OT: Big Bear Down
Moderator: Excalibur Marketing Dude
- IronNoggin
- Posts: 3583
- Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:53 pm
- Location: Port Alberni, Vancouver Island
OT: Big Bear Down
We've been having some rather serious issues with a large Black Bear chewing up our trail cameras for the past two seasons. All the local ranchers wanted him gone, but the bugger was REALLY canny! Had a quick opportunity on him earlier this fall, but due to my injured eye (could not find him in the scope) he got a pass...
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
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
Last edited by IronNoggin on Mon Nov 06, 2017 4:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."
- IronNoggin
- Posts: 3583
- Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:53 pm
- Location: Port Alberni, Vancouver Island
Re: OT: Big Bear Down
A final couple pictures to show just how FAT this bugger really was:
165 pounds of bagged fat:
Cheers,
Nog
165 pounds of bagged fat:
Cheers,
Nog
Last edited by IronNoggin on Mon Nov 06, 2017 4:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."
Re: OT: Big Bear Down
Very nice bear, congrats!
It’s not the way you rock, it’s the way that you roll!
Re: OT: Big Bear Down
Nice.. congrats
350 le
Crossfire ii scope
Acp trigger 2nd stage
Boo custom string
Crossfire ii scope
Acp trigger 2nd stage
Boo custom string
Re: OT: Big Bear Down
I'm so happy for you that you made the adjustment to left hand shooting and didn't just give up.
That's some big bear. Man, that's got to be a lot of Pampers he's polished off! (Don't be offended--I'm just jealous.)
That's some big bear. Man, that's got to be a lot of Pampers he's polished off! (Don't be offended--I'm just jealous.)
"Gun Control Laws"--trying to nag criminals into submission.
Re: OT: Big Bear Down
Wow....beautiful beast. Where I hunt moose, we have bear problems every year. Almost every one in the area shoot the bears and leave them to rot. Great waste of meat and fur. There is always someone who is willing to buy the fur. My son and I are going to target bears next year and keep the meat. What do I do with the bear fat? How do we render the bear fat?
The bears in our moose hunting area (north of the 50th parallel) are super healthy and there are no dumps. They are forced to eat what nature provides.
The bears in our moose hunting area (north of the 50th parallel) are super healthy and there are no dumps. They are forced to eat what nature provides.
Vortex
Re: OT: Big Bear Down
Congrats on a great bear!
vixen 11
exocet 175 with Aging custom stock #27
Exocet 175
exocet 200
matrix 355
Micro Camo 335
Micro Nightmare 335
380 Lynx
BJ custom arrows
Boo string on vixen
exocet 175 with Aging custom stock #27
Exocet 175
exocet 200
matrix 355
Micro Camo 335
Micro Nightmare 335
380 Lynx
BJ custom arrows
Boo string on vixen
Re: OT: Big Bear Down
I would have a good healthy drink with your hunting partner for the kick in the butt. Cheers!
That is one BIG bear. Nice
BTW, Paul has a seriously good peperoni spice recipe which you may already have had the pleasure of sampling when prepared with Russian Boar.
That is one BIG bear. Nice
BTW, Paul has a seriously good peperoni spice recipe which you may already have had the pleasure of sampling when prepared with Russian Boar.
EXCALFFLICTION 1991 ->>----------> 2024
Matrix 355
Huskemaw and Leupold crossbow optics.
Boo Strings
SWAT BH's and TOTA heads.
Teach Your Family How To Hunt So You Don't Have To Hunt For Your Family
Matrix 355
Huskemaw and Leupold crossbow optics.
Boo Strings
SWAT BH's and TOTA heads.
Teach Your Family How To Hunt So You Don't Have To Hunt For Your Family
Re: OT: Big Bear Down
Wow!!!
A Big Congrats from me Bud!!!
That is a Bear for the books alright. Im glad you took him down before anymore carnage!
Way to come back Matt !!
Big John
A Big Congrats from me Bud!!!
That is a Bear for the books alright. Im glad you took him down before anymore carnage!
Way to come back Matt !!
Big John
Phoenix - 375 gr. BEE's (babyneilsons)
Micro 315 - 410 gr. Zombies/Lumenoks
Micro 355. - Punisher-Zombies/Lumenoks
Arrowmaker - Retired
[email protected]
Micro 315 - 410 gr. Zombies/Lumenoks
Micro 355. - Punisher-Zombies/Lumenoks
Arrowmaker - Retired
[email protected]
....
Phoenix - 375 gr. BEE's (babyneilsons)
Micro 315 - 410 gr. Zombies/Lumenoks
Micro 355. - Punisher-Zombies/Lumenoks
Arrowmaker - Retired
[email protected]
Micro 315 - 410 gr. Zombies/Lumenoks
Micro 355. - Punisher-Zombies/Lumenoks
Arrowmaker - Retired
[email protected]
Re: OT: Big Bear Down
Congrats! Great Story and pics!
Team Matrix 355
Matrix 355 The Crusher
TT 2 stage trigger
Executioner arrows
Easton XX75 magnums 2219
Xcaliber custom string
Boo Custom String
Vixenmaster Custom string
8ptbuk string
Rocket 3 blade 2" cut
Slick tricks
HSS Vest 30' lifeline
Matrix 355 The Crusher
TT 2 stage trigger
Executioner arrows
Easton XX75 magnums 2219
Xcaliber custom string
Boo Custom String
Vixenmaster Custom string
8ptbuk string
Rocket 3 blade 2" cut
Slick tricks
HSS Vest 30' lifeline
-
- Posts: 3430
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:41 pm
- Location: Southern Michigan
Re: OT: Big Bear Down
Wow what a beast, great story and a big congratulations !
Hunt eat sleep repeat.
Re: OT: Big Bear Down
Congrats on getting a nice bear!
Where did you aim?
Where did you aim?
Re: OT: Big Bear Down
Congrats on Great Bear... Glad you got back out there and continued to hunt...