Shot a Grizzly

Finally have the time to complete the story...

After we got back to camp on June 2 2008 I noticed that we had dropped a knife sheath somewhere in the thick bush so after 5 days of wondering if we should go back in after it we decided to give it a try...

Yes I'm aware of what we were doing... :redface:

As we slowly/cautiously/noisly walked into the site once again carrying my 45-70 and my son carrying his shotgun we found the sheath about 25 yards into the thick bush but now curiousity had the better of us and we decided to advance to the spot that the carcass was.

About 20 yards from the site I was finally able to see into were the carcass should have been but that 800lbs body was completely gone...

I glanced over to my son stating "the bodies gone lets get out of here" to which we turned tail and made the fastest safe retreat that we could with him leading the way like any good father would let his son do.

When we were a couple of hundred yards away from the thick bush my son and I stopped and regrouped it was only then that he asked me "did you hear that noise just as you were saying lets get out of here"?

I'm almost completely deaf and hadn't heard a thing he then continued to explain the noise was like a huge body rubbing up against or dragging something against a bush or a tree...

I was wondering why his retreat was faster than mine... ;)

Later I started thinking that only another huge grizzly could have moved that carcass so guys there is another huge bear in the area...

We have already bought his limited entry draw so he can apply for next year we know were to hunt there now.
 
Camp Cook said:
Finally have the time to complete the story...

After we got back to camp on June 2 2008 I noticed that we had dropped a knife sheath somewhere in the thick bush so after 5 days of wondering if we should go back in after it we decided to give it a try...

Yes I'm aware of what we were doing... :redface:

As we slowly/cautiously/noisly walked into the site once again carrying my 45-70 and my son carrying his shotgun we found the sheath about 25 yards into the thick bush but now curiousity had the better of us and we decided to advance to the spot that the carcass was.

About 20 yards from the site I was finally able to see into were the carcass should have been but that 800lbs body was completely gone...

I glanced over to my son stating "the bodies gone lets get out of here" to which we turned tail and made the fastest safe retreat that we could with him leading the way like any good father would let his son do.

When we were a couple of hundred yards away from the thick bush my son and I stopped and regrouped it was only then that he asked me "did you hear that noise just as you were saying lets get out of here"?

I'm almost completely deaf and hadn't heard a thing he then continued to explain the noise was like a huge body rubbing up against or dragging something against a bush or a tree...

I was wondering why his retreat was faster than mine... ;)

Later I started thinking that only another huge grizzly could have moved that carcass so guys there is another huge bear in the area...

We have already bought his limited entry draw so he can apply for next year we know were to hunt there now.
Click to expand...

Now THAT was scarry....
 
Hm ok, I checked the Boone and Crockett Records and for BC they call all grizzlies as Grizzlies the only other classification they have for grizzlies is the Alaskan Grizzly. A 23" skull is the minimum to make the Boone and Crockett Book for BC. I'm a member of the Boone and Crockett Club and paid the extra to be able to use their searchable database. These measuremnets are after the drying period. I suspect that the BC records will distinguish between the coastal and mountain griz, but since it sounds like you shot it somewhere between Smithers and Terrace it would be a coastal griz.

I noticed in one of the pics you had ear plugs in your ears when you went back the next day to look for the griz. What's the story with that?

Also, I thought it was smart having a dog with you when you went in the next day to look for the bear. I'd like to get a dog, but it does require attention and some work as well as food and vet bills.

The photo that gives the best perspective of the bear's size is the one where you're standing at the head of the bear. This is a bonus for spending time in the bush, I've never shot anythng that even comes close to making the book, so well done!
 
alremkin said:
but since it sounds like you shot it somewhere between Smithers and Terrace it would be a coastal griz.

I noticed in one of the pics you had ear plugs in your ears when you went back the next day to look for the griz. What's the story with that?

Also, I thought it was smart having a dog with you when you went in the next day to look for the bear. I'd like to get a dog, but it does require attention and some work as well as food and vet bills.

The photo that gives the best perspective of the bear's size is the one where you're standing at the head of the bear. This is a bonus for spending time in the bush, I've never shot anythng that even comes close to making the book, so well done!
Click to expand...

I was working/hunting directly north of Ft St James so it is actually classed as an interior bear at least that is what the outfitter that I was talking with said.

Ear plugs... due to a childhood desease and then loud work enviroment for almost 30 years I cannot hear in my left ear and I have lost high tones in my right I wear a hearing aid that cuts off any sound over 85 decibals in my right ear. In other words if you have perfect hearing I hear just over 1/3 of what you can hear.

I am never in the bush or around firearms without hearing protection in the green custom protect molded plug that you can see in the pictures is to stop the pressures of shooting a loud firearm in that ear ie a 454 Casull handgun.

As for the dog I am never in the bush without her she is my ears though now that she is getting older she only wants to retreive sticks... :)

Food maybe an issue but one dog doesn't eat all that much and vet bills are also almost non-existant I very rarely have had to take her in to see the vet.
 
Thank you Mr Gibb's...

My dog Moki has spent a lot of time with me and I have depended on her a lot over the years she is now 10 1/2 years old and her breed is Chesapeake Bay Retriever. I had her delivered too me when she was 49 days old... :)

I just recieved an awesome update of the area where I shot the bear... :D

I had told the outfitter exactly were I had shot the bear and that we think that there is another big grizzly in the area due to the carcass being carried off.

He went to check out the spot the other day and as he approached it another bear started shaking trees and growling at him he was able to see the head and said it looks exactly like my bears brother. :cool:
 
alremkin said:
Hm ok, I checked the Boone and Crockett Records and for BC they call all grizzlies as Grizzlies the only other classification they have for grizzlies is the Alaskan Grizzly. A 23" skull is the minimum to make the Boone and Crockett Book for BC. I'm a member of the Boone and Crockett Club and paid the extra to be able to use their searchable database.
Click to expand...

what is the extra database? for scoring/minimum sizes/records? just curious


CC nice bear bud, is it in terrace now?
 
Camp Cook said:
I had told the outfitter exactly were I had shot the bear and that we think that there is another big grizzly in the area due to the carcass being carried off.

He went to check out the spot the other day and as he approached it another bear started shaking trees and growling at him he was able to see the head and said it looks exactly like my bears brother. :cool:
Click to expand...

I bet he cant wait for his next hunter to show up so he can get a crack at one of those top 5'rs! :D
 
bone-collector said:
what is the extra database? for scoring/minimum sizes/records? just curious


ASSOCIATES OVERVIEW

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Ok, that's what they say at the Boone and Crockett site. The main reason I paid the extra money above the memebrship which includes a quarterly subcription to Fair Chase was to access the searchable database records of all north american species. Something to do on long winter nights, lol. They call this the Associate Community.

Also I notice they say a skull measuremnt after the drying period of 24" is the minimum to make the all time Book yet they list entries down to 23". So I'm not sure what's up with that. Maybe they want to change the minimum to make book but won't take current entries out?
Click to expand...
 
TB the next group of hunters won't be in until the fall now so the big boy has a very good chance to get out of there his meal can only last so long.

Only reason I told the outfitter where it was... :)

Bone-collector the hide is now @ Wildlife Designs in 150 Mile House.
 
all scoring books have 2 sizes for each catigoy, the all time book means your trophy gets in the big book of records for life, the other is for that scoring period, bc books I beleive is every 4 years they update so you can be in that book but not in the next 4 year period one.

here is a link to the bc records site: http://members.shaw.ca/wildliferecordsofbc/pages/wildl_rec_1pag.html
 
What a cool hunt and story! I am thinking that a pump action with slugs and open sights would be the best for big bear defence? Just my guess. Faster reloading? Scope at close range work well at a running bear? I think I would feel best going in after a wounded grizz with a slug/pump shotgun. Bad idea?
 
My son is carrying a Dlask 8.5" 12 gauge shotgun with the butt stock installed with 3" Brenneke slugs is it faster than my Marlin not really totally depends on the person handling the gun.

The reason the scope was on the Marlin is because I left my XS Ghost Ring Sight at home... :redface:

So if you are comfortable with a shotgun as long as you are using slugs of a strong enough construction you will be set up to stop almost anything.

Here is a picture of my 12 gauge Rem 870 with a Dlask 14" barrel and a 1x - 4x leupold scope and my Marlin 1895GS 45-70 with an 18.5" barrel the handgun is my shortened by Gunnar @ Armco to 4.25" Ruger Super Redhawk in 454 Casull

Dec_25_to_28_2007_086.jpg
 
CC: You've got a good collection of up close thumpers there...My preference on all three would have been iron sights, but to each their own. With the short barrel on the shotgun could almost just sight down the barrel like a bird gun at close range. I bet the 454 boots a bit. Did it have a 7 1/2" barrel before your mods? Anyway nice to have a good selection my problem now is my safe is full, so that will slow down my acquisitions for awhile.

I hope you'll up date this thread when you get the skull scored.
 
I have the scopes mounted to show their versatility don't always have the scopes on though depends where I am and what I am doing.

In the case of the 14" barreled 870 I would like a taller front sight the scope is sighted in to point of aim @ 50 yards but with the stock front sight I'm hitting about 12" high at 20 yards.

I had Dlask install the rail on the 870 so I could mount the scope and an XS Sights Backup Ghost Ring sight when I pop the scope off just need to get the barrel back to him so he can put a taller sight on.

Same issue with my sons 8.5" Dlask 870 except it hits about 1 1/2' high at 20 yards will be taking that one back in for a little work as well.

Now that my eyes are getting older and definately not working as good as they used to I like having the versatility of both irons and scopes.

I will definately get the skull scored

Here is another pic of the Marlin with the ghost ring sight installed the 2 handguns are my 5.5" Ruger Bisley Vaquero's in 45 Colt and the T/C Contender is chambered 45-70 and if you look the scope pops off it as well.

Before I got my ATC about 7 years ago I carried the T/C in 45-70 with Rynite stocks everywhere it is mostly a safe queen now and yes I still had to finish grinding the recoil pads down.

3218845-70_45_Colts_2_003.jpg
 
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I just uploaded this pic it gives a better perspective to the size of the bear.

You can see my son's Dlask Rem 870 12 gauge leaning against the log behind me.

Grizzly_Hunt_June_2008_034.jpg
 
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