2009 Spring Bear

[ram161]

Well spring bear season was good this year
Things started out slow but got going good over memorial week end as usual.
I have a friend that had never gotten a bear a really wanted one. So my Hunting partner a i took him into an area that we always find bear in.
This area is about a 2 mile hike into so we left intime to get there by first light.
In the first area we spoted an average size bear but could not get on him for a good clean shoot.
We then hiked into another clear cut and immediatly spoted a nice bear but while we were setting up to shoot I noticed movement behind the bear in some brush. I told Terry not to shoot until we saw what the second bear was.
When it finaly came out i told him that he wanted to shoot the second bear.
He asked if it was a little one and i sain no you want the second bear. As it cleared the brush he fired an double lunged it and the bear went about 30 yards and was dead when he hit the ground.
We estimated him to be 350 to 380 lbs and the spread on his ears was 12 inches. I think the skull will measure over 20 inches.
Terrys bear

Me with Terrys bear

 

[JD338]

ram161

Very nice bear, congratulations.
What rifle, caliber and load did you use to take the bear with?

JD338

 

[Greg Nolan]

That's a nice BIG bear. The hair looks prime on it . Good job of spotting.

 

[ram161]

This was taken with a mauser 98 rebarreled to 358 winchester
I dont have terrys load but I know he used seirra 225 game king bullets.
I have used these bullets in my 350 remington mag on elk but changed to the 225 partion due to not getting a pass through. I was suprised that he got a pass through on the bear. The shot was 120 yards.

 

[JD338]

Thar Sierra is an accurate bullet. I have used in in my 35 Whelen. All my hunting with the 35 Whelen has been with the 225 gr PT.

Looks like the Sierra did a great job on that big 'ol bear.

JD338

 

[ram161]

Jd338, The 225 seirra shot very accurate in my 350 remington and with the performance on the bear i think i might give them another try. But i do like the partitions performance on game.
The pelt on the bear was perfect and he is having a shoulder mount done.
The wife asked why we let him shoot the biggest bear I told her she should be thankful. She asked why and i told her that if I would of shot it It would have cost a grand for the rug. She said good choice.

 

[lefty315]

Very nice bear indeed.

 

[TBASTIAN]

Nice bear Charlie! Hope all is well in Reedsport.
-TB

 

[Guy Miner]

Congratulations! I hope to draw a spring bear tag one of these years too!

 

[LD375]

Nice Bear..Congrats :!:

 

[DrMike]

Very attractive bear. Congratulations to your friend. It is as satisfying to help others take their first bear as it is to take one yourself. That 358 is a superb cartridge.

 

[Charlie-NY]

How did you get the bear out? Two miles is a looooong way with a heavy bear.

 

[ram161]

We simply skined him out then quartered just like an elk. then removed back straps. When we take off the quarters they go right into alaska quarter bags. We usually do the gutless quarter job and have found it to save alot of mess.
The load is divided up and put on bulls packs and out you go.
With 3 people one pack out. with 2 people 2 pack outs.
with 1 person you usually can do it with 3 pack outs.
Heavys first and work down to the lightest load.