First 2011 big game hunt!

[Guy Miner]

Mama, #2 son, and I are headed out this evening, soon as it cools off a bit. Looking for bear. Going to be tough - almost no berries showing so far this year. Since Washington is a no-baiting state, it's all spot and stalk. Pretty good population of bears not too far from town, but tough to find 'em without the berry bushes to lure them into more open areas. It'll be worth trying though.

Son is carrying the .30-06, I've got the .375, and Mama has the sandwiches. Should be a good evening, bear or no bear.

Guy

 

[JD338]

Good luck Guy. Enjoy the picnic.., I mean hunt. :mrgreen:

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

Admittedly, it's going to be a bit of both. I don't have high expectations of actually finding a bear this evening - but do have my tag, my flashlight and just sharpened my skinning knife - just in case!

Otherwise it will be a nice drive and walk through the hills. :mrgreen:

Need to let it cool down a little first though. Bears are smart enough to stay in cool, deep, wet, shady places during the heat of the day.

Guy

 

[Teknys]

Good Luck!! yep, berries are scarce here too (Idaho - Clearwater Region). Huckleberries are green yet.
Looks like the weather might "cool" off a bit going into next week.

There has been a few cow Elk coming in from the early hunt near cultivated land.

 

[Scott Spencer]

Hope you got to see some bear, Guy! I wish I were with you and getting to enjoy the clear mountain air and the beautiful sites.

 

[DrMike]

Hope to see some pictures in the morning. Here in the north, we have a good berry crop this year. I just came in from a visit. The gentleman told me of raspberries and blueberries in abundance. The bears will be getting fat.

 

[SJB358]

Good luck Guy! Hope you find a good bruin buddy. Scotty

 

[sask boy]

Have a good one Guy :grin: Being out there with family is what it is all about :mrgreen: the taking of a trophy is just the bonus.
Be safe my friend and enjoy

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Guy Miner]

Well, it was good to get out and actually hunt, rifle in hand. Hunted a spot where I've taken mule deer in the past, and where I've seen a fair bit of bear sign as recently as a few weeks ago. Our hike in was good, came across two rotting stumps the bear had been working over, likely to get at the bugs inside. Very light berry crop so far. The mosquitoes tried to eat us alive for a while, but we lived through that and parked ourselves where we could glass a deep ravine where I've seen bear tracks and scat before.

No movement. Tried my dying rabbit call a couple of times, no luck.

No problem either, was just nice being out in the hills on our "picnic" even if Yogi & Boo Boo didn't make an appearance. We all enjoyed. Too much to do around here for me to make a repeat trip today, perhaps later in the week. Sorry guys, didn't bother taking any photos.

Guy

 

[FOTIS]

Sweet deal have fun fellas!

 

[DrMike]

Fact remains that time in the hills with the family is some of the best time imaginable. It still sounds like fun, Guy.

 

[russ808]

Guy, Its great just to get out with the family.
Russ

 

[sask boy]

Thanks for the report Guy, good to hear that you and your family enjoyed themselves :grin: that is what it is about!

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Guy Miner]

Headed back out again this afternoon - just me and my son.

 

[FOTIS]

Good luck Guy!

 

[HTDUCK]

Wish I could join you this afternoon Guy.

I'm actually jealous that you are hunting already.
We're gonna have another 105 degree day here.

Howard

 

[DrMike]

Wishing you every success in your hunt this afternoon, Guy.

 

[Guy Miner]

We had one heck of a hunt! About 1830 I asked John to glass a shaded area on the north slope of a rocky/forested hill. Almost immediately he said "I think I see a bear." I looked over and sure enough, there was a big glossy black bear working along the side of the hill! Swaro rangefinder indicated 933 yards, then the bear vanished into the brush. We were able to catch a quick glimpse of it a couple more times. Decided to move forward and down, across a deep, brushy draw, then up a rocky slope that would let us look down into the area where the bear had been feeding. Took us 50 minutes to make it 800 yards in a straight line, probably one and a half times that far in reality. Rough going, but we pushed it. As we got higher on that rocky bluff, we found that we were literally in the bear's living room. Green grass, ripe berries, well trodden trails, bear paw prints in the soft soil and a fair bit of bear scat on scene as well. Some interesting mule deer tracks too - but that's for another day.

Sad to say, although we moved very quietly, and the wind was in our favor, we didn't see the bear again. Perhaps next time. It was a thrilling hunt, trying to close in on what appeared to be a fine bruin!

 

[DrMike]

And that's why we call it "hunting" and not "shooting." It made for a great hunt. Next time, Guy.

 

[YoteSmoker]

It sounds like you got the scouting part done. I hope you have success next time out! It's always nice to know that the quarry is in the vicinity and then it's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.