Incredible! Another genuine thank you for the awesome hunt and pictures. Congrats.

AWESOME Bear,Pics and Story!!!
Congrats Randy and thanks for sharing.

That's doing it right.  One-on-one.  Beautiful bear.  Congrats.

Thats a great bear and story, Thanks for sharing.Congrats.

Poetry! Right there with you - fine story telling. Hope I don't dream about Grizers. Your picture where the griz is a tiny spot is about close enough for me. Hero pic and smile are top notch. Thanks

Awesome country, awesome bear! Well done!

Thanks for the story!  Nice bear...
One thing that came to mind as I was reading it that I thought I'd share - I always carry a blaze orange vest in my pack in case I have to leave an animal overnight.  After cleaning the animal, and taking whatever is coming with me on the first trip out, I put the vest on the carcass.  It helps me find it better when I come back, but it also keeps other animals away (mostly ravens and scavenger varmints).  Apparently the orange color and human scent help deter them.
Anyway, in your case with it being late enough in the evening, it might not have made a difference, but just wanted to share!

Dang thats a big blackie!  Great pics and story...Congrats!!!!

Wow thanks for all the nice words folks.  It's really a bonus when you hunt alone most of the time like I do to be able to share such a special day with all of you.

Lets see...the bow is one I made 2 winters ago.  It's one of the prototypes made during the design of my "Hi-Breed Longcurve".  That bow is 53#@27". Shooting a front loaded carbon shaft and WW head. Toatal weight about 525gr.

Yeah that Hero pic really turned out good, I just wish I had more than a 4MP camera.  Need to upgrade but the gas prices....LOL, I had to get that gas price gripe out of the way.

Brent...lookin forward to the taste test Bud.  I'm just glad somebody is cookin that meat with some confidence.  I'm still scared from my last bear meat debacle. I see lots of Bear jerky this time around but I'm lookin forward to the smoked backstrap in a big way.

The Bison Pack...yes it did extremely well.  The Bears head barely fit in the green nylon meat bag and then also barely fit into the pack itself...but hey...it fit...thats all that counts.  I guessed the weight of head and hide at around 40-45 lbs. Very nice to be able to pack that part out with you before returning one more time for the boned out meat with the pack frame. I would have cried had it been necessary to make 2 trips the next day.

All I can say is WOW! Congrats!  Great story and pictures. I enjoyed the hec out of that.Thanks for sharing.