I actually hung up the guns and my bow at that point, and was so damn depressed doing so that I settled into a viscous funk I simply could not shake. But my hunting partner was having none of that, and came over to berate me into heading back out - something I will be eternally grateful to him for doing!!
Couple nights back now our area received the first of the winter storms, dumping many inches of the white stuff in a mere couple hours.
I was sitting in my blind contemplating what the weather change might mean for sightings that night as the sky slowly darkened. Just when I was thinking that nothing was going to show, a huge black shape strolled by me at 20 yards! WOAH!!!
Up with the rifle to my LEFT shoulder and eye, and the damn scope was completely fogged due to sitting in my lap. Damn!! Quickly dropped it down and cleaned it, and back up. Insufficient cleaning job in the panic, and still could not see through the damn thing! Back down again, a GOOD cleaning this time, and just as the rifle rose for the third time, the big bruin stopped and nosed the ground in front of him. Not quite broadside quartering slightly away. I do not remember aiming, and was surprised when the rifle roared. Instinct had taken over. The bear was rocked off his feet, but jumped up and began to run HARD towards the deeper bush! CRAP! Again instinct kicked in - I do not remember cycling another round nor the sighting and subsequent shot, but the bear went down for good then. Relief set in as I stared hard at the 85 yard distant and still black form on the fresh snow.
My partner came wandering over, and took this shot of the bruin's last tracks next to his own size 13 bootprint:
We then approached cautiously with safeties off to have a boo.
A literal GIANT lay before us:
The Business End:
We're screwed mumbled my Buddy. There is No Way we can move that thing!
He was right of course, 450 pounds of literal dead weight is indeed a bit of a haul.
A couple calls later, and one of the area's Ranchers came along with his Son and their quad and trailer.
Yet it took another call to bring in another good (Big!) Buddy before we could inch the massive body up the ramp onto the trailer.
Rancher's Son with the Bear:
Shortly after that he was hanging in the Rancher's barn...
Took couple hours to get the heavy hide off of him, and I donated that to the Rancher who is getting a full rug mount done.
Yesterday we went back and broke him down, taking nearly 5 hours to do it properly.
Yield was 125 pounds of boneless meat & 165 pounds pure fat!
Tried the tenderloins, incredibly mild and extremely tender.
Reminded me of a yearling whitetail buck.
Getting hams, smokies and pepperonis made soon.
Rendering down the fat today...
Taxidermist called and noted bear is seven feet five inches nose to tail and "will go book for sure". Happy news!
Happy the camera killer is no more.
40 yard heart shot off the left shoulder
Happier still with the realization he makes the 47th fall straight that I have taken at least one big game animal!
The streak continues...
Cheers,
Nog
