This Years AZ bear

[Tjay]

Took this guy June 22 about 3:50 pm. Nose to tail went 7' 1".

 

[DrMike]

Congratulations. A spring bear can be an excellent trophy. The meat can be genuinely delightful.

 

[hunter24605]

Congratulations. I do wish we had a spring bear season.

 

[AFG270]

Congratulations on the fine bear!

 

[ShadeTree]

Nice! Congratulations! Any details you'd like to share on the hunt and the weapon used?

 

[Tjay]

This was a baited hunt on the Fort Apache reservation. The day starts driving into town and having breakfast at great breakfast with the outfitter and guide. Then back to camp and load bait onto trucks. Then the guide and I went out to bait and check cameras to see what activity was going on. We did 4 or 5 baits and then decided which one to sit on while eating lunch.

First evening I picked a site that had 2 7 footers hitting it. On was rubbed bad on the hind end and the other was jet black and the one I wanted.
Did not see either of those. Instead a 6' rust colored one came in and gave me a show over a couple of hours.

Day 2 was the same as day 1 until time to sit when it started raining so we called it went back to camp.

Day 3 started with great breakfast, French toast and link sausage. Then loading bait then to a site to clear some trees obstructing the bait. Then headed out to do our baiting. On the second bait we went to we found this bear, I took, hitting it shortly after we baited and then coming back 3 more times. I could tell my guide was pumped about this bear. We pulled out of the area and had lunch and talked about this bear. I decided this was the site for the evening. At 1:30, about an hr. after rebaiting, That I was going in to sit it early about 2. At 3:50 the bear came in and walked broadside at 75 yards. 1 shot from my 375 RUM with a 270 speer and a short but frustrating track. One lung and liver and little blood and he was found. Fat and long hair kept the blood from reaching the ground.

My hunting partner took a 7' the next evening. This is what the bait barrels looked like. A bear standing in front of the barrel is 6' to the bottom of opening, 6 1/2 to the middle and 7' to the top of barrel.
Drove 3295 miles for this hunt and we had a great time.
Partne shot his with a 35 Rem. 336 Marlin.

 

[KinleyWater]

Excellent! Good for you and a fantastic looking bear!

 

[ShadeTree]

Good deal. Stuff like this interests me, any info on the bullet used and the results on your buddies bear with the 35 Rem?

 

[Guy Miner]

Excellent! Congratulations. Good looking bear!

Thanks for your description of the hunt from breakfast through taking the bear. I'm glad you got to clear some branches, help with the baiting, etc.

I am really tempted to do a baited bear hunt someday. Mine have all been spot & stalk, which I thoroughly enjoy... But a baited bear hunt sounds great to me!

Regards, Guy

 

[DrMike]

As with Guy, I've only hunted spot-and-stalk. Hunting over bait and with hounds would be an experience I've never had, but would welcome.

 

[NYDAN]

Congratulations on a fine hunt. Thanks for sharing your photo and story. Dan

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Congratulations. That's a fine-looking bear. Your hunt sounds like a great time including all of the hands-on experience. I'm with Shade be interested to know what load your friend used in his 35 Rem. Dan.

 

[Tjay]

The load used in the 35 Rem was 200 gr. factory. He is not a reloader.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Thanks for the info. Dan.

 

[RL338]

That bear was well worth the drive

 

[Hammerdown]

I'd like to do the same hunt using my black powder gun.

Congratulations on a fine bear, looks like you had a good day in the bear woods.