Finally got a bear!

[rcdinaz]

Well I finally found a bear and got the job done. Sorry folks only the on pic since I ended up doing this one completely on my own.

 

I will try to make this a quick story.

 

I set up camp a trailer and camp on my own and had my dad and a couple of other guys coming up to meet me. So Friday morning I was on my own, which is why you only get one picture.

 

I got to my glassing spot a little later than I wanted to. Remind you I have never seen a bear during a hunt so I actually picked a spot we have seen a lot of deer at, knowing water is not too far, and the deer will keep me from getting bored. Within the first 10 minutes I was distracted by a couple of yotes calling around me but never could find them. Went back to glassing and another 10 or 15 minutes later found a bear working one of the highest points in the immediate area. The bear was at least a mile away. I racked my brain on how to get to any reasonable distance and took a chance by jumping in the truck and heading down the road. I parked and took a chance to just start hiking and try to get so I could see the same elevation the bear was at. I later checked and the distance I was trying to close was down to 1,000 yards on the range finder, you know about 10 miles AZ walking distance given the 2 canyons that magically became 5. I finally got to around where I thought I should be and stopped. I actually checked my shooting stick, scope turrets, turned the scope to 6x, chambered a round, put in ear plugs, rechecked the wind, and finally caught my breath. I made it up there in 20 minutes, ain't adrenaline is grand!

 

So I finally walk out over the ridge and start eyeballing some very steep terrain. Right away I see a bear standing still in a small grass area looking my way. I sit still and it finally takes a few steps so I get my pack off and get the rifle on the bog pod. I grab the RF and the bear is only 250 yds away. Perfect! No need to dial a distance or for wind. I settle in on the scope and notice the bear has stopped with the front half behind a dead tree. I move another 5 yards to set up an open spot in front of the bear and get a solid rest. As planned (words almost never heard when hunting) the bear steps out and I let one fly, it runs another 10-20 yards and piles up in the only other little opening I could see before a deep drainage area that was super thick.

 

A not so proud moment! I sat watching the bear and after 5 minutes convinced myself it was still moving. So I put another round in the middle of the bear. After that there was a big piece of pink section showing so I was sure I had just butchered the hide. It turned out since the bear was laying down I knocked a hole in its side which then allowed part of the stomach to push through so luckily I did not ruin the hide. Reality is I never needed to shoot the second time but I psyched myself out. I was too worried that I was going to approach a bear that was not completely dead, too many TV movies I guess.

 

So I finally get the courage to walk up to the bear. I throw 3 rocks at it and wait... I poke it in the neck with the barrel of the gun twice and wait... I find a long stick and poke its eye and wait... Okay I am now 80% sure it has expired! I finally get the courage to try to move it so it doesn't roll down the hill and I can get a picture. Well even smaller bears are heavy! This was nothing like moving even a big deer. More like trying to move your biggest, fattest, passed out friend. I get the thing moved all of 5 yards and start taking a look (grinning like a kid on Christmas). The bear is a sow so I have about 30 seconds of remorse but quickly get back on my high and take a picture with my phone which is down to 5%.

 

After skinning and quartering the bear I make the first trip down the mountain with the hide. I wont go into all the details but in that rocky terrain, with a day that would heat up to 100 degrees, this was the most monumental task I have taken on in a long time. I can easily see someone getting heat stroke on an August hunt. Did I mention bears are freaking heavy!

 

So tomorrow it is off to the G&F office and then off to see Jim and SW Wildlife to get a rug started.

 

This ended up being a really great hunt, not the biggest bear but a really great trophy!

[DesertBull]

Congrats.

[ready2hunt]

Great story!!! So glad you were ae to get the job done! Congrats on the trophy!

[rcdinaz]

Thanks!

[capoeirajosh]

Huge congrats!! How many trips did it take you? How much do you think the bear ended up weighing?

[outdoor rush]

Awesome job man! Congrats!

[stanley]

Awesome!!!! Congrats on your first bear! Big feat, solo too!

 

Thanks for sharing with the site!

 

S.

 

[520HUNT]

Congrats... And good story and pics.

[huntjunkie]

Thats so awesome!! Congrats on a Beautiful bear! Got my adreniline going....

[Dan]

Congrats on your bear!!

[camoremi]

Great job getting it done

[PRDATR]

About freakin time someone posted a picture. LOL Seriously though congrats on the bear it's always rewarding when you solo hunt and are successful.

[CouesWhitetail]

Wow! Congratulations and I truly enjoyed your humorous writing style!

These lines had me laughing out loud:

 

"Remind you I have never seen a bear during a hunt so I actually picked a spot we have seen a lot of deer at, knowing water is not too far, and the deer will keep me from getting bored"

 

" As planned (words almost never heard when hunting) the bear steps out and I let one fly"

 

"I throw 3 rocks at it and wait... I poke it in the neck with the barrel of the gun twice and wait... I find a long stick and poke its eye and wait... Okay I am now 80% sure it has expired!"

 

"Did I mention bears are freaking heavy! "

 

 

Thanks for sharing your hunt and I am glad you didn't get heat stroke....that is a real risk when carrying heavy loads in rough country in AZ summer heat!

[Flatlander]

Finally, someone posts success pictures!!! Congrats, it's a great feeling.

[Mesabulls]

Way to go, awesome experience!