Stumpy, A Bear In The Air and Other Critters

[dana]

Here's some pics of the bear I shot on Saturday evening. It was missing a front foot. It's leg was basically a stump. It was an old injury, well healed over with thick bone above where the break was and even had hair covering the bottom. Figured 'Stumpy' was a fitting name. Saw numerous bears on the weekend, some a little bigger, but the stalk on this bear was what made the hunt. Spotted it 350+ yards feeding and got within 40 before I pulled the trigger. Wind was perfect and I only moved when the bear's head was down. It was a lot of fun. The kids were gone for the weekend, so it was the first time in a long time that I was hunting solo.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/BCBOY/P5210039.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/BCBOY/P5210044.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/BCBOY/P5210045.jpg

Here are some of the other critters I saw.
Had a great stalk with the camera on this guy. When the wind shifted his head came up and I was pegged. He stood up on his hind feet and he saw me bring the camera up and he bailed. Was surprised the airborne pic turned out as well as it did.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/BCBOY/P5220059.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/BCBOY/P5220063.jpg

[dana]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/BCBOY/P5180081.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/BCBOY/P5180085.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/BCBOY/P5180090.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/BCBOY/P5160053.jpg

[dana]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/BCBOY/P5190099.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/BCBOY/P5210028.jpg

[Blainer]

Better picture than David Suzuki ever took!
I believe this to be the 2nd bear posted with a missing foot,strange.

[Bear Chaser]

Some good pics once again Dana.

[nolimits]

Yup, that's the second one with a missing foot in a day or two. Great pics, thanks for sharing.

[chinookkiller]

wow!great photos,which lense range?over 300?

[mark]

Nice pics..... is that the big 7 elk???
See any sign of him this year, sheds??

[coach]

Great pics, Dana. You sure have a knack for finding interesting animals. Thanks for posting.

[Pioneerman]

Great photo's, I really like the Air Bear shot. Congrats on getting ol 3 foot :-)

[dana]

chinookkiller,
The camera is a point and shoot, Olympus SP 590UZ with 26x optical zoom.

[dana]

Mark,
That's not the Big 7. This bull is a lot younger. I personally haven't seen the Big 7 yet this spring. My son saw him in April, a few weeks after he shed, so I know he survived the winter onslought of the wolves. As for his sheds, I wasn't successful in finding them. There were numerous people looking for them, so I assume someone else was fortunate to pick them up.

[hillclimber]

Nice pictures as usual dana. Are the mulies showing decent growth yet?

[hunter1947]

Will be interesting to hear if you find that aged bull elk this year ??? he might be a winter kill or other ??? if he is dead you might find his remains ??? ,congrats on the bear ,pictures are great as always..

[Mik]

Congrats on the Bear. That shot of the "Bear in the Air" is fantastic.

[BiG Boar]

Sure is fun getting that close to your quarry. Really I think that it makes the hunt. Nice looking tri pod. You got some good pictures there for sure also!

[Ride Red]

Nice pics!!! That bull has a good start to the year. I'd like to see how he grows throughout the summer.

[Elkaholic]

Nice bear... Pretty unique that is it missing a paw. Great stuff as always Dana! Can't wait for more.

[Ol'Toyo]

Probably previous trapping victims.

[fester]

great pics thanks!!!!

[Weatherby Fan]

chinookkiller,
The camera is a point and shoot, Olympus SP 590UZ with 26x optical zoom.

Hey Dana,
I couldn't take it anymore I bought one of these Cameras online today as mine has seen its better days,you seem to always have awesome clear pictures,thanks for posting.
WF

[ElectricDyck]

x3 nice shot on bear in the air and congrats on stumpy.

[cwocarsten]

Interesting story about stumpy. i also shot one about 20yrs ago that had a fully healed stump on one of it"s front paws. Still have the tanned hide.

[C.Groves]

Nice Blackie! I am guessing that the foot was missing from a trap? Bear could have fought its painful way out.

[steepNdeep]

Cool pics as always Dana! Year of the gimp for ya?

[dana]

I'm pretty certain the bear was reckless and didn't tell anyone where it was going. While rock climbing it fell down a big crevice and dislodged a big rock that pinned it's paw between the rock and the canyon wall. The bear called for help and no one came. After several days it finally freed itself by chewing the paw off. ;)

[dana]

Hey Dana,
I couldn't take it anymore I bought one of these Cameras online today as mine has seen its better days,you seem to always have awesome clear pictures,thanks for posting.
WF

Hope you found a good deal on it. I see London Drugs has the latest model SP800UZ on for under $300. That model has 30x optical zoom plus HD video. I would imagine Olympus is going to be releasing a bigger and better model soon. They are always tweeking the camera and miles ahead of the other guys on the megazoom game.

[Springer]

Congrats on your annual Spring Bear Dana ! You might get voted in as a Olympus rep with the great photos. If that leg with no foot is covered in hair and not calus or something ,would you think it was born that way?