May Long Weekend Bear Success

[landphil]

I haven't posted any sort of hunting success stories on here in many moons, either because I'm a crappy hunter, or have crappy luck with hunting as of late. Or should I say HAD crappy luck. Victoria Day saw me out and about with a bear tag to cut, and cut that tag I did. Not much of a story really, he was quickly spotted while glassing a cutblock with a grassy old road across the bottom, about 600 yards out. A careful stalk saw a few tense moments as the wind was shifting in multiple directions; he reared up to sniff and look in our direction, then dropped down and repeated the process facing dead straight away from us. We breathed a sigh of relief as he returned to feeding, and we narrowed to the gap to 150 yds and got ready.

What seemed like ten minutes (probably less than one minute) passed before he grazed his way out from behind a willow bush. He changed directions about 6 times before making up his mind where the greener grass really was, and eventually he presented a clean broadside shot. The trusty Savage 110 in 7RM barked, the 160gr Accubond flew true for a perfect heart/lung shot, and after his best efforts to escape, he expired about 50 feet away at the edge of the timber. After a waiting period, we advanced and quickly found this:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad301/landphilsite/100_1034_zps24197756.jpg

It's amazing to me how small even a decent bear looks at first, but once pulled out of the hollow and into the open, his true size was discovered.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad301/landphilsite/100_1052_zps19e324bf.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad301/landphilsite/100_1053_zps032211bd.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad301/landphilsite/100_1041_zps78d97f5e.jpg

[landphil]

And since chilling is an essential part of caring for meat:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad301/landphilsite/100_1049_zps057acdd6.jpg

[Steeleco]

Love that colour phase, congrats on a nice bear. Was the hide worth saving?

[Kopper]

Congrats on a nice bear, love the color.

[PointMan]

Congrats on the bear, gotta love the rush of the first kill!

[landphil]

The hide is in great shape, in my freezer, though getting a rug wasn't part of the original plan and out of my budget at this time unfortunately. Looking into the legalities of selling the hide is on my to do list ASAP.

[Steeleco]

Save a few bucks and get the hide tanned only. I had a hide done last spring, it's finished length is just over 5' no head or feet was right around $300

[moosinaround]

Hell of a nice bear!! Looks good with the gas cans!! Moosin

[180grainer]

And since chilling is an essential part of caring for meat:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad301/landphilsite/100_1049_zps057acdd6.jpg
Kind of looks like Putin. Which is ironic considering it's a bear.

[bc_buckshot]

If you dont tan the hide and keep, or if you get rid of it...... I will skin you and put pink sunglasses on you. That bear is a really good looking bear with nice hide. Bears like that dont come often. Would be a fool not to keep it.

Save your pennies and when your ready get it tanned. As long as you keep it rolled nicely in the freezer yoy can even get it done next year...

[albravo2]

Awesome bear. He will make an awesome rug.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Great looking bear Phil! Love the color and blaze!

If you don't have a bear tanned yet consider that route or call a1 fur buyers in Vernon.

Congrats!

SSS

[landphil]

If you dont tan the hide and keep, or if you get rid of it...... I will skin you and put pink sunglasses on you. That bear is a really good looking bear with nice hide. Bears like that dont come often. Would be a fool not to keep it.

Save your pennies and when your ready get it tanned. As long as you keep it rolled nicely in the freezer yoy can even get it done next year...

Careful, after the way my day at work went today, signing up for a skinning doesn't seem so bad. And about those rose coloured sunglasses, apparently they give a better view of the world.

I was hunting for meat only to be honest, but my first thought when I saw it up close was that I wanted a rug made out of it, I agree, its a beautiful hide. I'll certainly investigate other options than the $1350 quote I got so far, as that is not happening since the house needs a new roof this year among all of life's other expenses.

[Papa Sasquatch]

beautiful, and a nice post card shot to boot!

[HarryToolips]

Way to go nice bear dude....

[landphil]

I got word today that the skull is cleaned, bleached, and ready for pick-up. And yes, I sold the hide, and got the skull done as part of the deal, just too easy. I'm hoping to pick it up tomorrow after work, will post pics at that time.

[landphil]

Here are the skull pics, was sick a couple days, so picking it up was a bit delayed.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad301/landphilsite/100_1159800x600_zps017b7a75.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad301/landphilsite/100_1160800x600_zpsb2ae7924.jpg