Nation Lakes 7-28 Blackie 2011

[todbartell]

headed out for grizz after work this weekend, just me and the wife and our 2 dogs for a couple days of camping/relaxing/bear hunting. I have a grizz draw in the zone and last week did a short overnight scouting trip in there, found a nice looking spot that should have some bears in it so I returned this weekend for a short hunt

No sign of grizz around but I did run into a decent sized black bear that tempted me a few times on Sunday.

Spotted him first around 10am, walking down a deactivated road with the wind in his face (and at my back). Tried to get close enough so my wife could get some decent pics but he winded us at about 150 yards and tore off down the road for the timber

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/249482_10150202780997992_512917991_7133858_133235_ n.jpg

Headed back to camp for lunch and barely sat down when I spotted a bear a few hundred yards away. A smaller one but the wind was perfect for a stalk, we got him within 15 yards before the wife figured that was close enough

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/253652_10150202752277992_512917991_7133646_6403103 _n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/250531_10150202752402992_512917991_7133651_765272_ n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/251708_10150202752547992_512917991_7133655_634544_ n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/252023_10150202752622992_512917991_7133657_6673057 _n.jpg

[gerrygoat]

Nice pics TB

[nolimits]

This bear is so handsome, he almost looks like he is going on date or something.:-D:-D:-D

[todbartell]

after lunch I spotted something out of place across the block from camp not far from where the first bear dissapeared into the timber hours before. I threw the spotter on him and it looked like a good bear. Watched him from 800 yards for about 20 minutes before deciding to go in for a closer look. Wind was bad and I had lost sight of where he was. Pretty soon I spotted him 75 yards ahead, nose up, sucking in all my dirty bartell stink. He began to wander off away from me and I couldn't get a clear shot due to all the brush between me and him. He looked good though, my only shot came at 150 yards as he hit the edge of the timber for one last look, but I passed.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/252473_10150202755112992_512917991_7133664_324502_ n.jpg

After dinner we drove up a KM or so from camp and parked the truck and hiked into the back part of the clearcut. We seen two medium sized black bear but no grizz sign. Got back to the truck about 9pm and barely got headed down towards camp when I spotted a bear ahead. We jumped out, and my bino's told me it was the same ol boy again, wife got this pic as he began to move off away from us

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/249304_10150202755207992_512917991_7133665_6277063 _n.jpg

I grabbed my Ruger No1 300 Win Mag and stuffed a round in every pocket I had just in case. This rifle my wife bought for me for a wedding gift last summer and it had yet to see blood in the field. The bear looked good and the stalk was on!

I hit a deactivated road which would put me in the path of the bruin. He was 300 yards ahead of me but his pace slowed and he began to feed again. The wind was finally in my favor and this enabled me to close the gap quickly. My wife followed 25 yards behind me with the video camera. Not the best footage but better than nothing. I went prone on a dirt heap 50 yards from the feeding bear and when he turned broadside I let him have it, right behind the shoulder. The bear was down instantly but like they almost always seem to do, bounced right back up and leaped across a deactivation. He started to roll and I reloaded as quickly as I could and when he presented a bit of a shot I squeezed another one off


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLTzVtHdV3Y

[todbartell]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/250100_10150202755322992_512917991_7133666_1586944 _n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/253445_10150202759827992_512917991_7133690_1349835 _n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/248617_10150202760057992_512917991_7133692_6479520 _n.jpg



I haven't or didn't measure him but I'm 5'11"
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/253960_10150202763942992_512917991_7133730_102257_ n.jpg

[nolimits]

The pics were great, but the video even better. Thanks for posting and congrats.

[todbartell]

Started to skin him out and pulled the guts out so he could cool overnight. Came back this morning and filled a couple game bags and bundled it all up in the new Mystery Ranch load sling. Worked pretty good although I only had to go about 300 yards down a road :mrgreen:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/249380_10150202764077992_512917991_7133734_5949268 _n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/248155_10150202764187992_512917991_7133735_1328905 _n.jpg

first blood stains of hopefully many

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/254055_10150202765177992_512917991_7133744_3007665 _n.jpg

[Blainer]

Good lookin' honest 6 footer.
Very much like how you put together this thread.
and noted the wedding ring and manicured hands.
I know,the wife was there,hence the ring,but the tailored fingernails?
there goes my next deal!:icon_frow

[todbartell]

Blainer, you gotta moisturize!!!

here's some more random pics from the past few days

The King
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/252548_10150202748642992_512917991_7133630_5376653 _n.jpg

spotting from camp with the shitheads
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248201_10150202748912992_512917991_7133633_7012798 _n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250401_10150202752737992_512917991_7133658_5358801 _n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/250970_10150202764957992_512917991_7133741_5732488 _n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/249420_10150202765032992_512917991_7133742_7412583 _n.jpg

[greenhorn]

Nice bear!! Looks like the hide is in nice shape... rug?

[todbartell]

hide is very good, however I just got a 6' blackie rugged last year.........not sure what I'm gonna do with this guy. Gotta get the skull out of it first. Might get the hide tanned? Maybe I will make myself some stylin' winter outfit.

here's some more video footage. First bear is the one I ended up shooting, but footage from earlier in the day when he gave me the slip. Second bear is the smaller guy from the pics above


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrRM1rrMrZk



tb

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Excellent bear and report, TB!!

Well documented as per usual. It's like a few of you guys are thinkin about us HBC'ers when taking pics!:)

SSS

[Gateholio]

Wow, I think that's one of the first real 6 foot bear I've seen posted on HBC this year! Most of the 6 fters so far are in the 4.5-5.5 foot range! :)

[demlake]

Thanks for the pics and the details.

Good looking bear.

[tomahawk]

Nice report and great bear!

[Johnnybear]

Great report, great pictures, and a great video. Thanks for sharing your trip with us. Congrats on the bear.

[RiverOtter]

Nice bear Bartell, love the big dome between its ears.

How wide was that front pad?

[xtremearchery]

Thank you for sharing! Awesome video!

[Weatherby Fan]

Awesome pictures and story TB,thanks for sharing and nice to see you broke that MR pack in !

[srupp]

Great bear , photos and videos..that first bear is awesome love the light colored muzzle....great bear hide still looks primo??

well done Todd enjoyed that....once had a pair of bear slippers and bear mitts made in Watson Lake,,,lasted years....

cheers

Steven

Steven

[luckynuts]

Another one bites the dust. Thanks for taking the time to share TB. Was gonna take the kid out this past weekend but had a boo boo and got a sore thumb. Shoulda Coulda Woulda as they say, seen 9 bears today at work only one shooter though.

W.

[quadrakid]

Fine pictures and great story. Looks to me like you married a nontypical colour phase.

[835]

Nice bear Mr,
If we knew exactly how tall you are we can get a good idea on the bear!! :)

[ROEBUCK]

hes 4 foot, 10.5 inches ! :)

only joking , great bear tod :-D

[Salty]

Nice bear cool write up bartell.

I like your dog pack too. LOL. We've got a 75 lb fairly normal male, a 50 lb bit spinny female and a little fluff ball thing that found us last year; all rescue dogs. I get a kick out of small dogs in the bush when they've got big buddys they think they're the shit, i can see it in your lil dog too all sniff'n away at that bear. :-D

[BromBones]

Nice job, thanks for posting!

6' on the carcass is a very good bear, probably go 6'5''-6'6'' layed out. Nice mature bear.

And props for taking him with a No.1. :-D Very stylish, kinda like someone else I know.

[kootenayelkslayer]

Nicely done man! Save some neck roasts for next years party.

[Marc]

Great video and pictures! Looks like some nice country up there. No moose or deer?

[kennyj]

Great bear and great story.
kenny

[ques deer]

awesome bear congratulations thanks for posting

[RJ]

great job bartell, awesome pics too :)

[todbartell]

How wide was that front pad?

5" I think


Nicely done man! Save some neck roasts for next years party.

just finished trimming him up for dog food, but I could probably save a few chunks for you :D


Great video and pictures! Looks like some nice country up there. No moose or deer?

seen one bull moose, it's not really deer country

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/254822_10150203607707992_512917991_7142628_6415698 _n.jpg

[Ambush]

So you are more than just a finely attired counter manniquin at a sports store.
Nice bear. Good job on getting a film crew to.

[killman]

Nice work Bartell. What did it weight in at? Your looking good by the way ;)

[todbartell]

I'd guess it weighed between 150 and 300 lbs

[moose2]

Great looking bear is all the snow gone up that way now.
Mike

[spear]

Awesome pics, thanks for posting, love that side shot of the head and cape on the MR.

[ThinAir]

Nice bear TB! That thing should go over 6 squared once skinned.
I noticed you were using your "magic" bracelet :)Does that thing help with your stalking skills?:)

[todbartell]

my voodoo Power Balance, keeps me from falling over

[ThinAir]

Ha ha. I noticed some of the Canucks are wearing them too. Hopefully they work!

[Bowzone_Mikey]

Nice Bear ... I love that country ... I have friends with a Cabin and Business on the Lakes ... spent alot of my formative years up there ...

[Brett]

Nice bear Mark!!

[.330 Dakota]

Nice bear Mark, I applied for fall Griz in 7-28, I'll stop by the store on our way. I feel pretty confident in getting the tag, the bear,,,well we'll see

[nolimits]

I didn't realize that there was so many more pics added after start of this thread. AWESOME. Thanks for posting all of it.

[StoneChaser]

Great bear....he'll square in the 6 1/2 foot range for sure.

Sounds like the new MR pack performed epically!

[hunter1947]

Nice bear ,very nice pictures as for the movie clip as for your story ,nice to have the dogs and wife along with you ,congrats on getting this black bear..

[ianwuzhere]

yup wicked pix, thanx for posting!!