Early Bear

[Dooley]

Last year, while whitetail hunting the southern zone I was on a log eating lunch and heard something moving quickly behind me - I turned around and it was a black blear beelining at me.  I dropped my lunch, quickly picked the rifle up off of my lap and luckily, hit it in the throat and dropped it instantly.   It was 25 footsteps from me when I got it.  It took me four hours to drag it to an area where I had reception to call for backup; another hour with two additional guys to get it too a truck.  As said above - it gets caught on everything, small stones, brush, rock walls, etc.  Dragging 295lbs of dead weight is not what I had planned for.  

 

My friends family has had this camp for 30 years and has never seen a bear.  You truly dont know what you can enounter in the woods.  Thankfully I had my 30-06 and luck on my side that day.

 

My rug should be done any week now!

[the blur]

Sounds like he was sniffing your sandwich. When you drag the bear, does the rug get destroyed ? Did you drag him on a drop cloth ?

[Dooley]

Sounds like he was sniffing your sandwich. When you drag the bear, does the rug get destroyed ? Did you drag him on a drop cloth ?

 

That was my assumption - he was interested in the peanut butter.  I did not have a drop cloth, but quickly learned that their fur is extremely resilient to anything you would encounter in the woods; especially because I was dragging it at a snail's pace.

 

[AaronBlaine]

man dooley that's some wild stuff right there!  Great story so was he in a full charge when you shot em!?  Spooky stuff I wonder if he would have attacked once he realized what you were or if he was going for the sandwich.  I don't think I would have waited to find out! Quick shooting with a 30-06 aint easy but thank god you know what your doing!  Very cool story!

[Dooley]

Thanks, glad I can entertain!  He was not at full charge, but coming quickly.  The terrain was pitched downhill and I think that's what kept him at a slower pace.  The images of the hind legs moving up and down at the "hips" will never be erased from my memory.

 

I would also consider myself more lucky than "skilled."  I shot less than 10 shells in my life before that happened (I'm a very new hunter).  By the time picked up the old Remington and had him in my scope, it's head took up the entire sight.  Thankfully, I hit him in the throat and didnt ruin the skull, which i had bleached (picking it up when the rug is done).  It still seems surreal when I think about it.

[the blur]

I would also consider myself more lucky than "skilled."  I shot less than 10 shells in my life before that happened (I'm a very new hunter).  By the time picked up the old Remington and had him in my scope, it's head took up the entire sight.  Thankfully, I hit him in the throat and didnt ruin the skull, which i had bleached (picking it up when the rug is done).  It still seems surreal when I think about it.

That is so COOL !!!!! Did you field dress him ??? Considering you never dressed a deer !!!! That is a great story.

I shot my 1st deer on public land, and these 4 other guys came out of nowhere to see what I got. My hands were shaking. 1 guy helped me gut the deer, and then they all left in disgust because they always hunted there.

then 1/2 hour later, I'm still dragging, another guy comes along, and helps me drag the deer up hill to the main trail. I offered him $100, and he refused !!!!!!!

[Dooley]

That is so COOL !!!!! Did you field dress him ??? Considering you never dressed a deer !!!! That is a great story.

I shot my 1st deer on public land, and these 4 other guys came out of nowhere to see what I got. My hands were shaking. 1 guy helped me gut the deer, and then they all left in disgust because they always hunted there.

then 1/2 hour later, I'm still dragging, another guy comes along, and helps me drag the deer up hill to the main trail. I offered him $100, and he refused !!!!!!!

 

While I'm "new" to hunting, last season was my fourth (I only hunt Sat-Mon of opening weekend).  The season prior, I got a doe from roughly 75 yards (that was the third time I've ever pulled a trigger in my life, I sh!t you not - luck has been on my side).  I'm a life long fisherman, so carving things up is not too foreign. I would say I did a "medium" job on the doe.  When it came to the bear - it was almost comical.  Obviously not prepared for a bear, I was only carrying a Wyoming knife (blade is a little over an inch). I first attempted to "hang" him up by the neck and realized that I should have paid attention in physics class.  A ~140lb me hoisting a ~300lb bear didnt work as I had imagined (would have been extremely comical to watch).  So i layed him out and attempted to make my cut from sternum to his manhood; quickly realizing the knife wasnt up to the challenge.  It took a few scores, like cutting glass to get him open and get the majority of the organs out.  I rolled him over and most of it came out.  Dragged it for a few hours and thankfully, when two other guys met me, we hoisted it up and I finished it up with their knives (and their assitance).

 

I found out a few days later that I should have kept the gall bladder and sold it to some Far East folks - I was told that it could have paid for my rug.  Dammiitttttt

 

Like you said, there was plenty of shaking when it happened....

Edited August 29, 2014 by Dooley

[Futuretrash]

I was out this weekend in the Catskills spot and stalk with my bow. Scat everywhere. No sightings. Camped in a tent in the forest. A little hairy but an amazing time. My brain was on full alert. Logged some great cover spots on my GPS app, going back in 2 weeks. They're out there! Go deep, they hang where we don't go daytime.

[fisher2]

maybe it'd just me, but why the heck are you hunting if you've shot so little?? who takes 3 shots in their lifetime and decides they're great enough to put an animal down ethically?

[Sogaard]

Edit...never mind...already answered.

Edited September 8, 2014 by Sogaard