Bear Down

[Iron-Head]

First off I must dedicate this thread to Dave (Elkhound).. Poor guy has hardly put a hole in paper this year! Here's somthing to keep you going buddy.

I had my eye on a particular area that seemed to be greening up faster then the surrounding hills, and because this area is "bow only" I figured all the better as I had planned to harvest a bear this year with archery equipment.

So for the past two weeks I have been spending as much time as possible (nearly every night) in this honey hole so to speak.. With countless Elk and Deer sightings, and only two quick glimpses of an obvious mature boar.

As I had a friend up from Vancouver for the weekend I figured we may as well go for a quick evening hunt before the partying began:roll:.. As we arrived I could see the Elk where already in there and I figured he could get a chance for some photo's or at least get a closer look. So we snuck down an old skidder trail that lead us closer to the herd. At 35 yard's he was excited to see the large cow's and calf's feeding.. Unaware of our presence.

After we had a look, we continued to the head of the trail that lead to the grassy patch. After spooking another 3 elk and a doe and fawn we settled in to let things get back to a calm state..

7:30 PM. After the herd of Elk had passed I was getting that feeling it would be another one of those nights with little to no action. After a while I decided to play with my new diaphragm "Fawn in distress" call, and with one quick series of wails, we had an immediate responce with crashing coming down the ravine..

I slowly eased into position expecting an opportunity to arrise within moments.. but that is never the way things happen. After a good 20 minutes of back and forth movement the bear finally decided to commit to the opening. At this point I am kneeling with an arrow nocked, and release clipped, as he is closing a 30yard gap between us at a liesurely pace.

Within the last 25 yards there is a small ditch where I figure I'll get a chance to draw on him without being noticed. Just as I thought he took the path I was hoping for and dissapeard from view, I come to full draw and wait.. As soon as his head cleared the ditch I got a look at how big he really was, and not 5 seconds later he gave me perfect quartering to..

At 15yards I let fly and watched the arrow drive deep into his chest past the fletching. He turned and burned for 15 yards and I watched him pile up in a small alder patch, After a few good wheezes and some loud gurgling all was silent. I was ecstatic to say the least, there was allot of high fives between Sam and I.

I hiked back out and grabbed my jeep just to give him an extra few minutes, even though I knew he was expired. By 8:35 PM He was opened up and I was headed out with a cut tag and a beautiful mature boar.

Official measurement's are,

Hide on 6'7"
Hide off 7' nose to base of tail

Head 12" between the ears
24" from nose to base of skull

One thing I thought was interesting was the gash on his face, mabey he's a cub killer and got in a scrap with a Sow? Mabey he piled up and split his face open on a rock? What's your thoughts..


Pics to come..

[yukon john]

Pictures!!!!!!!!!!

[Elkhound]

Nice job "Grasshopper" LOL....I am glad the few hundred bears we have watched the last couple of springs led you to this one. We knew he was there.....saw him many times......just never worked out till now.
Good Job. Proud of you and to take him with the bow is awesome.

Now post those pics before there is a banning......I put up a teaser thread in the bowhunting section to get them started earlier today. Got the pics in my email. Cant wait to see the rest of them. However I will say this....I am a better photographer than Sam:wink::biggrin:

[bowhunterbruce]

eagerly awaits there arrival.

[Iron-Head]

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2646/p4250372.th.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p4250372.jpg)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/8371/p4250375.th.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p4250375.jpg)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2063/p4250378.th.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p4250378.jpg)

[Mr. Dean]

Good story. Thanks for the post.



Now lets get them damn pics up!

[Gilmore]

Nicely done!!

[tinhorse]

nice bear. looks like a pretty clean cut and a new one. Could definetly have happened after your arrow passed through. Congrats on a great bear taken with a bow at that.

[Mr. Dean]

WOW........... Them ears look puny.

[troutseeker]

Great job!

Did you arrow go through? Is the cut on his nose on hte same side the arrow point is sticking out?

[Marc]

Great going Simon, great looking bear!

[Brambles]

What a tank, nice going!

[olharley guy]

Howdy, excellent catch! Looks like it could use half a dozen stitches. Looks like the cut wasn't to long before his demise as it is starting to dry and curl, could be anothers sharp claw? Later

[bsa30-06]

That is a hog.....congrats

[Iron-Head]

Great job!

Did you arrow go through? Is the cut on his nose on hte same side the arrow point is sticking out?

I thought of this as well, but I found the arrow in his chest cavity.. in pieces of course.

[Ambush]

Great job on a great bear!! I bet your hooked on up-close bears now eh?

Now get some more pictures added to this post!!! [um, please:redface:]

[Iron-Head]

I'd like to add how impressed I was with the damage done to the vitals. I am pulling 60lbs, and the entry wound and heart/lung looked they had been hit with a 375. yet there was no meat damage, and no blood shot!

[Iron-Head]

Great job on a great bear!! I bet your hooked on up-close bears now eh?



I have never killed a bear past 30 yards. I like it up close and personal!

[Rackmastr]

Very cool man!! Great bear and with archery equip is even cooler!!

[Phil]

Sounds like a great experience! He sure is a solid looking bear. Congrats!

[sobirch]

Very nice, excellent hunt.

[guest]

Cool Story, thanks for sharing and congrats to ya !
CT

[moosinaround]

Nice bear!! Will he make the Pope and Young archery book at 6'7"?? Pretty big!! Get that skull measured! Moosin

[Derp]

Congrats on the brute!

[killman]

Nice bear. sounds like you had a great hunt.

[Elkhound]

Got to get that skull to Ray and the hide to get a rug done on that one.....

[Iron-Head]

Got to get that skull to Ray and the hide to get a rug done on that one.....
It will Happen..


Guys not to get you Jelous but a friend of mine just nailed a Huge Boar in the same spot tonight.. and guess what, he's got cuts on his face to! His bear was allot fatter then mine, but a wee bit shorter. Nice to see two prime boars taken in such a short time period.

[madtrapper85]

which area where you guys in? :)

[hunter1947]

Nice bear to get with a bow ,congrats.

[Mik]

He looks huge, Congrats.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Congrats!!
Now someone help him post some bigger pics:wink:.

Thanks for the inspiration.

SSS

[BiG Boar]

wow, what a bear! Good work! Congrats

[325]

Great bear. Are you going to rug it?

[leadpillproductions]

looks like a great bear

[Johnnybear]

Congrats big time. Nice bear and with archery equipment to boot. Way to go and thanks for sharing.

[Theo]

Nice Boar and Nicely Done!

[MichelD]

Congratulations Symon!

[Iron-Head]

Click on the picture to view full size guys...

[Blainer]

Goog looking bruin.

[rishu_pepper]

The cut on his face gives it a unique personality. Good going!

[quackquackbang]

Awsome bear!!! Congrats!

[StoneChaser]

Head 12" between the ears
24" from nose to base of skull


Nice bear, but you may want to check your skull measurements again.

A bear's nose doesn't stick out much further than the tip of his top jaw (nose) and you've measured 24"?

That bear will make it WELL in B+C with just his length measurement...then add in the 12" between the ears!

That bear will be well into the 30" range (9" more than the B+C awards).

[BlacktailStalker]

Nice bear, even nicer with a bow.
Yep double check those measurements lol

[FlyingHigh]

freaking awesome bear!!!!! i've chased bears with my bow, but i haven't even been able to find any to put the stock on. sounds like a real rush!

regarding the facial cuts. if your friend's bear, shot in the same area also had facial cuts, it's possible these to bears were having a bit of a tussle recently. territorial dispute maybe?

[Iron-Head]

Nice bear, but you may want to check your skull measurements again.

A bear's nose doesn't stick out much further than the tip of his top jaw (nose) and you've measured 24"?

That bear will make it WELL in B+C with just his length measurement...then add in the 12" between the ears!

That bear will be well into the 30" range (9" more than the B+C awards).

StoneChaser,

My measurements are accurate, This is with the hide on. I ran a string from the tip of his nose to the back of his head, then with ears laid flat I measured the distance between the two.. Kind of hard to misread what I got out of it.

Dave,

The bear I killed last year with you, his skull measured nearly 20" with the hide and fat on.. did it not? Mind you this bear shits bigger then last years.

Now if it where that size with the skull out I'd be saying the same as you my friend.

[Archer]

Sounds like a brute, and even better with archery gear and then calling him in. Congrats!

[Elkhound]

Dave,

The bear I killed last year with you, his skull measured nearly 20" with the hide and fat on.. did it not? Mind you this bear shits bigger then last years.
.

Yes it did......that area is known for some real fat heads for sure......My huge one a few springs ago looked like it was gonna be B&C easily......missed by 1/2 inch....lol....some real big noggins in that area.

[Big_Island_Hunter]

Wow, thats an awsome bear and a good story. Sounds like you had a great hunt.

[Mr. Dean]

It will Happen..


Guys not to get you Jelous but a friend of mine just nailed a Huge Boar in the same spot tonight.. and guess what, he's got cuts on his face to! His bear was allot fatter then mine, but a wee bit shorter. Nice to see two prime boars taken in such a short time period.

Oh oh.... Sounds like MINE is now gone. :sad:


I wanna see some pelt pics laid out on the ground!!!

[Steeleco]

Well I suppose you just saved us the ferry fair HUH, I'm with Mr.D. we need pictures!

Congrats

[cndnmike]

Care to share roughly what area - sounds like you were here on the Sunshine Coast - just wondering Langdale end, Earls Cove end or in the middle - I'm heading out this weekend (more in the middle) in search of the large fellow that I couldn't get in the fall...

[matt420]

beautiful bear!! he is massive!

[cndnmike]

Care to share roughly what area - sounds like you were here on the Sunshine Coast - just wondering Langdale end, Earls Cove end or in the middle - I'm heading out this weekend (more in the middle) in search of the large fellow that I couldn't get in the fall...


Nevermind - figured it out elsewhere - Awsome looking Bear (even more so now that I'm not worried it's the one I was after :lol: )

[Iron-Head]

I was going to say.. Not to worry, it's not your bear.

Seems word has spread about my "hot spot":roll:

[d6dan]

Iron-Head. regardless of all the BS, congrats on a fine bear..I hope I can get one now...

[cndnmike]

don't worry - no secrets / specifics shared (that had to be one of the most coincidental telephone calls I had ever had - LOL)

[Iron-Head]

Iron-Head. regardless of all the BS, congrats on a fine bear..I hope I can get one now...
No BS here d6dan,

I posted a thread and my measurement's are accurate.. We grow em' big.. Dont like it? dont read..

[d6dan]

No, thats not what I referring too.. I was reacting to everone elses comments...Sorry man...dan

Opps, on the wrong thread. sorry again. damm keboard!!!

[Ambush]

No BS here d6dan,I posted a thread and my measurement's are accurate.. We grow em' big.. Dont like it? dont read..

That is indeed a big bear. Congratulations.

When you get the skull fleshed off, measure it by the B&C method. Then post it here and put everyone's minds at ease.

I going to guess 19 5/8" B&C.

[Iron-Head]

Here is an update guys..

Skull is fleshed, and he will make it well into P&Y.. :cool:

[brandonhunter]

Nice black bear, especially with a bow. I haven't gotten a black bear tag for the last couple seasons but I think that I will get a fall tag.