Well, I decided to take the family for a ride and check the snow levels and look for bear sign. Threw in the new .338 just in case. Snow was quite low still, and saw no sign. Decided I will check out a spot I normally don't hunt in. Well I spotted one bear only. He was feeding on a grassy patch on the edge of a ravine. Wife and I both agreed he was a shooter with those small ears so I went to get closer and left the family in the truck. I got up really close but he busted me and jumped 10yrds in the thick stuff. I still had a shot and had him in the crosshairs but had two thoughts going. Wife and kids in the truck, do I want to do this while they watch, and the bigger thought. If I shoot him and he makes it 10yrds over the bank it's straight down. I passed on the shot. Bear leaves. Get back to the truck and wife and kids give me hell for not shooting. As we are driving away, Tiffany (wife) says get your butt back there and get me that bear.
So I drive a hundred yards and figure I will sneak back and maybe the bear will come out and finish his grassy meal. Turns out I was right. 50yrd shot. Waited till he turned broadside and boom with my new ruger .338 with a 200gr Barnes X. Here is what happened next. He takes 2 bounds for the edge, roars "You will never take me alive" and jumps off the cliff. Okay, he never yelled at me but I know thats what he was thinking. Went back to the truck, got my dog and then went down after him. I knew he was dead it was just a matter of where he landed. Turns out, you couldn't see 5ft in front of you. Not a good feeling. Thats why I grabbed the dog. But the coward wouldn't go over the cliff with me. It was steep. About 90yrds down there he was. Dead as I figured. No blood trail even though it was a complete pass through. But the trail was easy to follow, he broke every small tree and branch on his way down. Cut my tag. Climbed back up to the truck, which took me awhile. Did I mention it was steep. Called a buddy said he would come help. Grabbed some rope. My wife, buddy and I went back. Buddy looked over the cliff and said "I changed my mind, take me back." We both laughed and got back to work. Climbed down tied up the bear and towed him up the cliff with the truck. Admired the beast. Took pics. Got to work again. It was all we could do to get him into the bed of the truck. My buddy figures min 350lbs but more than likely 400+
Skinned him at home, and get this. Very early bear yet he had more than 2inches of white fat on his backside. Never seen that before. Maybe for fall, but early spring.
Anyway. Bear was 6ft 5inches nose to tail. Distance between ears was 9 3/4 inches. I got nice and close in the pics so no one could say I was 6ft behind the bear
So I drive a hundred yards and figure I will sneak back and maybe the bear will come out and finish his grassy meal. Turns out I was right. 50yrd shot. Waited till he turned broadside and boom with my new ruger .338 with a 200gr Barnes X. Here is what happened next. He takes 2 bounds for the edge, roars "You will never take me alive" and jumps off the cliff. Okay, he never yelled at me but I know thats what he was thinking. Went back to the truck, got my dog and then went down after him. I knew he was dead it was just a matter of where he landed. Turns out, you couldn't see 5ft in front of you. Not a good feeling. Thats why I grabbed the dog. But the coward wouldn't go over the cliff with me. It was steep. About 90yrds down there he was. Dead as I figured. No blood trail even though it was a complete pass through. But the trail was easy to follow, he broke every small tree and branch on his way down. Cut my tag. Climbed back up to the truck, which took me awhile. Did I mention it was steep. Called a buddy said he would come help. Grabbed some rope. My wife, buddy and I went back. Buddy looked over the cliff and said "I changed my mind, take me back." We both laughed and got back to work. Climbed down tied up the bear and towed him up the cliff with the truck. Admired the beast. Took pics. Got to work again. It was all we could do to get him into the bed of the truck. My buddy figures min 350lbs but more than likely 400+
Skinned him at home, and get this. Very early bear yet he had more than 2inches of white fat on his backside. Never seen that before. Maybe for fall, but early spring.
Anyway. Bear was 6ft 5inches nose to tail. Distance between ears was 9 3/4 inches. I got nice and close in the pics so no one could say I was 6ft behind the bear
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Congrats on a fine shot.
