BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Foxer said:I cannot believe you guys see a bear like that, and all you can comment on is the guy's photography skills
And his rifle. DOes it really surprise you?
Huge British Columbia coastal grizzly taken
- Thread starter BC Bigbore
- Start date
And his rifle. DOes it really surprise you?
HMMMM my name is Steven..and Im the guy that took that "funny, silly" etc photo...the bear weighed between 800 and 900 pounds..thats spring pounds..after a winter of fasting...the front pads are 8 inches wide and the bear is slightly over 9 feet in length and much over 9 feet across the front legs..squared over 9 feet.The hide and head and paws were in excess of 150-170 pounds...
This is the second biggest grizzly I have personally seen in 30 some years of hunting and guiding..ironically the bigger one was here also and was also BLACK..some great genetics going on here.
Tim is NOT 10 feet behind the bear....thats what a 9 foot coastal grizzly looks like..HUGE..and in the second and 3rd photos Tim is attempting to lift the bears head...the head alone was in excess of 100 pounds...I too lifted the head it was DAMN heavy...no depth peception issues here..he's straddling the head...
Boo is right this bear IF he stays where he is will be the all time #32 grizzly ever taken in Boon & Crockett...
Morgan the black lab(she's asleep at my feet right now) weighs 72 pounds and is a fully grown black lab... only thing I could think of for comparison .
I admit Im NOT much of a photographer..BUT I DO know how to hunt and guide for bears..Clark Gatehouse and Rob should be able to confirm that..but I was never ever out to prove anything to anyone..I went to get my good friend Tim his first Grizzly and IF I had a chance I would pull the pin on a large grizzly also my size limit was 8 1/2 feet...
If my leg heals quick enough I will attempt to get back in there to fill my LEH grizzly tag...however as I said this was about TIMS first bear
LOL the hardest thing was holding off NOT shooting this hawg when Tims rifle malfunctioned...I KNEW how big the beast was...but Tims a great friend and I am sincirly happy for him....and was happy to help him and privileged to be a part of the hunt..a memory for ever.
Sorry if the first photo didnt look "good" I assure you it is...and that rifle is indeed a .458 shooting 500 grain "pills"...
Glad you enjoyed the story...its ALL true..like Elmer Keith said.."HELL I WAS THERE.."
Steven
This is the second biggest grizzly I have personally seen in 30 some years of hunting and guiding..ironically the bigger one was here also and was also BLACK..some great genetics going on here.
Tim is NOT 10 feet behind the bear....thats what a 9 foot coastal grizzly looks like..HUGE..and in the second and 3rd photos Tim is attempting to lift the bears head...the head alone was in excess of 100 pounds...I too lifted the head it was DAMN heavy...no depth peception issues here..he's straddling the head...
Boo is right this bear IF he stays where he is will be the all time #32 grizzly ever taken in Boon & Crockett...
Morgan the black lab(she's asleep at my feet right now) weighs 72 pounds and is a fully grown black lab... only thing I could think of for comparison .
I admit Im NOT much of a photographer..BUT I DO know how to hunt and guide for bears..Clark Gatehouse and Rob should be able to confirm that..but I was never ever out to prove anything to anyone..I went to get my good friend Tim his first Grizzly and IF I had a chance I would pull the pin on a large grizzly also my size limit was 8 1/2 feet...
If my leg heals quick enough I will attempt to get back in there to fill my LEH grizzly tag...however as I said this was about TIMS first bear
LOL the hardest thing was holding off NOT shooting this hawg when Tims rifle malfunctioned...I KNEW how big the beast was...but Tims a great friend and I am sincirly happy for him....and was happy to help him and privileged to be a part of the hunt..a memory for ever.
Sorry if the first photo didnt look "good" I assure you it is...and that rifle is indeed a .458 shooting 500 grain "pills"...
Glad you enjoyed the story...its ALL true..like Elmer Keith said.."HELL I WAS THERE.."
Steven
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BC Bigbore
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- BC's Peace Country
Well put Steven That bear you and Tim bagged is a monster! You had exercised extreme restraint not to drop the hammer when the moment of truth arrived and Tim's rifle wouldn't fire I've lived and hunted BC all my life and although I've been around some large mountain grizzlies in our northern reaches, those coastal bears are far and away the larger of the two. Maybe it's time to put in for a draw on the coast
That bear you and Tim bagged is a monster! You had exercised extreme restraint not to drop the hammer when the moment of truth arrived and Tim's rifle wouldn't fire I've lived and hunted BC all my life and although I've been around some large mountain grizzlies in our northern reaches, those coastal bears are far and away the larger of the two. Maybe it's time to put in for a draw on the coast 
Like I said before..that aint a photoshop, it's just a guy behind his bear. Look at the pics of me and Rob. Rob is squatting directly behind the bears head- not 10 feet back. And I am holding it's head. I *am* a bigger, better looking guy than Rob, so it's all relative. Many on here have met me, or at least seen my pic with others, so they know I am not a teeny guy- and Robs bear is 1.5 foot shorter than Tim and Steves bear...
Some 3 or 4 years ago, my dumbass buddy Rob drew a tag for this area. being a dumbass from Ontario, he had put in there since I told him "big bears around Bella Coola"
He had no fricking clue about how hard the access there was. I believe the first thing out of my mouth was "You cocksmoking idiot!! You know how tough the coast is to hunt?"
Steve Rupp heard about our plight, invited us to his house, and gave us some good intel.
Rupp had talked abotu a "giant, black" grizz that was in the area, and that he had hoped to get it (or one of it's offspring) one day.
Says alot about a man when he knows the area, knows how to hunt it, been hoping for a tag of his own for years- gets a tag...And then lets another man shoot.
Says alot....
Some 3 or 4 years ago, my dumbass buddy Rob drew a tag for this area. being a dumbass from Ontario, he had put in there since I told him "big bears around Bella Coola"
He had no fricking clue about how hard the access there was. I believe the first thing out of my mouth was "You cocksmoking idiot!! You know how tough the coast is to hunt?"
Steve Rupp heard about our plight, invited us to his house, and gave us some good intel.
Rupp had talked abotu a "giant, black" grizz that was in the area, and that he had hoped to get it (or one of it's offspring) one day.
Says alot about a man when he knows the area, knows how to hunt it, been hoping for a tag of his own for years- gets a tag...And then lets another man shoot.
Says alot....
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Thanks guys..I was pretty surprised out of 5,000 hits on various sites that some would actually consider something "fishy" or photoshopped.....hmmm and all of the doubt was here.... I guess some dont know me..lol I have nothing to prove..Im pretty transparent..oh well...I just attempted to share our adventure in words and in photos..for some who have been there and done that, Im sure they smiled and recalled their adventure..for others I tried to "bring you along" as I recreated our adventure....Im sure some from Saskatchewan or Ontario dont really grasp just how BIG these coastal bears can get..its not a big black bear its not even a mountain grizzly..these are fish fed grizzlies that over time have developed their own characteristics that mainly involve getting amazingly huge..basically a seperate species..IF shot in Alaska this would be called a "brown bear"
It may just be hard to believe but I have waited for years at another crack at the black colored grizzly of Kwatna bay and it was more important to get Tim his first grizzly than for me to shoot another grizzly....those that REALLY know me know this to be true..I get a real genuine enjoyment from helping others...
As for that rifle it "may " look strange because its a custom made .458 that weighs about 11 pounds or more and is much larger than a normal rifle..barrel is much thicker and stock is pretty massive..
Cant explain why a couple of posters here have had doubts over the size of the bear..however suffice it to say..the Conservation officer in Bella Coola..a straight up guy I enjoyed meeting..must have realized how special this bear is he's asked for photos for his office...
If I get a chance I will post a copuple more photos..
Steven
It may just be hard to believe but I have waited for years at another crack at the black colored grizzly of Kwatna bay and it was more important to get Tim his first grizzly than for me to shoot another grizzly....those that REALLY know me know this to be true..I get a real genuine enjoyment from helping others...
As for that rifle it "may " look strange because its a custom made .458 that weighs about 11 pounds or more and is much larger than a normal rifle..barrel is much thicker and stock is pretty massive..
Cant explain why a couple of posters here have had doubts over the size of the bear..however suffice it to say..the Conservation officer in Bella Coola..a straight up guy I enjoyed meeting..must have realized how special this bear is he's asked for photos for his office...
If I get a chance I will post a copuple more photos..
Steven
BC Bigbore
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- BC's Peace Country
Please do!!
Thanks Elmer 
Ruttinbuck
CGN Regular
More pictures...You've been hold out on me
I guess the coastal bears are just too big for people to comprehend.I showed the first pic to some guys at work yesterday and the first comment I heard was "I thought it was a buffalo"
Steven that is the most impressive modern day Grizz I have ever saw.You are the real deal.Anyone questioning your integrity over pictures just does'nt know ya.
If I ever get the itch to hunt the big bears,you will likely be the one telling me "thats the one shoot."RB
I guess the coastal bears are just too big for people to comprehend.I showed the first pic to some guys at work yesterday and the first comment I heard was "I thought it was a buffalo"
Steven that is the most impressive modern day Grizz I have ever saw.You are the real deal.Anyone questioning your integrity over pictures just does'nt know ya.
If I ever get the itch to hunt the big bears,you will likely be the one telling me "thats the one shoot."RB
srupp said:
Steven, I don't think anyone should doubt the size and beauty of this bear having read the story and seen all the photos. I don't want to take anything away from either the trophy or the hunter who was fortunate enough to bag it. Awesome trophy, well done. That said, though, the way in which the first photo was taken simply begs suspicion. I expect it was simply the typical set-up of putting the hunter a short distance behind the bear to make the animal look bigger. Typical guide/trophy "trick", as others have pointed out. In my humble opinion, taking these kinds of photos actually detracts from the trophy and the hunter rather than add anything. Let the trophy speak for itself. This bear obviously can do that (having seen the other photos). In the age of PhotoShop and Internet myths, do yourself (as the guide), the hunter and the bear a favour, and take photos that avoid drawing suspicion. My two cents, offered in a spirit of friendly advice. And congrats, btw, for doing your part to help this hunter bag the bear of a lifetime.
Congratulations to both Hunter and Guide. Nothing wrong with the bear or the photos... both are awesome.
The detractors are simply jealous and flapping foolishly... sadly typical of late... I am envious of your hunting success and would not dream of criticizing.
The detractors are simply jealous and flapping foolishly... sadly typical of late... I am envious of your hunting success and would not dream of criticizing.
Well -I- Sure would.. i mean, look at that blue golf shirt! it clashes ENTIRELY with his eyes. And rubber with camo? I mean Hon-est-leeeey! That's SO 1990's. Get with the program, honey!
(sorry - am i being quite ghey enough for the detractors yet?
Just trying to relate ..... ) Very nice bear.
- Location
- South Cariboo, BC
Fantastic bear, and fantastic story. Thanks for taking us along for the ride with you.
As for us not knowing you as well here, stop by more often and we will. It would be nice to have another very experienced hunter sharing his knowledge here. Maybe you can help keep Gatehouse in line too.
I imagine your next big game trophy is going to have "Ford" written on it?
As for us not knowing you as well here, stop by more often and we will. It would be nice to have another very experienced hunter sharing his knowledge here. Maybe you can help keep Gatehouse in line too.
I imagine your next big game trophy is going to have "Ford" written on it?
Thank you..I appreciate the help..I wanted photos of Tim AND the bear..gives size and perspective...and something to hang on the wall..same as with Morgan our lab..a skull is a skull untill you see it next to a fully grown 72 pound lab dog everyone knows what a lab dog looks like for size.
In the first photo..Tim is perhaps 2 feet on the back side of the bear..there was a deep mud water hole almost under the bear..but since I was there its easier for me to remember..I never thought of photoshop or anything..I was trying to share an awesome bear with friends on the various sites.
And once the second and third photo were also posted any doubt about its size should have been eliminated....
Good points though....
Doug you get the draw..Ill come with you.
Steven
In the first photo..Tim is perhaps 2 feet on the back side of the bear..there was a deep mud water hole almost under the bear..but since I was there its easier for me to remember..I never thought of photoshop or anything..I was trying to share an awesome bear with friends on the various sites.
And once the second and third photo were also posted any doubt about its size should have been eliminated....
Good points though....
Doug you get the draw..Ill come with you.
Steven
What is the cool internet abriviation for holy $hit you lucky ba$tard.
How doy you say the picture griping is not worth commenting on without commenting.
Now I remember that good reason I bought a 338 wm when I lived in BC.
Everyone needs a couple of good storys like that.
How doy you say the picture griping is not worth commenting on without commenting.
Now I remember that good reason I bought a 338 wm when I lived in BC.
Everyone needs a couple of good storys like that.
The grizzly
The grzzly in the picture is not a large bear and that is because he is a fairly young bear. Look at the perfect teeth! Large grizzlies are old grizzlies and old bears have badly worn and sometimes broken, teeth. I'm guessing he is about three years old. Four at the most.
The grzzly in the picture is not a large bear and that is because he is a fairly young bear. Look at the perfect teeth! Large grizzlies are old grizzlies and old bears have badly worn and sometimes broken, teeth. I'm guessing he is about three years old. Four at the most.
- Location
- AB foothills
H4831 said:
What picture are you talking about?
I think you might have been hitting the pipe a little hard tonight
