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Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.

Started by Randy Morin, June 18, 2005, 02:31:00 PM

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Randy Morin

I definitely got bit by the bear bug this year and had a great time out in the mountains this spring.  I had spotted some bear activity from a half mile away (and one steep canyon) in a particular rock slide.  Two weeks went by before I could get into this area again because of June snows.  On June 15, the last day of the season I got close to the rock slide and hiked down the mountain to find the area I had been glassing into.  It turned out I hiked right into it and soon I was set-up and ready to try some rabbit distress calling.  


Immediately after beginning my first sequence of calls I was charged by an enraged marmot.  Catching the movement out of the corner of my eye I thought for an instance I was being charged by a hungry bruin.  Definitely startled me for a split second.  Soon after that a doe mule deer got up and trotted slowly away.  20 minutes later I had just finished my third calling sequence and I heard that same deer start to blow an alarm.  Curious but I didnt think much of it.  Then, there she was.  She just stepped into view,  right where I happened to be looking.  Holy !@#%@# theres a frickin bear.  50 yards and looking for me.  
This is where she stepped out.  Middle frame slightly to the right.


After standing in full pose for a minute or two she angled toward me as she slowly moved along in a zig-zag.  At about 30 yards she decided to head over to the deers direction and turned directly away from me.  She walked right by the large boulder in the middle of this next frame.


Just after she cleared the boulder I gave 3-4 quick wales on my call.  That bear whipped around and closed 5 yards in the next second.  She slowed to a stroll again still not sure where "I" was.  But now she had narrowed it down and was coming strait on.  At 20 yards she started to angle off to my left.  Perfect.  About then I pretty much new I was gonna get a chance.  I dug in my toe a little and started to "lean" into it a bit getting ready for the shot.
Next frame showing where she came.  From the boulder and then angled behind the aspen to the left.


AZStickman

That Aspen looks to be only 5 yards or so away...   :scared:    :D  Terry
"The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.".. Ralph Waldo Emerson

the Ferret

There is always someone that knows more than you, and someone that knows less than you, so you can always learn and you can always teach

Guru

Curt } >>--->   

"I love you Daddy".......My son Cade while stump shooting  3/19/06

the Ferret

Oh I get it, he's taking a tip from Guru, Little Feather, Charlie et al and making up wait......

Who in the he...uh heck started that anyway?
There is always someone that knows more than you, and someone that knows less than you, so you can always learn and you can always teach

AZStickman

"The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.".. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Randy Morin

The shot came just after she cleared the little green juniper in the foreground.  She was at most 15 yards and slowly walking.  The Super Shrew shot was true but slightly back.  That WW tipped arrow zipped through and got a slight reaction from the bear.  10 yards further now I got a second shot.  One that I barely remember.  She had stopped briefly and was just about to clear the boulders in the upper left of the next photo and was severely quartering away and I could not have been more fortunate with the shot.  Just off the ham the arrow entered the back of the rib cage and headed on toward the neck area/opposite shoulder.  This one got a rise and she growled and snapped at the barely visible shaft.

 

After an hour I took up the trail.  I worked slow, real slow.  I was nervous about poor hits and a long drawn out blood trail.  I almost always am.  The trail was easy enough to follow and I allowed myself to hope for the best. I also found both my arrows.


After about 80 yards I was about to jump up on a blood stained log when I saw her and she startled me for the last time.  She was just 5 feet away on the other side of the log.

 

The end of the road for one of my most memorable hunts.




I was never happier to find an animal.  I raised both hands to the sky and celebrated in my own way.  Tears were not far away. But....I hadnt even got a look at his/her face yet.  There was much to do.  I dragged her out from under the log and looked her over for a long while.  Then I moved her to the nearest spot I could take some self photos with the timer function I hadnt learned to use yet on the new digi-cam.  All went well.  I was very lucky all the way around on this day.

Wow.  Its always a weird feeling when you realize a hunt so special and how rare they are. Ya just wanna bottle those feelings up.  Really makes me humble about things in those moments.  This was my first bear, I was alone, last day of the season, she came to my calls,  she presented a shot, she died on her feet.  Still sinking in I guess.  Excuse the rambling please.

Here she is in all her glory.  



Thanks for sharing this with me gangers.  I enjoy you all so much.  Randy.

frankb

Not anuther one of them spensful story teller guys..... Yikes!   :D

Talk about yer "close enough to tickle a tonsil" shots!

-Frank B
"Until we meet again, may the Great Spirit make sunrise in your heart." ~Author Unknown~

Chad Edgar

Here from the King's mountain view,
Here from the wild dream come true...
Treasures of flesh never few! "Jambi"

2-BIG

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who are not. - Thomas Jefferson

Randy Morin

Dont get me started on why I submitted this story in installments.  I did the whole thing this AM in one story but I got shut down because I tried to submit more than 8 photos.  Message said to hit my back button to return but when I did I got nothin.  Lost it all.  The first draft was way better too with proffesional quality writing and descriptions and everything.   :bigsmyl:  Second draft is what I managed to get down and posted after I cooled off a bit.    :D

Roughcountry

Way ta go Randy. Really enjoyed the blow by blow an that is one pretty bear. Congrats, your gonna have to get a pic of the new baby on the rug  :thumbsup:  
Thanks for taking us along, you made my day  :)

Shawn Burke

Awesome job with the story and pics, congrats on the bear.

frankb

Sa-WEEEET! Great pics... thanks for sharing that one, Randy!   :D   :D   :D  

Love it!

  :thumbsup:  ~Frank B~  :thumbsup:
"Until we meet again, may the Great Spirit make sunrise in your heart." ~Author Unknown~

Randy Morin

Thanks all.  Very nice to share with all you fine people.  Rough, I loosed the string on this bear with one of the tabs I made from the cordovan you sent me last year.  Good mojo never hurts does it. I will get my daughter up here soon too.  I just now am getting the digi cam-computer thang up and runnin.  Watch out now!

Guru

Randy, Congratulations on an awesome trophy!! She's absolutely beautiful   :readit:
Curt } >>--->   

"I love you Daddy".......My son Cade while stump shooting  3/19/06

SteveD


Tracy McQueen

Great story and a beautiful color phase bear Randy.

Congratulations on a successful hunt!

 :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
All the best to you,

Tracy McQueen


Please help support the Boy Scouts of America. Get a kid involved in Scouting!

Irish

Mel Riley

Tilbilly

Great story, beautiful bear. What a nice coloration. Good eatin' too, I'm sure.
The older I get, the better I was.

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