Whonnock Boy
01-22-2011, 10:46 PM
Reading the threads by Kody94 and HuntingAddict got me to thinking about the grizzly my father in-law shot some 40 years ago. He has some old photos, and some of the discussions of the HA record thread pertain to this particular hunt. The spring grizzly LEH is due pretty quick as well. I thought some of you might enjoy the story.
Last night we talked about it on the phone. I asked if I could post the picture and his recount of the story about the bear. He gave me his permission as long as both his, and his friends name were omitted. I understood and I respected that. He has always been quiet about his hunting and accomplishments regarding it. To this day he does not have one trophy in his house or shed. :( He has shot moose, elk, mulies, white tails, sheep, goats, wolves and grizzly. Big ones too! I remembered the basics of the hunt but not the details. We talked for some time. It has always been easy for us to talk shop.
His long time friend who had the trapping license on the the Dean River at the time had heard some stories of a large grizzly that was rumoured to be up the Dean Channel circulating around Bella Coola. His tracks had been seen but never the actual bear. He told my father in-law about it. Dad said "lets go try and find that bear". The following spring the hunt was planned.
He arrived in Bella Coola with a aluminum boat tied to the roof of his International Scout truck. They loaded up with fuel and set out on the trip. Along the way they dropped barrels of fuel to lighten the load. At first they did not go directly up the Dean Channel, instead opting to go up another inlet. They had seen some bears but passed on them. They left the area and carried on. Supplies were needed before they could continue so Dad was dropped off on the point while his friend went back to town to replenish fuel for the boat and themselves.
They arrived at the Kimsquit River and began the hunt. Not long in they came upon a snow slide. It was relatively new they thought being that there was a mangled mess of broken timber scattered about. A sow was spotted almost emmediatley. His partner asked if he wanted the bear. Dad passed and subsequently his friend shot the bear. As soon as it was down he sprinted past the downed bear up the one side of the slide. His thoughts were that a boar might be trailing not far behind.
He crested the slide and sure enough down the far side of the slide a boar was following. From what he suspects the dynamics of the slide blocked the sounds of the shots fired. He waited until the grizzly was close. I asked him how close. He laughed a little and said "pretty close". "Like 50 yards?" His reply, "maybe". I could see the smile on his face in my mind as he spoke on the other end of the phone.
Let me give you some insight on Dad. These are my thoughts. Hunting grizz for him at that time was his narcotic. His "Ultimate High". He has never touched a drug or drank a drop in his life, purposefully anyways. 15 years ago or so he had mistakenly drank one of Moms cooler drinks. After he had drank it he started to feel funny. He thought that maybe the "juice" had gone bad. He had no idea what he was drinking. That night when Mom was cleaning out his lunch bag, two and two were put together. That story is still told on occasion with laughs a plenty. His "Ultimate High" was achieved many times.
As the boar closed in the time had come to squeeze the trigger. His 358 Norma Magnum barked. On impact the bear slumped down, regained his footing and began his retreat but not before another 250 grain hunk of lead entered his massive body. He tried for another shot but it was not needed. The grizz was down. Thankfully he thought. "Those coastal forests are thick. Tracking them in there is not fun."
He tells me that the bear sqared over 9 feet. He had rubbed his head almost bare because of the pain caused from his rotting teeth. He says bears will do this to try and numb the pain. It is the biggest bear that he has ever shot although one or two came close.
Some might ask what it scored. He never did know for sure, and honestly never did care. He gave the skull to his cousin. In return he would be taken on a sheep hunt. He never did get his end of the deal. He was told what was done with it. He asked me not to say what he was told, because he simply cannot verify those claims. I will leave it at that.
Dad is in his 70's now. His nephew has his card entered for the Spring LEH. They will hunt together. His nephew is where he was at 40 years ago. Looking for that "Ultimate High". He will go because he enjoys the hiking, the scenery, and being involved in the hunt. The first grizz he had ever shot was by himself. "In my opinion, hunting grizzly by yourself is the most exciting hunt this country has to offer. In the same breath I do not recommend anyone to go hunting grizzly on their own. I was young at the time and wanted the ultimate high and got it."
Dad will be sending some more pictures of other hunts later. I will add them to the thread when I get them. I have tried to add the photos so they show in the thread but I cannot figure it out. If someone could do it for me that would be great. I will get it eventually. BTW, I have read the threads about posting photos. Cheers!
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/401.JPG
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/203.JPG
Last night we talked about it on the phone. I asked if I could post the picture and his recount of the story about the bear. He gave me his permission as long as both his, and his friends name were omitted. I understood and I respected that. He has always been quiet about his hunting and accomplishments regarding it. To this day he does not have one trophy in his house or shed. :( He has shot moose, elk, mulies, white tails, sheep, goats, wolves and grizzly. Big ones too! I remembered the basics of the hunt but not the details. We talked for some time. It has always been easy for us to talk shop.
His long time friend who had the trapping license on the the Dean River at the time had heard some stories of a large grizzly that was rumoured to be up the Dean Channel circulating around Bella Coola. His tracks had been seen but never the actual bear. He told my father in-law about it. Dad said "lets go try and find that bear". The following spring the hunt was planned.
He arrived in Bella Coola with a aluminum boat tied to the roof of his International Scout truck. They loaded up with fuel and set out on the trip. Along the way they dropped barrels of fuel to lighten the load. At first they did not go directly up the Dean Channel, instead opting to go up another inlet. They had seen some bears but passed on them. They left the area and carried on. Supplies were needed before they could continue so Dad was dropped off on the point while his friend went back to town to replenish fuel for the boat and themselves.
They arrived at the Kimsquit River and began the hunt. Not long in they came upon a snow slide. It was relatively new they thought being that there was a mangled mess of broken timber scattered about. A sow was spotted almost emmediatley. His partner asked if he wanted the bear. Dad passed and subsequently his friend shot the bear. As soon as it was down he sprinted past the downed bear up the one side of the slide. His thoughts were that a boar might be trailing not far behind.
He crested the slide and sure enough down the far side of the slide a boar was following. From what he suspects the dynamics of the slide blocked the sounds of the shots fired. He waited until the grizzly was close. I asked him how close. He laughed a little and said "pretty close". "Like 50 yards?" His reply, "maybe". I could see the smile on his face in my mind as he spoke on the other end of the phone.
Let me give you some insight on Dad. These are my thoughts. Hunting grizz for him at that time was his narcotic. His "Ultimate High". He has never touched a drug or drank a drop in his life, purposefully anyways. 15 years ago or so he had mistakenly drank one of Moms cooler drinks. After he had drank it he started to feel funny. He thought that maybe the "juice" had gone bad. He had no idea what he was drinking. That night when Mom was cleaning out his lunch bag, two and two were put together. That story is still told on occasion with laughs a plenty. His "Ultimate High" was achieved many times.
As the boar closed in the time had come to squeeze the trigger. His 358 Norma Magnum barked. On impact the bear slumped down, regained his footing and began his retreat but not before another 250 grain hunk of lead entered his massive body. He tried for another shot but it was not needed. The grizz was down. Thankfully he thought. "Those coastal forests are thick. Tracking them in there is not fun."
He tells me that the bear sqared over 9 feet. He had rubbed his head almost bare because of the pain caused from his rotting teeth. He says bears will do this to try and numb the pain. It is the biggest bear that he has ever shot although one or two came close.
Some might ask what it scored. He never did know for sure, and honestly never did care. He gave the skull to his cousin. In return he would be taken on a sheep hunt. He never did get his end of the deal. He was told what was done with it. He asked me not to say what he was told, because he simply cannot verify those claims. I will leave it at that.
Dad is in his 70's now. His nephew has his card entered for the Spring LEH. They will hunt together. His nephew is where he was at 40 years ago. Looking for that "Ultimate High". He will go because he enjoys the hiking, the scenery, and being involved in the hunt. The first grizz he had ever shot was by himself. "In my opinion, hunting grizzly by yourself is the most exciting hunt this country has to offer. In the same breath I do not recommend anyone to go hunting grizzly on their own. I was young at the time and wanted the ultimate high and got it."
Dad will be sending some more pictures of other hunts later. I will add them to the thread when I get them. I have tried to add the photos so they show in the thread but I cannot figure it out. If someone could do it for me that would be great. I will get it eventually. BTW, I have read the threads about posting photos. Cheers!
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/401.JPG
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/203.JPG