Untouchable
05-21-2009, 01:32 PM
Thought I'd share a few photo's from my trip last weekend. Headed up to the family property just outside of Princeton, with my fly rod and a bear tag in my pocket. I talked to Ron at Princeton Outdoors, and asked him where I could find a color phase bear. He passed on rumor's of the whereabouts down a certain road. I also picked up a bunch of chironomids and some strike indicators in the case that I might find myself fishing. I left the store and headed into this new area with high hopes.
I was with my cousin and two other buddies, and we had a great time just exploring a few mountain roads. The two buddies both have their hunting licenses, however they have never witnessed an animal being taken, so I really wanted to show them what it was all about. We ventured all the way to the top of the logging road, although we only encountered one pile of bear scat. I had explained to everyone how the animal is often in a location you wouldn't think it would be. So after having cruised around for over an hour we were headed back down the mountain.
As I came around a switchback, I instantly made eye contact with the bear we were after. He wasn't into sticking around, and started heading up the hillside we had just come down. By this time I had set up in shooting position, and as I squeezed the trigger to my 270 wsm, my shoulder was struck with the thundering click of a misfire! I quickly ejected the shell, and replaced it with a fresh one. Found the bear once again through the leopold scope, and squeezed the trigger a second time. This round did as I intended, and was a clean shoulder shot. It was a very clean kill.
While we gave the bear a few moments to expire and I cut the tag, I also took time to examine the misfired shell. What I found was that the primer was clearly seated too deeply. The firing pin on my rifle had only put a dimple on the primer. For the record this wasn't a cheap round, it was a factory loaded 110 grain barnes ttsx bullet. I always pre-chamber all of my hunting rounds, however I've never looked at the primers before. A good note to hunters, is to not only chamber all of your rounds, but to visibly check the primers. I didn't take the time to get a picture of the bullet, and because I wasn't going to drive around with a half struck shell, I tossed it.
What I walked up to next was exactly what I was looking for. A beautiful color phase boar. Bigger than my last bear. I couldn't be happier with him.
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x105/themanfromsummerscreek/DSC00730.jpg
We took care of him that night. I taught the guys how to cape an animal out and salt him up. I know for a fact these guys will be avid hunters just from the way they handled themselves around the animal. Nothing but admiration.
I used to be a really avid fly fisherman before I got into hunting, and with my bear tag cut, I decided to load up my 12' aluminum and head up to a little secret pond I used to frequent. I set my alarm for 5:30 and arose to a warm slightly overcast morning. Twenty five minutes later I pulled up to the lakeshore and dropped my boat into the shallows. From the dipping sparrows, I could tell there was a hatch going on just off a shoal across the lake. I rowed my boat over and double anchored right along the transition drop off. Early season chironomid fishing often starts with black bugs, and as the season progresses you'll get your lighter shades of green and brown.
I dipped my hand into the water and extracted a shed chironomid husk, and matched the size with an offering from my fly box. Tied six feet below my indicator, it was sure to attract the attention of the fish I could now see cruising the shallows. I unfurled the line from my reel and layed out my first cast of the year. Watching with keen eyes for several moments before my indicator disappeared. At this, I raised my rod tip into the weight of the scrapping rainbow. It tail walked across the calm surface several times before it entered my net. This action continued on for hours. An old man I had told about my plans for the weekend had asked me to bring him some trout, as he would enjoy the fresh fish. I quickly kept five smaller ones, and then held out for one larger one. I caught probably thirty fish that morning, One of which was a real lunker that I released, as the breeding stock is sensitive to harvest. Finally I caught my limit with a nice two pounder and made my way off the water so as to pack up and head back to Delta later that day. I cleaned the fish in the creek, and thats where the pics were taken.
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x105/themanfromsummerscreek/DSC00763.jpg
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x105/themanfromsummerscreek/DSC00764.jpg
And that, im happy to report was the way a weekend was intended to happen!
I was with my cousin and two other buddies, and we had a great time just exploring a few mountain roads. The two buddies both have their hunting licenses, however they have never witnessed an animal being taken, so I really wanted to show them what it was all about. We ventured all the way to the top of the logging road, although we only encountered one pile of bear scat. I had explained to everyone how the animal is often in a location you wouldn't think it would be. So after having cruised around for over an hour we were headed back down the mountain.
As I came around a switchback, I instantly made eye contact with the bear we were after. He wasn't into sticking around, and started heading up the hillside we had just come down. By this time I had set up in shooting position, and as I squeezed the trigger to my 270 wsm, my shoulder was struck with the thundering click of a misfire! I quickly ejected the shell, and replaced it with a fresh one. Found the bear once again through the leopold scope, and squeezed the trigger a second time. This round did as I intended, and was a clean shoulder shot. It was a very clean kill.
While we gave the bear a few moments to expire and I cut the tag, I also took time to examine the misfired shell. What I found was that the primer was clearly seated too deeply. The firing pin on my rifle had only put a dimple on the primer. For the record this wasn't a cheap round, it was a factory loaded 110 grain barnes ttsx bullet. I always pre-chamber all of my hunting rounds, however I've never looked at the primers before. A good note to hunters, is to not only chamber all of your rounds, but to visibly check the primers. I didn't take the time to get a picture of the bullet, and because I wasn't going to drive around with a half struck shell, I tossed it.
What I walked up to next was exactly what I was looking for. A beautiful color phase boar. Bigger than my last bear. I couldn't be happier with him.
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x105/themanfromsummerscreek/DSC00730.jpg
We took care of him that night. I taught the guys how to cape an animal out and salt him up. I know for a fact these guys will be avid hunters just from the way they handled themselves around the animal. Nothing but admiration.
I used to be a really avid fly fisherman before I got into hunting, and with my bear tag cut, I decided to load up my 12' aluminum and head up to a little secret pond I used to frequent. I set my alarm for 5:30 and arose to a warm slightly overcast morning. Twenty five minutes later I pulled up to the lakeshore and dropped my boat into the shallows. From the dipping sparrows, I could tell there was a hatch going on just off a shoal across the lake. I rowed my boat over and double anchored right along the transition drop off. Early season chironomid fishing often starts with black bugs, and as the season progresses you'll get your lighter shades of green and brown.
I dipped my hand into the water and extracted a shed chironomid husk, and matched the size with an offering from my fly box. Tied six feet below my indicator, it was sure to attract the attention of the fish I could now see cruising the shallows. I unfurled the line from my reel and layed out my first cast of the year. Watching with keen eyes for several moments before my indicator disappeared. At this, I raised my rod tip into the weight of the scrapping rainbow. It tail walked across the calm surface several times before it entered my net. This action continued on for hours. An old man I had told about my plans for the weekend had asked me to bring him some trout, as he would enjoy the fresh fish. I quickly kept five smaller ones, and then held out for one larger one. I caught probably thirty fish that morning, One of which was a real lunker that I released, as the breeding stock is sensitive to harvest. Finally I caught my limit with a nice two pounder and made my way off the water so as to pack up and head back to Delta later that day. I cleaned the fish in the creek, and thats where the pics were taken.
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x105/themanfromsummerscreek/DSC00763.jpg
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x105/themanfromsummerscreek/DSC00764.jpg
And that, im happy to report was the way a weekend was intended to happen!