in silence for a good minute. The highs and lows of hunting��she got to see it all on her first trip and she feels invested in this particular bear and wants to go again. If nothing else that made it all worthwhile.

Crayfin · 04-09-2007, 12:31 PM

Good story fella. Neat that your daughter was able to be there with you.
I know the feeling. I missed a 185+ a few years agop and never got another crack at him but the feeling of weightlessness was definitely there. I will think good thoughts for you

ehunter · 04-09-2007, 12:41 PM

Hang in there ole buddy those of us who know you and how hard you are working know that it will come together. Cool you were able to take your daughter. Good luck next time out..

maybe you need to get a magnum 450 or somthing

PS Limbhanger did you have the helicopter lined up for taking that puppy out

If you said it was steep I am thinking you need rock climbing gear...:blush:

Santiam338 · 04-09-2007, 12:43 PM

Lots a bear hunting to do yet....I am wondering what your gas bill was...

Limbhanger · 04-09-2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Santiam338

Lots a bear hunting to do yet....I am wondering what your gas bill was...

It was HIGH and my normally very supportive wife was frowning about it........

I told her...... There is no need to frown as the bear was brown and he is going to go down!! Not even a beautiful poem helped........

BlacktailBowhunter · 04-09-2007, 01:07 PM

Hey LH, I feel almost as bad for you as I felt for myself in the 2005 late archery season, when that mega blacktail spotted me at 37 yards and ran off.

Atleast you are doing every thing right and in good country. Get an economy station wagon and avoid the gas bill.

SandyRiverFisher · 04-09-2007, 01:09 PM

look on the bright side, you guessed 400, it was actually 480, maybe he's even bigger than you thought! Hes still out there waiting for you. Thanks for sharing the story.

oregonmuley · 04-09-2007, 02:02 PM

Chad,
If that canyon is that big and ugly steep, and that bear is that big and fat he is probably too lazy to climb out of there - you will get him next time! Great story.

riverswild · 04-09-2007, 04:44 PM

Thanks for sharing.

RAGHORN! · 04-09-2007, 08:58 PM

Great story! At least she didn't give you a response like my 2 oldest daughters, " Geeeeze daddy! you need to practice more" why you little

Big TULE · 04-09-2007, 09:23 PM

I know how you feel. I missed the bear of a lifetime in 2001. i guessed 300 yards, brother in law said 250. I shot over him, hit a tree and he ran right at me. Man i kick myself for that miss. It is the only bear i have ever seen. And i do shoot a magnum... And it was big compared to the pictures i see f others bears he was huge.

Hunt'nFish · 04-10-2007, 01:19 PM

Sorry to hear Chad. But ya wouldn't have done any better flopped on the couch. Ya had to try. That would have been so cool had you got him w/ Hailey along.
Keep at it. But here's a tip... Murphy's Law says: pack a LOT OF RIFLE and you'll have them in your face, pack a little rifle and you'll have them cross canyon. Same w/ seeing elk during deer season, and deer during elk season. Go figure.

After shooting 3 bear w/ the .280 out to 350+, I started packing "Thor" my .338Ultra and the next bear I shot was 6' & 325lb boar and I shot him at 25 paces.

Thor is in good graces w/ the hunt gods, your welcome to take him along. Like a good camera, it's just a simple point and shoot affair.

Keep at it, you'll get one.
Hunt'nFish

jokester · 04-10-2007, 07:17 PM

Great story, Chad!

Keep at it buddy...you're bound to see him again. Might just be that one time that he'll screw up!!

-jokester

Rank Amateur · 04-14-2007, 07:22 AM

Just saw this, dang Chad, I thought you had him!!! Well, keep after him. So it was steep, were you adjusting for the angle? I don't know what you were shooting, so don't have a clue on the ballistics.