Triggerman
06-07-2006, 08:23 AM
I have been hunting a large Hydro right-of-way really hard and had seen a couple of bears over the last month in the area. One time my hunting buddy and I were at the edge of the trees at sundown and had a cub walk up to us 5 steps away and then feed for 10 minutes 8-10 steps away! After we got over the shock, we realized we better get out of there as Momma was probably nearby! All the other bears I had seen were either small or on the run and un-shootable when spotted.
The other night, I went to my spot by myself and waited for an hour and saw nothing except a cub on the road up so before dark, so dejected I left. As fate would have it on my way down the road I saw a large Chocolate bear on the side of the logging road. I jammed on the brakes, turned off the truck, got out, set my scope to 10 power and fumbled for my clip. I got a bead on the bear but it was obscured a little by trees. I waited a while and sure enough he started moving back across and I tucked the 7mm 160 grain partition bullet right behind his shoulder. He ran off at the shot and I worked the Finnlight bolt quickly and got another one off as he boogied up the hill and was gone!
I approached the spot where I had shot him, and grabbed my 870 pump with 14" barrel, jammed in some slugs and buckshot and with my 1,000,000 power searchlight looked around for blood.
I could only see a little blood and after looking around for 10 minutes and being by myself I decided to come back at first light.
I got up early and headed off to the spot I had left the night earlier. I followed up the blood trail which soon ended on examination and I circled for an hour and a half to find nothing but a grouse nest and a scared stiff grouse sitting on it - must have been the stubby black 870 that scared him!
By this time I was quite sick about not finding the bear and decided to go back to the first blood I had seen. I got down on my hands and knees and followed the trail and by being on the ground now, I started to pick up the trail. I followed it and sure enough it continued in the opposite direction I had been looking. I went about 15 yards on my knees and when I looked up - BINGO!!!
My bear had zigged left and I has zagged right. I was only 12-15 yard from it the whole time!
The next 5 hours were hard work by myself! I'm pretty stiff today for sure, next time, i'm calling in the Cavalry!
The other night, I went to my spot by myself and waited for an hour and saw nothing except a cub on the road up so before dark, so dejected I left. As fate would have it on my way down the road I saw a large Chocolate bear on the side of the logging road. I jammed on the brakes, turned off the truck, got out, set my scope to 10 power and fumbled for my clip. I got a bead on the bear but it was obscured a little by trees. I waited a while and sure enough he started moving back across and I tucked the 7mm 160 grain partition bullet right behind his shoulder. He ran off at the shot and I worked the Finnlight bolt quickly and got another one off as he boogied up the hill and was gone!
I approached the spot where I had shot him, and grabbed my 870 pump with 14" barrel, jammed in some slugs and buckshot and with my 1,000,000 power searchlight looked around for blood.
I could only see a little blood and after looking around for 10 minutes and being by myself I decided to come back at first light.
I got up early and headed off to the spot I had left the night earlier. I followed up the blood trail which soon ended on examination and I circled for an hour and a half to find nothing but a grouse nest and a scared stiff grouse sitting on it - must have been the stubby black 870 that scared him!
By this time I was quite sick about not finding the bear and decided to go back to the first blood I had seen. I got down on my hands and knees and followed the trail and by being on the ground now, I started to pick up the trail. I followed it and sure enough it continued in the opposite direction I had been looking. I went about 15 yards on my knees and when I looked up - BINGO!!!
My bear had zigged left and I has zagged right. I was only 12-15 yard from it the whole time!
The next 5 hours were hard work by myself! I'm pretty stiff today for sure, next time, i'm calling in the Cavalry!