2 weeks of scouting and waddaya get?

[Mr. Dean]

Future hopefuls and some bonus's.
Enjoy!


http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0096-2.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0099-2.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0091-2.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0072-2.jpg



More too come...

[Bow Walker]

Great shots Dean-er. Looks as if you'r as good with a lens as you are with a scoped boomstick.

[Mr. Dean]

TONS of Grouse in them hills. All the hens were running with 3 or 4 in tow. Second hatch is coming off strong. :smile:

[Mr. Dean]

Oh yeah... We saw some little Deer also.


I think this one had buttons;

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0104-1.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0006-11.jpg


And one of the *bonus's*, just because. :wink:

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0006-2.jpg


Still more to come.....

[Mr. Dean]

For the 5 days of scouting this particular area, we did see some nice mature ones also.


http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0009-11.jpg


Enlarged; Looks as if he smashed into a tree...

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0008-2.jpg


It ain't over yet. :cool:

[kloosterboer]

Keep em coming great pics!!

[Mr. Dean]

Or maybe it was this one that had the buttons... I cant ******* remember!


http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0013-1.jpg


...It did run off like a buck :rolleyes:

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0014-11.jpg

[Mr. Dean]

Another (and my personal favorite) mature Mulley.
I got the side-show through the binocs, after taking his pic - A solid 4x4.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0081-1.jpg

A little closer;

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0082-2.jpg



Nope. Not done yet. :smile:

[Mr. Dean]

We came upon this Moose just after finding that Mulley.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0028-1.jpg


Enhanced; Lucky for him it wasn't opening day!

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0031-2.jpg


Once again, this portion of the trip was 5 days. You'd think that this was enough critters to come bye???


NOPE.

[Mr. Dean]

The area holds some Whitetails too.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0001-11.jpg


And lets not forget this little number...

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0020-1.jpg


Blown a bit;

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0014-2.jpg


He was another real good 4x4.
Lemme see if I got anything more.........

[Brambles]

great pics, looks like lots of interesting encounters, hope you didn't lick the frog....

[lucky07]

Great pics!! that little chicken looks yummy ... the bigger one of the two of course

[Mr. Dean]

A little Peeper in the grass.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0084-2.jpg


AND... Can anyone name this plant?
We only found it at high elevation (over 5500'). As it gets larger, the leaves continue to cork-screw and it gets bushier. The largest one I found was ~ 3 feet tall. It appeared to like meadows.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0094-1.jpg



What, you thought this was a thread for viewing only?


If you don't know the name of the plant, fear not. There's still a few to come. :cool:

[Gamebuster]

looks like indian hellebore.....great photos!

[Shed Hunter]

Mr. Dean, vary fine pic you took there Mr. Dean,

[huntwriter]

Fine pictures you got their Mr. Dean. I went scouting last weekend and we have seen tons of deer and grouse everywhere, my shotgun will get a good workout this year.:wink:
It looks like the winter was kind to the critters.

Alas no pictures from me, left (forgotten) the camera at home.:roll:

I am looking forward to the season opener. To start with I got me a fine bowhunting stand already set up, and a few rifle hunting stands for after bow hunting season.

[frenchbar]

Awesome pics Mr Dean !!

[Mr. Dean]

Last one for the ditch... Then it's off to the Island, scouting bear haunts.


http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0010-2.jpg


This Deer was BIG. I'm not sure if his rack is regressing or if it hasn't fully developed, but it seems to hold mass. The past two years this slope held one that I dubbded Mr. Majestic. I don't 'think' this is him but I'm not sure how fast regression sets in. I know last year, Mr. Majestic wasn't the deer he was the year previous. I'll make another visit to this slope later on, see whats what.


Next stop, VanIsle!

[Mr. Dean]

Fot the PM's streaming in... Everyone knows that Clearewater is the place to be. :wink:




Maybe :rolleyes: :smile:

[Blainer]

Some fine pictures there.

[Mr. Dean]

It's Island Time!

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0005-2.jpg


Rumour had it this was a pilchard (sardine) opening.

[Mr. Dean]

Bait.
Anchovy's I believe.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0004-2.jpg


N. Island Crow.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0002-2.jpg

[ElkMasterC]

Excellent pics!
It's always nice to see someone take the time to really appreciate and share like that!
My buddy has some nice pics of 5 nice bucks in the umm...Clearwater area also, so we'll be there for opening day with the bows. One is a Booner.
Maybe he'll post 'em, but they're not quite as high quality as yours.
What camera are you using?

I hope to have some HD Video of our hunts this fall, and post some links after.

Thanks again!
EMC

[Mr. Dean]

Off to look for Bear.

Our 1st path lead us into this little guy.
Martin or Mink, I've no clue...

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0004-11.jpg


He then led us to this;

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0006-12.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0007-11.jpg


Average Bear that didn't want to play. He turned for the bush just after the shutter went click.

We glimpsed 2 others further in but no pics of them. Time to head back for camp.

[Mr. Dean]

Excellent pics!
It's always nice to see someone take the time to really appreciate and share like that!
My buddy has some nice pics of 5 nice bucks in the umm...Clearwater area also, so we'll be there for opening day with the bows. One is a Booner.
Maybe he'll post 'em, but they're not quite as high quality as yours.
What camera are you using?

I hope to have some HD Video of our hunts this fall, and post some links after.

Thanks again!
EMC

Nikon D80 w/ a 300mm.

All shots were handheld and a lot of quality was lost because I was just wanting pics and not overly worried about 'the right settings'. Many of these animals were just specs in the middle and the pixels are overly pushed in attempt to judge the critter.

... Worked for the most part.

[Mr. Dean]

Coming back to camp, we stumbled upon this sow w/ twins of the year.
Could NOT get a shot of the cubs. All one could see was their ears sticking out @ grass height. :sad:

Oh well...

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0014-21.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0017-2.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0016-2.jpg

[Mr. Dean]

The Bears were a little hard to come bye. All the slopes were LOADED with various berries which, IMO, meant that they could travel near anywhere and feed. Dispursed would be the word. :smile:


Name the bushes for me.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0008-11.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0009-12.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0003-1.jpg

[iceman11]

Great Pics!!! As for he berrys the first is Salal and the second looks like Red Huckleberry at least some sort of Vaccinium. The third I have no idea

[Tarp Man]

The third looks like mountain ash berries. Highly poisonous to humans, not so to the birds.

[Mr. Dean]

A vista.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0001-2.jpg


Big Bear Santuary come spring. Boat access only.
No fur on this day though. They were eating the berries on the drive in. Once again, 2 more sightings w/ no pic's.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0004-21.jpg

[Mr. Dean]

The third looks like mountain ash berries. Highly poisonous to humans, not so to the birds.

Bears don't like them either???

[Mr. Dean]

A big bird.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0006-21.jpg

[Mr. Dean]

Time out.
More later.

[Bow Walker]

Excellant pics Dean-er. Sometimes (just sometimes) the most satisfying way to hunt is with a camera. I use a Nikon D50 myself. Love it.

[kennyj]

Hey Mr Dean.
Awesome photos.Love them all!
Kenny

[tomahawk]

Awesome photo's! Love the deer standing in the fireweed!

[Mr. Dean]

Thanks fella's.

The real purpose of this thread was that hopefully it would get some off their duff and out in the wilds. For the time we spent looking, game sightings were nearly unbelievable. And these are only the ones that I got to shoot, many got away.

All but one of the deer photo's were from settings that I never before visited. I make it a practice to hunt a new area each year, while hunting last years new area. I hit one, one day, then let it rest a day or two while hitting another. Tackling new stuff more often means scouting, rather than hunting but over the last 3 seasons, I'm beginning to build up a little valuable intel.

Compound that with some off season jaunts such as this, this fall it'll ALL be hunting! I feel that I have accumulated enough knowledge on the surrounding lands that I can circle around to different pockets knowing whats around the next bend. Instead of scratching my head wondering what/where to explore next. A lot of time burns up not knowing where the road goes...

Best advice for newish hunters - Get out and take a good look around before it's pressure time.
And don't forget your camera! :smile:

[Mr. Dean]

Back to the show...

I know bears like this little valley.
And sure as sh*t not 16 seconds of glassing, one pops up in a rest area that was viewed from the other side of the valley.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0003-2.jpg


We watched him in the spotter for a bit and he let me witness him having a dump. We decide to go in for a closer look.

Things then get a little spooky. The story will have to wait.

[Mr. Dean]

OK.
We make the run down and park ~ a klick back from where we last saw him. Mrs. Dean takes up w/ the 45/70 and I w/ the camera. Our last sighting of the bear, he was making his way towards the right, about 100 yds past the rest stop. our hike in was brisk and the wind was in face - This was gonna be excellent opportunity for pics!!!

Now this trail is typical WC THICK! One can't see past the fist leaf when looking into the bushes. Any pockets in it, are obscured with shadows...

We get to the rest area and examine his poo. It contains little grasses and is loaded w/ berries (Huckles, mostly). We then continue on cautiously, observing the layed over grass that he stepped on, down the middle of the trail. No clear prints as the ground was either hard or gravel covered, and dry.

Every bend in the road the hair would stand up on the back of my neck as I strained to sneak around it, expecting to see a bear past that next leaf. The picture is misleading - It's not as straight OR open as it appears. It's down right SPOOKY!

Mrs. Dean gets a little nervous about what we're doing and more so, with the lack of visibility. She's uncomfortable and frankly, so am I. I curse our restricted carry laws and offer up some options; We call it off or continue on with her taking up the rear instead of side X side. She opts for the latter of the two and is just as eager as I to catch up w/ this fella, reminding me that the last bear we dealt with here had "tude" and to be extra cautious, up front and with no gun.

"Yes Dear". :smile: ...And we carry on.

Well, after puckering my puck-hole past a few more bends, I finally get a visual. He's ~ 150 yds from me, making his way up an incline. We can now breathe easy and I motion for The War Dept. to get up here. Just as she does and gets a peek, The bear disappears behind another bend. Off we go again as we were before.

I get to that bend and see him at the top of the incline feeding. He's still 'out there' aways but I have no cover to continue on. The WD catches up and I snap these pic's.


http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0006-22.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0007-2.jpg


He knows something isn't adding up. A nanno-second before snapping this next one, our eyes meet through the lens.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0009-2.jpg


Cont.

[Mr. Dean]

....And he saunters off the trail, up the mountain, into that thick underbrush - That's my 'spin'. We were busted and he was gone. DONE and over.

Then the WD gets thinking/talking. :rolleyes:

She starts surveying the scene; the bear was STILL easily 100+ yards out; the wind was still in our favour; we were exposed but were also motionless... "There's NO WAY he saw or smelled us, he's just around another bend that we can't see. Lets GO"!

"OK, Dear". :smile: She gives me a 20 yd head start and we press forward.

I get up to where he was last scene only to confirm *my* spin of things. As things are just becoming clear, I turn to the Missus just in time to hear her scream, ugly LOUD, and get to see a bear not 10' from her, on the down side of the trail, poking his head in my direction! That bugger moved off the trail, paralleled it over the crest, then doubled back on us after crossing the trail when outta sight. I swear he watched me walk past while hunkered down in the ditch. I also think that he didn't realize that there were two of us. He and the WD educated their presence to each at the exact same moment. She screamed and he ROARED as he spun around SMASHING through the thick. Thank God for happy endings... It was over as fast as it started.

We compose ourselves. I trade her the Nikon for the Marlin and proceed back out... With the bear in tow but staying out of sight, letting us know he's there with the odd huff.

Yup..... SPOOKY. :shock: :shock:

[Bow Walker]

That's the way to experienc the "outdoors"..........when your arsehole reaches up and kisses your belly button!!

[Mr. Dean]

That's #2 for this year! The pooch busted the 1st one, this past spring.
The word must be out that I'm a killer and they're conspiracing against me. :neutral:


Waddya think; is this fella a shooter?

[Mr. Dean]

What the hey. This little fella was found sitting on the side of the mainline coming out. He eventually crossed, just to take up residence on the other side. I figured that he thought because it had its eyes tightly closed, we couldn't see him. After a spell, they opened and off he went.

Well,,,, it's a good story. :smile:

No momma to be found.
Cub of the second year.
Having a bad hair day.


http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0013-2.jpg

[Buchaneer]

Great Pictures and story on the bear. Thanks!

[Mr. Dean]

Ya know, it's amazing how quiet they can be, when they want too.

Walking that road, my focus was on the last area of sighting him but my ears were stuck out like an elephant. Not a noise to be heard. Considering the thickness of the brush, it was like he teleported over.

"Scotty; one bear to beam up". :lol:

[ElectricDyck]

Missed this one the first time, great story, excellent pics!

[Wood butcher]

Great thread. Thanks

[Mr. Dean]

Thanks fella's!
It was nearly a perfect vacation. The only thing that coulda made it better, was for it to be OPEN SEASON.

Only a couple more weeks to go...... THANK GOD!!

[gordo]

thanks for sharing ,looks like you had fun snapping up all of them . got any of them yet? happy hunting gordo

[Mr. Dean]

. got any of them yet? happy hunting gordo

Not yet.

In Clearwater ( :wink: ), GOS doesn't start up until Sept. 10th.
I got another little scout mission planned for the Sept long weekend. Hopefully I'll find some of these guy's older/bigger cousins. :smile:

Or..... Maybe get a pic of Dana, sitting atop of his mountain :lol: :razz:

[Mr. Dean]

great pics, looks like lots of interesting encounters, hope you didn't lick the frog....




http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0006-2.jpg



Mean't to ask earlier; Is this little fella used for poisoning spear heads or is it that men should just not go around and lick little frogs backs??? :lol:

[Mr. Dean]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0006-22.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0007-2.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0009-2.jpg




AND... Everyone feel free to judge *my* bear, once you're finished playing w/ satalite images on Google Earth. :lol:

[Steeleco]

I'd wait for bigger, but only because I've got no tags left!! :tongue::tongue: