Dre
04-11-2015, 06:39 PM
We planned to not waste the April long weekend and make an honest attempt to take the boat and explore some new area, all the while hunting for black bear. The weather forecast didn't look good, but we decided rain or shine Sat morning we leave to be back Monday. My buddy has been out with me several times and although successful trips, he had still not taken his first big game animal. If we got an opportunity, it would be his.
Rain it was. We got pounded at 45kph for the better part of an hour, until we reached our destination. Tied up the boat, slung the packs and up the trail we went. The rain did not let up for another 2 hours and as our packs now weighed a good deal more than when we left the boat, we were getting anxious to make camp. Easier said than done, the terrain was too rocky, uneven and steep to sleep on so on we went. Finally after 9 kms of liquid sunshine, we found a great spot to make camp. Miraculously, the rain let up and the sunshine warmed us as we set up the camp.
Much cheered up, we made quick work of camp set-up. On an equipment note, I took my BK 7 camp knife instead of my usual Kukri machete and was quite impressed with how well it worked. I would say it is a little more versatile than the machete as I can split up to 5" logs by battoning, which does not work with a machete as the blade is too thin and doesn't have a wedge action to split. Weight is almost the same, the BK 7 being a touch lighter. So much for my knife review, there was plenty of daylight left so we hit the road and went hunting.
We spent that day and the whole next day hunting hard, covering a lot of ground and wearing out the soles of our boots. We walked over 40 kms in those 2 days and the only sign of a bear was 2 faded tracks down low near the river. It was enough, that and the fact that everything was green and budding, they had to be out and about, this is Reg 2 we're talking. On the last morning, we lingered in camp a little longer and had a big breakfast before heading down with the packs.
I got up and headed to the creek 60 yds away to wash my dishes. I took 3 steps and spotted a cinnamon coloured black bear edge out of the timber right at our water hole. I crept back and told my buddy to grab his gun. He was fast, faster than I could get mine, just in case, you know. Too excited, he came out in the open a little too fast and the bear took one look at him and trotted off into the woods, no shot. We tried to spot him in the trees and I went in with the dog to see if I could get it moving, but no luck. Oh well, that's the way it goes. We packed up camp and headed down.
We checked out all the usual spots on the way down, but nothing. I even stopped telling the dog to stay behind, we were in going home mode. Sure enough, things happen when least expected and as we were approaching a turn I saw a black bear coming straight at us through the bush. Blue was on a collision course with it and I was helpless, to shout a command would spook the bear, to do nothing, well I don't know. I told my buddy to get his gun ready, but things happened fast. The bear was the first to notice Blue and it immediately turned, the movement caused Blue to notice and he took off after it, barking. My buddy ran after him and I was last, thinking that there was no chance after all that. Well, he told me that he saw it go up the steep bank, but it was very steep and we could not follow, looked big though. We looked for a bit, but nothing. Well that's our luck then, back on track to the boat.
After about 300 yds, I felt like I was being watched. I looked up the same side that the bear had gone up, but nothing. I took 2 or 3 stepps back and there it was looking straight down at us. Small ears, far apart, thick muzzle, definitely a nice boar. I called my buddy back and showed him the bear. We could see his whole upper body except the paws facing straight at us and not moving, a disapproving look on his face. He was between 2 big cedars with no obstructions in front, about 40yds. Without wasting any time, I said "Right in the centre of his chest". There was a 2 second delay and 'BANG" barked the 30-06. The 165 gr E-Tip folded him in half and he started doing cart wheels down the bank towards us. I shouted 'Get Back' to dog and man as I took a couple of steps back chambering a round of my own. He came to a stop about 8 feet from the ground wedged on a log. He was done, but still struggling a little, so I told my buddy to put another round right between the shoulders. It was all over, the bear came loose from the log and rolled right to our feet.
A beauty of a bear, 350 lbs and around 6 ft, big head, big paws, great first trophy. The work now began. Still 3kms from the boat, we had to move fast if we wanted to make it back to the launch before dark, it was 12:30pm. We hustled to the boat and emptied the packs, then back to the bear. Snapped a few picks and we started to cape and cut him up. 2 hours later we barely lifted the packs, each between 90-100lbs and headed back to the boat for the last time.
All in all we walked around 60kms in 3 days, much of it with weight. We saw lots of game, and had a very rewarding hunt. We cut it a little late, but it all worked out. Not your typical Spring bear hunt, more like a mountain muley or sheep hunt. We did not see a single other person the entire time.
http://i60.tinypic.com/2wq4h3t.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/mrfd4l.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/20jl8rb.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/2l96v4z.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/f06gqg.jpg
Rain it was. We got pounded at 45kph for the better part of an hour, until we reached our destination. Tied up the boat, slung the packs and up the trail we went. The rain did not let up for another 2 hours and as our packs now weighed a good deal more than when we left the boat, we were getting anxious to make camp. Easier said than done, the terrain was too rocky, uneven and steep to sleep on so on we went. Finally after 9 kms of liquid sunshine, we found a great spot to make camp. Miraculously, the rain let up and the sunshine warmed us as we set up the camp.
Much cheered up, we made quick work of camp set-up. On an equipment note, I took my BK 7 camp knife instead of my usual Kukri machete and was quite impressed with how well it worked. I would say it is a little more versatile than the machete as I can split up to 5" logs by battoning, which does not work with a machete as the blade is too thin and doesn't have a wedge action to split. Weight is almost the same, the BK 7 being a touch lighter. So much for my knife review, there was plenty of daylight left so we hit the road and went hunting.
We spent that day and the whole next day hunting hard, covering a lot of ground and wearing out the soles of our boots. We walked over 40 kms in those 2 days and the only sign of a bear was 2 faded tracks down low near the river. It was enough, that and the fact that everything was green and budding, they had to be out and about, this is Reg 2 we're talking. On the last morning, we lingered in camp a little longer and had a big breakfast before heading down with the packs.
I got up and headed to the creek 60 yds away to wash my dishes. I took 3 steps and spotted a cinnamon coloured black bear edge out of the timber right at our water hole. I crept back and told my buddy to grab his gun. He was fast, faster than I could get mine, just in case, you know. Too excited, he came out in the open a little too fast and the bear took one look at him and trotted off into the woods, no shot. We tried to spot him in the trees and I went in with the dog to see if I could get it moving, but no luck. Oh well, that's the way it goes. We packed up camp and headed down.
We checked out all the usual spots on the way down, but nothing. I even stopped telling the dog to stay behind, we were in going home mode. Sure enough, things happen when least expected and as we were approaching a turn I saw a black bear coming straight at us through the bush. Blue was on a collision course with it and I was helpless, to shout a command would spook the bear, to do nothing, well I don't know. I told my buddy to get his gun ready, but things happened fast. The bear was the first to notice Blue and it immediately turned, the movement caused Blue to notice and he took off after it, barking. My buddy ran after him and I was last, thinking that there was no chance after all that. Well, he told me that he saw it go up the steep bank, but it was very steep and we could not follow, looked big though. We looked for a bit, but nothing. Well that's our luck then, back on track to the boat.
After about 300 yds, I felt like I was being watched. I looked up the same side that the bear had gone up, but nothing. I took 2 or 3 stepps back and there it was looking straight down at us. Small ears, far apart, thick muzzle, definitely a nice boar. I called my buddy back and showed him the bear. We could see his whole upper body except the paws facing straight at us and not moving, a disapproving look on his face. He was between 2 big cedars with no obstructions in front, about 40yds. Without wasting any time, I said "Right in the centre of his chest". There was a 2 second delay and 'BANG" barked the 30-06. The 165 gr E-Tip folded him in half and he started doing cart wheels down the bank towards us. I shouted 'Get Back' to dog and man as I took a couple of steps back chambering a round of my own. He came to a stop about 8 feet from the ground wedged on a log. He was done, but still struggling a little, so I told my buddy to put another round right between the shoulders. It was all over, the bear came loose from the log and rolled right to our feet.
A beauty of a bear, 350 lbs and around 6 ft, big head, big paws, great first trophy. The work now began. Still 3kms from the boat, we had to move fast if we wanted to make it back to the launch before dark, it was 12:30pm. We hustled to the boat and emptied the packs, then back to the bear. Snapped a few picks and we started to cape and cut him up. 2 hours later we barely lifted the packs, each between 90-100lbs and headed back to the boat for the last time.
All in all we walked around 60kms in 3 days, much of it with weight. We saw lots of game, and had a very rewarding hunt. We cut it a little late, but it all worked out. Not your typical Spring bear hunt, more like a mountain muley or sheep hunt. We did not see a single other person the entire time.
http://i60.tinypic.com/2wq4h3t.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/mrfd4l.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/20jl8rb.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/2l96v4z.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/f06gqg.jpg