I got this nice little guy out near Mattawa on Saturday evening.
The landowner drove me out to the stand on the atv and dropped me off. I got my molasses burn going out in the open then settled in to the stand. The stand is located in a small opening amongst some real thick bush. There is a ridge that runs E-W just north of me and a swamp to the south. A pretty good natural funnel with all kinds of visible bear trails through the underbrush and ferns.
It was maybe 5 minutes, I could still hear the landowner going back to the house on the atv when the first bear came out. He wouldnt present a shot opportunity so all I could do is watch as the wind swirled and he picked up my scent. The little bear bounced off into the woods.
10 minutes later I could see some brush moving but couldnt hear any footsteps. 1-2 minutes later a second bear (probably smaller than the first) came out in the open. He browsed around and looked right up the scope at me several times but no clean shot was available. I could feel the wind swirling due to the high ridge north of me and I was worried this bear would smell me too.
The bear finally made a bad move and stepped out from behind a log totally broadside with his near front leg extended forward( @75yrds). One 140g Nosler partition from my 7mm-08 Rem700 and he was gone like lightning at the shot. I gave a hail mary at him as he headed for some serioulsy thick slask.Missed.
He only made it 35yds or so before giving up. A short drag and a quick gut and I was home by 8:00pm.
He's about 180-200lbs if he lucky. No huge, but I;ve let enough walk, to end up not seeing another to know I had better take this one if I wanted bear pepperette's this year.
The landowner drove me out to the stand on the atv and dropped me off. I got my molasses burn going out in the open then settled in to the stand. The stand is located in a small opening amongst some real thick bush. There is a ridge that runs E-W just north of me and a swamp to the south. A pretty good natural funnel with all kinds of visible bear trails through the underbrush and ferns.
It was maybe 5 minutes, I could still hear the landowner going back to the house on the atv when the first bear came out. He wouldnt present a shot opportunity so all I could do is watch as the wind swirled and he picked up my scent. The little bear bounced off into the woods.
10 minutes later I could see some brush moving but couldnt hear any footsteps. 1-2 minutes later a second bear (probably smaller than the first) came out in the open. He browsed around and looked right up the scope at me several times but no clean shot was available. I could feel the wind swirling due to the high ridge north of me and I was worried this bear would smell me too.
The bear finally made a bad move and stepped out from behind a log totally broadside with his near front leg extended forward( @75yrds). One 140g Nosler partition from my 7mm-08 Rem700 and he was gone like lightning at the shot. I gave a hail mary at him as he headed for some serioulsy thick slask.Missed.
He only made it 35yds or so before giving up. A short drag and a quick gut and I was home by 8:00pm.
He's about 180-200lbs if he lucky. No huge, but I;ve let enough walk, to end up not seeing another to know I had better take this one if I wanted bear pepperette's this year.
