Bday bear!

[Steeleco]

Yet another birthday has come and gone, (mine!!) thankfully!! But what a day. My daughter and I took off to the trailer a few days before mom joined us and got a few full on days in trying to get her onto a bear. We tried our usual favorites but slow going, not even too many deer. Then on our way into a good spot we busted a bear on the road the next valley over. We got out and spent a few minutes glassing him as he walked between the trees. Once decided he was worth a try, we turned the truck around and headed towards him. 10 min later we parked the truck about 1km short and began the stalk. Wind at our face we thought all was going to work out well. No sooner than we made the bend in the road to the last 100yds we thought, the wind changed and came right at our backs and down towards the bear. Thankfully he was now quite a bit below where we had seen him initially and in a deep pocket. Heather gets set up behind a few small trees and readies for the shot. What seemed like forever he finally turns broadside and offers the shot she needs. BOOM. The bear shows the reaction we all want to see, BUT gets up and like many have seen, he heads south. FAST!! runs 50 yards to the edge of the trees and disappears.

That unsure feeling of "did I miss" sets in. We waited a few minutes to see if we could hear the "moan" but the wind was so loud, that wasn't happening. We make our way down through the slash and start to look for sign. 15 min criss-crossing where we thought he'd been standing we find this.

https://i.imgur.com/rcwy30ch.jpg

We searched for 10 more min before a second drop was found, not huge drops. Now Heather is starting to feel upset that it was a injured bear and not a lethal shot. We search for another 15 min we figure. Heading further down the steep ass ravine. Slowly the drops become larger, Dad's feel mixed. It's a good shot and knows whats ahead once we find him. Going deeper into the crap with the help of the pooch we finally find him. All balled up under some blow downs. Seems he'd ran 50yds from where he was hit and 75yds over the edge and into the ravine. How an animal with no lungs can run so far so fast and get so stuck always amazes me.

Now it's on. Un-sticking him, clearing trees so we can dress him for the hump back to the landing.
https://i.imgur.com/J1SMfkwh.jpg

We got him all cleaned and back to the landing in just over an hour. Not nearly as long as I'd thought. Heather goes for the truck, (youthful legs LOL)
while I got the last of him.

Once back at camp and cleaned up a little more, dad's on the hook for some taxidermy!! And it was my birthday LOL Best damn present a dad could ask for. She's still beaming.

https://i.imgur.com/wvxvDCrh.jpg

Not as round as first thought but 5'6" nose to tail and a colour I've never laid hands on.

Would have been a spectacular day if I'm not missed the fat Chocolate bear we busted on our way out LOL

Won't soon beat that day, not sure I want too!!

[Ron.C]

Thats a beauty! Congrats

[wideopenthrottle]

great job ...man that colour is gorgeous and happy belated Bday

[Knute]

Great colour on that bear, congrats Heather and a belated Happy Birthday Dad.

[adriaticum]

Congrats, nice blonde!

[monasheemountainman]

sweet good job

[willyqbc]

High fives all around Steely!!!:mrgreen:

[REMINGTON JIM]

Awesome ! :D Congrats on a GREAT Family outing and your Daughter getting a Beauty Bear ! RJ

[browningboy]

Sounds like a terrific day for your family!

[Tim Tam Slam]

Very cool colour, congrats to you and your daughter! A birthday present indeed

[srupp]

Hmmm very nice bear, awesome color..congrads..
oh ya

HAPPY BIRTHDAY......,!!!!
Srupp

[srupp]

Hmm considering it's mid June the quality of the hides are amazing. .do not see any signs of rubs at all..ha global warming..ha ha
Steven

[caddisguy]

Awesome write-up. Always a bit of a scare when they manage to take off out of sight like that, especially when they are bleeding more inside that out and not leaving much to go on. The little bit of blood on the log looks like lung blood, so that must have some reassuring. Good job tracking him and finding him in the pile of blow down. That bear sure made you all work for it. Congrats. And Happy Birthday :)

[Petros65]

Excellent, great write up lovely photos!!

[lakelander]

Congrats!! How come I can't see any pics..? It's happened before. I use chrome..maybe that's the problem?

[lakelander]

Congrats!! How come I can't see any pics..? It's happened before. I use chrome..maybe that's the problem? Happy Birthday!!

[Dash]

What a beautiful color! Congrats to you both and happy belated bday!

[IronNoggin]

Beauty of a bear for your daughter! VERY nice color!

And a belated Happy "Nother Year Wiser Day" to the one bringing his kid up right!! https://www.tnof.ca/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/Pozitive.gif

Cheers!
Nog

[walks with deer]

great job great colour and sounds like a great birthday.

[Steeleco]

Beauty of a bear for your daughter! VERY nice color!

And a belated Happy "Nother Year Wiser Day" to the one bringing his kid up right!! https://www.tnof.ca/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/Pozitive.gif

Cheers!
Nog

Appreciate the kind words. BUT Mom and I got lucky. Gave both kids a taste and they liked it. Son now has a degree in Ecosystem management and is living my old man dream!!

The best part is, they will both keep me in game meat when I'm too old to bother LOL. Not any time soon I might add!!

[northernbc]

Great birthday with your family. The way it should be. Beautiful bear.

[ajr5406]

Happy birthday! Beautiful colour!

[tim.l]

Congrats on the awesome bear. And happy bday

[Leaseman]

always a pleasure to see you and the family connecting David!

[Harvest the Land]

Beautiful bear and great story. That's what its all about - now hopefully your daughter will be hooked for life. Happy Bday Steeleco

[mpotzold]

Yet another birthday has come and gone, (mine!!) thankfully!! But what a day. My daughter and I took off to the trailer a few days before mom joined us and got a few full on days in trying to get her onto a bear. We tried our usual favorites but slow going, not even too many deer. Then on our way into a good spot we busted a bear on the road the next valley over. We got out and spent a few minutes glassing him as he walked between the trees. Once decided he was worth a try, we turned the truck around and headed towards him. 10 min later we parked the truck about 1km short and began the stalk. Wind at our face we thought all was going to work out well. No sooner than we made the bend in the road to the last 100yds we thought, the wind changed and came right at our backs and down towards the bear. Thankfully he was now quite a bit below where we had seen him initially and in a deep pocket. Heather gets set up behind a few small trees and readies for the shot. What seemed like forever he finally turns broadside and offers the shot she needs. BOOM. The bear shows the reaction we all want to see, BUT gets up and like many have seen, he heads south. FAST!! runs 50 yards to the edge of the trees and disappears.

That unsure feeling of "did I miss" sets in. We waited a few minutes to see if we could hear the "moan" but the wind was so loud, that wasn't happening. We make our way down through the slash and start to look for sign. 15 min criss-crossing where we thought he'd been standing we find this.

https://i.imgur.com/rcwy30ch.jpg

We searched for 10 more min before a second drop was found, not huge drops. Now Heather is starting to feel upset that it was a injured bear and not a lethal shot. We search for another 15 min we figure. Heading further down the steep ass ravine. Slowly the drops become larger, Dad's feel mixed. It's a good shot and knows whats ahead once we find him. Going deeper into the crap with the help of the pooch we finally find him. All balled up under some blow downs. Seems he'd ran 50yds from where he was hit and 75yds over the edge and into the ravine. How an animal with no lungs can run so far so fast and get so stuck always amazes me.

Now it's on. Un-sticking him, clearing trees so we can dress him for the hump back to the landing.
https://i.imgur.com/J1SMfkwh.jpg

We got him all cleaned and back to the landing in just over an hour. Not nearly as long as I'd thought. Heather goes for the truck, (youthful legs LOL)
while I got the last of him.

Once back at camp and cleaned up a little more, dad's on the hook for some taxidermy!! And it was my birthday LOL Best damn present a dad could ask for. She's still beaming.

https://i.imgur.com/wvxvDCrh.jpg

Not as round as first thought but 5'6" nose to tail and a colour I've never laid hands on.

Would have been a spectacular day if I'm not missed the fat Chocolate bear we busted on our way out LOL

Won't soon beat that day, not sure I want too!!

CONGRATS!:smile:
That is a beaut blond bear.

"How an animal with no lungs can run so far so fast and get so stuck always amazes me."
I've shot a young buck from less than 100 yards with a 300 win. mag using a 200gr HE bullet. It ran down hill for over 70 yards . It was a heart/lung shot. 1/2 the heart was separated.
The deer became aware of my presence just before the shot.

[Ride Red]

Great bear, congrats to your daughter and happy belated bday!!!

[DannyO]

Congrats! Thats a great colour, thanks for sharing

[cameron0518]

Beautiful bear. Nicely done!

[HarryToolips]

Happy birthday and congrats to yo and your daughter, no better way to spend a birthday...

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Beautiful bear and good story!
I’m a sucker for those father/daughter moments!

Congrats!!

Taking my daughter out tomorrow evening to see if we can find her a nice ‘graduation bear’.
They grow up so damn fast.

SSS

[338win mag]

That's great... nice bear for your family!

[pnbrock]

Happy birthday and congratulations on a beauty of a bear.

[weatherby_man]

Now thats a happy birthday!