elkdom
05-30-2009, 11:53 AM
last night after 6pm, I drove out about 10 klms from my home, parked my pic-up took a walk on a wide and lush grass covered pipeline, had my rifle, bino's and spotting scope, hunting license and bear tags in my pocket,
after about 15 minutes I topped a hill on the pipeline, from this vantage point I could see about 3 or 4 kms of rolling hills, immediately about 700 meters down the pipeline I spot 2 hunters in cammo, carrying rifles, and about 300 meters ahead of them is a Grizzly feeding on the pipeline, the pipeline about 50 meters wide and with a ridge down the center, the wind is blowing hard,about 50/60 kms, right in my face as the same for the Gbear and the other hunters, great opportunity here as the wind is "right", no chance of being scented by the Gbear, and also strong wind provides great "noise' cover,,, let the games begin, I get comfy and set my spotting scope at 40 power,,,
the stalk !, well the Gbear is feeding but on the move constantly, always moving into the wind, constantly checking side to side and behind, the Gbear feeding moves from side to side over the center berm of the pipeline, the hunters are trying to get close enough for a shot, but the berm not only provides cover, but an obstacle to get a good shot, for the hunters to keep out of sight and still see the bear, is a challenge, I know the area and the bush is very thick making it impossible to make time and get close to the bear, so they have to stay out in the open, meanwhile the Gbear is feeding and moving fast into the wind,finally after about an hour of watching the hunters and the Gbear have moved another 1000 meters down the pipeline, now the hunters within about 200 meters of the Gbear, the bear is feeding angling back and forth across the center berm, the hunter gets down on a prone position, on the berm,,,
the shot!, the bear presents himself several times broadside, I am wondering why the hunter hasnt taken the shot?, I watch intently! obvious the hunter is quite nervous, he keeps checking his buddy behind him, I can see them nodding to each other, now the Gbear is broadside, about 200 meters from the hunter, the Gbear nibbling on dandelions, the hunter looking through his scope, several minutes goes by,,,, I am wondering whats taking this guy so long to shoot? then I see a PUFF of DUST! about 10 meters from the Gbear, a bit past the Gbear and to his rear,,, the Gbear makes a couple of quick lunges, and disappears into the heavy bush,,, after I see the PUFF of DUST from the shot, I count,,, 1001,1002, 1003, then I hear BOOM,,
the hunters get up and walk over to near where the Gbear was when the hunter shot, they walk back and forth few a few minutes, looking for signs of a "HIT", lucky for the Gbear the HIT was about 10 meters past him and to the rear of his rump,
the FLY on the WALL!, I picked up my gear and headed back to my truck, dammit!!! I enjoyed watching that! my own bear tags in my pocket meant nothing while I watched that hunter stalk and miss his Gbear, very interesting evening for sure,,,8)
after about 15 minutes I topped a hill on the pipeline, from this vantage point I could see about 3 or 4 kms of rolling hills, immediately about 700 meters down the pipeline I spot 2 hunters in cammo, carrying rifles, and about 300 meters ahead of them is a Grizzly feeding on the pipeline, the pipeline about 50 meters wide and with a ridge down the center, the wind is blowing hard,about 50/60 kms, right in my face as the same for the Gbear and the other hunters, great opportunity here as the wind is "right", no chance of being scented by the Gbear, and also strong wind provides great "noise' cover,,, let the games begin, I get comfy and set my spotting scope at 40 power,,,
the stalk !, well the Gbear is feeding but on the move constantly, always moving into the wind, constantly checking side to side and behind, the Gbear feeding moves from side to side over the center berm of the pipeline, the hunters are trying to get close enough for a shot, but the berm not only provides cover, but an obstacle to get a good shot, for the hunters to keep out of sight and still see the bear, is a challenge, I know the area and the bush is very thick making it impossible to make time and get close to the bear, so they have to stay out in the open, meanwhile the Gbear is feeding and moving fast into the wind,finally after about an hour of watching the hunters and the Gbear have moved another 1000 meters down the pipeline, now the hunters within about 200 meters of the Gbear, the bear is feeding angling back and forth across the center berm, the hunter gets down on a prone position, on the berm,,,
the shot!, the bear presents himself several times broadside, I am wondering why the hunter hasnt taken the shot?, I watch intently! obvious the hunter is quite nervous, he keeps checking his buddy behind him, I can see them nodding to each other, now the Gbear is broadside, about 200 meters from the hunter, the Gbear nibbling on dandelions, the hunter looking through his scope, several minutes goes by,,,, I am wondering whats taking this guy so long to shoot? then I see a PUFF of DUST! about 10 meters from the Gbear, a bit past the Gbear and to his rear,,, the Gbear makes a couple of quick lunges, and disappears into the heavy bush,,, after I see the PUFF of DUST from the shot, I count,,, 1001,1002, 1003, then I hear BOOM,,
the hunters get up and walk over to near where the Gbear was when the hunter shot, they walk back and forth few a few minutes, looking for signs of a "HIT", lucky for the Gbear the HIT was about 10 meters past him and to the rear of his rump,
the FLY on the WALL!, I picked up my gear and headed back to my truck, dammit!!! I enjoyed watching that! my own bear tags in my pocket meant nothing while I watched that hunter stalk and miss his Gbear, very interesting evening for sure,,,8)