Saved a few fawns

[Slinky Pickle]

I spent a few days looking for bears and managed to find this guy last night. It was feeding on a very steep slope about 200 yards up hill. I watched him for about 1/2 an hour hoping he would get to a point where he might roll down after I shot him. The 300WSM did an awesome job and dropped him where he stood but that meant now I had to drag my fat arse up that bank to get him. After scrambling up on all fours, I finally got to him and gave him a nudge. Down he rolled right to the bottom.

He weighed 225lbs field dressed so I'm assuming he was about 275lbs on the hoof (or paw). It was my first attempt at caping for a rug and I hope my taxidermist doesn't mind stitching up a few holes. :)

I'm 6'-4" and 275lbs and he still looks big. His teeth were big and sharp... definitely in his prime and most likely a very successful deer killer.


http://oi68.tinypic.com/343kppc.jpg

http://oi67.tinypic.com/10clze9.jpg

http://oi65.tinypic.com/b3u1bb.jpg

[huntcoop]

Well done, he's a big boy!

[Good2bCanadian]

Well done!

[HarryToolips]

Awesome! He's a shooter for sure....

[albravo2]

Nice bear and it looks like you did a good job caping too.

Well done!

[AgSilver]

Possibly stupid question...does rolling down the hill not do any damage to the meat? Viscerally, it feels like it must, but if there's no blood flowing to the muscles anymore...can they still bruise? And even if they did bruise, would that affect anything?

Congrats, though, nice looking bear.

[Slinky Pickle]

Possibly stupid question...does rolling down the hill not do any damage to the meat? Viscerally, it feels like it must, but if there's no blood flowing to the muscles anymore...can they still bruise? And even if they did bruise, would that effect anything?

Congrats, though, nice looking bear.

The hill was steep enough that there was really no way to drag it down without losing control of him and having it roll anyways so I didn't have much of a choice. I expected some skeletal and/or muscle damage but there didn't appear to be any of either. They're pretty tough critters apparently.

[AgSilver]

The hill was steep enough that there was really no way to drag it down without losing control of him and having it roll anyways so I didn't have much of a choice. I expected some skeletal and/or muscle damage but there didn't appear to be any of either. They're pretty tough critters apparently.

Yeah, definitely not a judgment - I fully understand the practical need for it. Just wondering on the physiological impact.

[monasheemountainman]

nice bear congrats, you look pretty tough you shoulda just wrestled him instead of shooting him.

[RayHill]

Possibly stupid question...does rolling down the hill not do any damage to the meat? Viscerally, it feels like it must, but if there's no blood flowing to the muscles anymore...can they still bruise? And even if they did bruise, would that affect anything?

Congrats, though, nice looking bear.

When the heart stops the meat can't bruise.

[okas]

When the heart stops the meat can't bruise.
Was just about to go there :idea: dead is dead no bruises just tenderizing

[AgSilver]

Got it - thanks for that - I guess you just want to make sure it's damn dead before it starts rolling (and sorry for derailing).

[Buckmeister]

Nice job Grant! That will help keep the young deer alive.

[Rhyno]

Awesome, great job! Looks like a nice bear.

[Arctic Lake]

Nice looking bear . Congrats on a well done job !
Arctic Lake

[caddisguy]

Possibly stupid question...does rolling down the hill not do any damage to the meat? Viscerally, it feels like it must, but if there's no blood flowing to the muscles anymore...can they still bruise? And even if they did bruise, would that effect anything?

Congrats, though, nice looking bear.

Bears seem to take kindly to falling out of trees and getting hit by cars just fine. Lots of padding and tough animal in general. I think meat would be just fine after tumble.

Great work! Thanks for saving them fawns. Enjoy the meat! Hoping I get bear in the freezer this Spring... almost all out.

[angus5024]

Nice Bear! Up until recent years I had no idea how many big game fawns/calves bears take. Well done sir.

[s0ylentgreen]

Great job!
someday i hope to have the same success as you!

[BearSniper]

Awesome Bear. He's a keeper for sure, well done good shot!

[Weatherby Fan]

wow nice looking hide on that guy, congrats and thanks for posting.

[scotty30-06]

Awesome job and funny story....nice job brotha!!

[tigrr]

Nice Bear. Nothing awake here yet.

[RiverOtter]

Nice bear and good job letting him get his own sorry ass down to the road.....:-D

As others have said, once the heart stops, so does bruising. Anyone who doubts that, try to "bruise" your next steak, not happening.

[604ksmith]

Nice looking bear!

I can rationalize the no-bruising when the heart stops, but I have to think the meat gets tenderized a bit with a big enough force.

Not that I think it would hurt the meat eating-wise, I just can't see the meat being invincible because of a lack of blood flow. I've had a few critters take tumbles and never noticed any damage, but I always assumed there was some.

[Nimrod]

Great Bear!!
Congrats

[walks with deer]

Ah great job I have rolled most of mine no problems but don't even look downhill

[Xenomorph]

Nice bear, congrats. Will make for a fine rug too, never mind the tasty meat, he was a big boy.

[GetLethal]

nice bear, he's going to make a fine looking rug.

[Backwoods]

Beauty bear man!!

[itsy bitsy xj]

Congrats!!

[Mike0834]

Awesome looking bear! I'm hoping for one like him.

[nicktrehearne]

Nice looking bear - congrats!!