sneg
05-29-2009, 09:08 AM
Travel
Our group of 3 had Idea to get 2 grizzly LEH in region we had in mind for fall moose hunt. We have got 2 substitute grizzly LEH in region 7-39. Not as planned and not in region that we know . Holder of 1 LEH could not go . Anyway two of us have decided to give it a try. Have done some research , checked maps and etc. Also thanks to all who send me PM with pointers. Left on Friday of long weekend, 6 PM, slowly moving on HWY 1. We have got min supplies, but lot of gas and rescue gear. We have got our full gas in PG.
Plan was to go as far as we can toward Spatizi park and than hunt way down to south east corner of 7-39.
About 5 AM following morning we are pulling to Finlay main FSR. Road is good, almost like hwy, not much traffic, mostly mine trucks.
Have seen lot of game : moose, black bears, foxes, wolves , abundance of birds . Just unbelievable.
Weather was scorching hot, dust everywhere. All has changed once we come to higher elevation. Now there is snow everywhere. Stopped for night some dozen miles after Thutade lake. Next morning sitting in snow and watching snow storm we are debating if it make sense to move forward. Lucky storm very quickly calmed down and we are on our way to the top.
What a beautiful place on top of Plato. Road to Tutlatu and Spatsizi parks still under few meters of snow. It looks like nobody is going to clean it. So check places around mines close to Duncan Lake. Anyway there is not much access anywhere and above 1450 m is closed to vehicles. Very cool place to see.
Basically we checked side roads branching off Finlay. It amazing to see variety of vegetation and landscape. In one valley still lot of snow and in next valley grass and tree are greening already. Similarly weather here is snow, there is rain and there is sunshine. However most of the time it was chilly. Distances are huge. Backroad maps and GPS Topo are incorrect in lot of places.
Roads are reasonably good ,but could be very soft .We stuck couple times in mud in middle of nowhere. Got out by winching and HiJacking.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/thumbs/DSCN7052.JPGhttp://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/thumbs/DSCN7104.JPG
Hunt
We have seen a number of bears ,but most too far or smallish size.
One place hold particularly lot of griz sign . So we walked a lot there. Just when started to drive out of valley about 150 m spotted griz crossing our road. It seen us and dashed toward clear cut above.
Short drive, get out of truck ,run to see as griz cross over log on top of clear cut hill.
Decision is fast and simple. Partner , call him Kozak here, run on the side road leading straight angle from direction griz run away and than round up to the top of clear cut. I follow griz run away path. I have this idea that usually bear if not too much scared ,but slightly pressed will move somehow forward than change direction almost straight angle to initial path. Also they will want to see what is after them, so griz will move rather backward to danger. So, I should drive griz out and Kozak should see him on my left and his right.
I do not know if it makes any sense, but we have decided to try this theory. There were couple minutes of wondering where griz is. Also steep hill does not provide much of view.
We were like 150 m apart and I see Kozak aims and shoot. What is it ? Did you get it ? He is speechless . Standing position, clean head shot at 210 m, just as griz crossed clearing between piles of trees. Nice shot. It may be not the biggest griz ,but for sure hide is very cool. Now work begin. Saw some trees to get access ,skin out, pack and go. LEH tag filled. The black bear appeared about 270 m ahead. Got of truck and discuss if it shooter or not. Before we have decided bear turned around and run back into the bush. I shot . Clearly hit it, later found it was lower part of lung area .Right thru. Second shot I have made in moment bear entered behind bush. That second I could see only it s back and gestimated shot placement . Bullet shattered left shoulder blade and exited opposite side.
When we approached location hear noise of braking branches and bear typical sound when it hit thru lungs. Than noticed it crawling between logs. It was clear bear is not going too far. However each yard deeper into the forest is one more yard farther to carry it out. Followed bear with caution till found it under pile of logs and branches, still making noise. Holy smoke, to dismantle that pile we will need chain saw and couple hours of work. Lucky for us bear decided to crawl more . Final shot put bear to peace. Very tough animal, unbelievable. Pictures, clean up and haul. 9.30 PM we are on our way back, next day early morning home.
Overall it was very enjoyable trip –good hunt, seen lot of wild life and had fun.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/2009_spring_hunt_13_form.JPG
Our group of 3 had Idea to get 2 grizzly LEH in region we had in mind for fall moose hunt. We have got 2 substitute grizzly LEH in region 7-39. Not as planned and not in region that we know . Holder of 1 LEH could not go . Anyway two of us have decided to give it a try. Have done some research , checked maps and etc. Also thanks to all who send me PM with pointers. Left on Friday of long weekend, 6 PM, slowly moving on HWY 1. We have got min supplies, but lot of gas and rescue gear. We have got our full gas in PG.
Plan was to go as far as we can toward Spatizi park and than hunt way down to south east corner of 7-39.
About 5 AM following morning we are pulling to Finlay main FSR. Road is good, almost like hwy, not much traffic, mostly mine trucks.
Have seen lot of game : moose, black bears, foxes, wolves , abundance of birds . Just unbelievable.
Weather was scorching hot, dust everywhere. All has changed once we come to higher elevation. Now there is snow everywhere. Stopped for night some dozen miles after Thutade lake. Next morning sitting in snow and watching snow storm we are debating if it make sense to move forward. Lucky storm very quickly calmed down and we are on our way to the top.
What a beautiful place on top of Plato. Road to Tutlatu and Spatsizi parks still under few meters of snow. It looks like nobody is going to clean it. So check places around mines close to Duncan Lake. Anyway there is not much access anywhere and above 1450 m is closed to vehicles. Very cool place to see.
Basically we checked side roads branching off Finlay. It amazing to see variety of vegetation and landscape. In one valley still lot of snow and in next valley grass and tree are greening already. Similarly weather here is snow, there is rain and there is sunshine. However most of the time it was chilly. Distances are huge. Backroad maps and GPS Topo are incorrect in lot of places.
Roads are reasonably good ,but could be very soft .We stuck couple times in mud in middle of nowhere. Got out by winching and HiJacking.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/thumbs/DSCN7052.JPGhttp://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/thumbs/DSCN7104.JPG
Hunt
We have seen a number of bears ,but most too far or smallish size.
One place hold particularly lot of griz sign . So we walked a lot there. Just when started to drive out of valley about 150 m spotted griz crossing our road. It seen us and dashed toward clear cut above.
Short drive, get out of truck ,run to see as griz cross over log on top of clear cut hill.
Decision is fast and simple. Partner , call him Kozak here, run on the side road leading straight angle from direction griz run away and than round up to the top of clear cut. I follow griz run away path. I have this idea that usually bear if not too much scared ,but slightly pressed will move somehow forward than change direction almost straight angle to initial path. Also they will want to see what is after them, so griz will move rather backward to danger. So, I should drive griz out and Kozak should see him on my left and his right.
I do not know if it makes any sense, but we have decided to try this theory. There were couple minutes of wondering where griz is. Also steep hill does not provide much of view.
We were like 150 m apart and I see Kozak aims and shoot. What is it ? Did you get it ? He is speechless . Standing position, clean head shot at 210 m, just as griz crossed clearing between piles of trees. Nice shot. It may be not the biggest griz ,but for sure hide is very cool. Now work begin. Saw some trees to get access ,skin out, pack and go. LEH tag filled. The black bear appeared about 270 m ahead. Got of truck and discuss if it shooter or not. Before we have decided bear turned around and run back into the bush. I shot . Clearly hit it, later found it was lower part of lung area .Right thru. Second shot I have made in moment bear entered behind bush. That second I could see only it s back and gestimated shot placement . Bullet shattered left shoulder blade and exited opposite side.
When we approached location hear noise of braking branches and bear typical sound when it hit thru lungs. Than noticed it crawling between logs. It was clear bear is not going too far. However each yard deeper into the forest is one more yard farther to carry it out. Followed bear with caution till found it under pile of logs and branches, still making noise. Holy smoke, to dismantle that pile we will need chain saw and couple hours of work. Lucky for us bear decided to crawl more . Final shot put bear to peace. Very tough animal, unbelievable. Pictures, clean up and haul. 9.30 PM we are on our way back, next day early morning home.
Overall it was very enjoyable trip –good hunt, seen lot of wild life and had fun.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/2009_spring_hunt_13_form.JPG