Bear with me a story teller I am not........
I kind of did this hunt with little planning. I had a time slot at work that gave me a small window to work with. I hooked up with an outfitter that ran an operation in the panhandle of Idaho. I would have liked to have hunted with an outfitter that I had hunted with before but he was booked up. This outfitter was not really set up for Traditional bow hunters but given my time restraint I had to make do with what I could find.
My camera is one of the first digitals ever made I think so my picture are not very good.
I flew into Spokane and rented a car for the five hour drive to camp.
It took about 2 hours from Avery, Idaho on dirt logging roads to get to the camp. The camp rests in the Bitterroot Mountains close to the Montana border. This place is absolutely beautiful!!! I arrived at camp on Wednesday the 8th and settled into my new home away from home. The country here is about as steep and rugged as I have seen in my 58 plus years. I thought about an elk hunt here in the future but after hiking around these mountains for a few days thought better of it :)
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(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/2010%20Bear%20Hunt%20Idaho/2010BearhuntIdaho020.jpg)
:thumbsup: :campfire:
:thumbsup:
For the first three days I would be the only hunter in camp as the camp was supposed to be up and running a week later. The outfitter only had time to set up a couple of bait stations but because of my time restraint I decided to risk it. I had communicated to the outfitter that I would be using a Long Bow and would like to be 20yds or less for the set-ups. Well that did not come thru as my stand was 30 yards plus from the bait and the stand was made for a rifle hunter with a small platform, a rest to get in the way and a 8" limb about 8"s above my head? Hmmmmmmmmmm, this is going to be interesting ? Oh well short notice, we'll figure it out........
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/2010%20Bear%20Hunt%20Idaho/2010BearhuntIdaho015.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/2010%20Bear%20Hunt%20Idaho/2010BearhuntIdaho013.jpg)
I have always been the Kind of hunter that seems to close the deal in or on the last day and the last hour of the hunt but that was not to be the case this time. I could not have been in the stand more than two hours and a 225 to 250ish pound Bear made an appearance. He came in directly under my stand and was hidden except for his head. I waited and could not believe my luck as the bait pile was 30 yards to my right and the bear chose to come in from my side. My elation was pre-mature though as the bear smelled or heard something and ran toward the bait. He stopped about 29 to 30yards on the downhill side of the bait and stood there, nose in the air. I got into position (left foot on the second to the top step of the ladder, right knee on the seat to get bow clearance) amazingly I felt pretty good with the shot and let it go. My arrow flew in a perfect ark hit behind the last rib and exited behind the shoulder on the offside leg, a perfect pass thru. I practice at home to 40 yards but would have felt better with a 20 yard shot, it just felt right and it worked. I knew I had made a good shot as the very instant the arrow hit I could see a fist sized blood mark on the entry side and the arrow on the ground on the exit side. The bear expired 25 yards from the hit!!!
I have to say that I was a little worried about my set up. I shoot a Big Jim Buffalo Bow 45@28 and I draw 27 ΒΌ...I spent some time getting my arrows to fly right and ended with GT 35/55 trads full length RW Helical 4" feathers, 100 grain insert and a RW 100 grain Strickland Helix single bevel broadhead. Penetration was not an issue....
It was raining and wet so this picture is not the best.....
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/2010%20Bear%20Hunt%20Idaho/2010BearhuntIdaho002.jpg)
The good thing about getting my bear early is I had time to explore and fish a bit. These are great fishing rivers and streams!!!
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/2010%20Bear%20Hunt%20Idaho/2010BearhuntIdaho033.jpg)
Cutthroat any one?
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/2010%20Bear%20Hunt%20Idaho/2010BearhuntIdaho003.jpg)
How about some Grouse for lunch. Maybe some fish and fowl?
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/2010%20Bear%20Hunt%20Idaho/2010BearhuntIdaho037.jpg)
Good Shootin!!! Congrats on a eal nice bear. Joe
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Very Nice
Thanks guys :)
All in all I had a great hunt and met some good folks.
Good shooting, good pictures, good story telling! Awesome animal! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congratulations on your bear. Great story and pictures.
Great story and pic's :thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Sweet.
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Congrats!! Looks like rugged country for sure.
wv lungbuster, it is rugged and steep!!!
The biggest difference is how deep these canyons are, packing animals out in steep country is one thing but having to do it from a mile or more
deep is another :) I don't have those kind of wheels anymore :)
redant 60/65 .....PM sent
Very cool! Nice shootin' and you gotta love the bonus of the spruce grouse and cutties.
Travis
You got that right Travis :)
Congrats on the fine bear and good shot.
That is some fine country.
That looks NICE...
What a hunt. I'm happy for you. Looks beautiful there to boot.
Kip that was awesome great bear. Blake
Kip, I couldn't be happier for you my friend! Excellent Bear. That whole trip sounded just perfect. Turns out there was Big Mojo in that Buffalo. Thanks for sharing your story and pics with us and Congrats! :notworthy: :clapper: :archer2:
I forgot to mention something that happened on the trip. I have been hunting around the woods all my life and in that time I have seen mountain lions three times and always at a great distance. On the way out of the mountains a doe jumped into the road fallowed by the biggest cat I have ever seen. I almost hit him!!! He was less than two feet from the front of my rig :) That was amazing to be that close to one of these great cats :)
Thanks guys :) I think you're right there was some big MOJO in the Buff :)
Looks like a great hunt in some awesome country.
Wow, what a great hunt - my favorites things to do Trout fish. grouse and bow hunt.
congrats and thanks for taking us along!
><>
Glenn
Congratulations! Great hunt, great story telling, well done!
:wavey:
F-Manny
Great when a plan comes together..... great looking bear ! Congrats
Froggy
Now that is uber cool!
Thank you for sharing! Great job! Pictures are great. Looks like a fabulous time. Good lessons to be learned from your experience include:
1. Use a set up you have confidence in.
2. Use a set up you can be very flexible with in terms of shooting positions.
3. It's imperative to have enough layers on when trapping in the north.
great story, and awesome pictures, with a very happy ending.
Congratulations!!
I may very well be coming from a different camp but I think it could very well be a case of "what goes around, comes around!"
You certainly deserved it if that's the case. I am loving the "Lost Creek" bow you so generously gave me.
Just maybe your whole trip was a kind of "Good on you!" for your own goodness!
Congratulations on your hunt, your whole camp experience there and your bear.
Thank you for sharing it all with us.
God bless,Mudd
PS" Another huge thank you from my heart for the kindness shown to me.
Great story and pics! You are a story teller my friend, and a helluva fine shot it appears. WAY TO GO!
Quote from ceme24 ............
"It's imperative to have enough layers on when trapping in the north."
.....and maybe some bear trap repellant :)
Thanks guys, it was a great trip .......
Kip- I forgot to tell you, Buffalo's like bears. The first big game animal taken with a "Buffalo bow" was a very large blackie in Colorado. They are drawn to them or maybe the other way around.
I am proud to know that you are enjoying Your "Buff" and that you had the confidence to make such a shot with it.
Congradulations! I guess I better get your other Thunder Child done now that your back home.
BigJim
Thanks Jim, only had a little over a month to bond with the "Buff" but that bow felt like home from the first shot :)
Can't wait for the Thunder Children to get here to meet their big Brother :)
Congrats Kip!! Great shooting buddy, it looks like the Buff bow is working out really good for you! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Well done, Congratulations. God surely blessed you!! Steve
:clapper:
Wow for not being a story teller you sure spin a good enough yarn to put a smile on my face. Congrats on a great bear.
Kip,That is just fantastic,I am so pumped up I can hardly stand it I leave in two days for a northern alberta Elk hunt with a couple Southern Tradgangers and my son and his friend and Dad for a Week of bugling Bulls.Looks like the Big jim was up to Snuff!LOL.
way to go kip! Excellent hunt for sure. again excellent job
Thanks again guys :)
Ken, the Buff is working out real well ...
Now I am the jealous one Steve..... Good luck buddy, pick a spot and let her R.I.P. .... Elk are without doubt my favorite animal to hunt ...
:bigsmyl:
No shortage of scenery in Idaho, nice bear and great shooting. How is the condition of the bears, at this time of the year?
Hud, this bear was in perfect shape. The coat was thick, it still had good claws. I did not look like it had done much digging. The bear had enough fat to keep my boots in good shape for the rest of my life :)
Pitchur perfect! What an excellent adventure!
Kip,
Congratulations on a fine Bear.. are you doing a rug or a wall mount? :wavey:
Congratulations!
Way to go Kip, Congrats!
Very Nice!!!
Very Nice
chris <><
Nice hunt, congradulations. :notworthy:
Congrats on a great shot and the short recovery, I've hunted the avery area a few times and it will tast your fitness level for sure, Thanks for sharing;
cecil
Some fine shooting there!!! Glad the last minute plans worked out for ya! Congrats!!!
Thanks again guys :)
Gene I am going to do a rug and the skull like yours ... The cost got a little spookie but I have until next spring to pay for it $$$$$$$$$ Oh well they can't bury me with it :)
Kip,
Congratulations...Truely a good man with good fortune.
God Bless, Pierre and Jean-Pierre
Great pics and story.........Wonderful shot!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :archer:
Great job, congratulations!
Wow! Great story and pics. A trip to remember, and for us one to dream about. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Nice work !
Awesome
This was my first bear.... Hmmmmmm may have to try this again :)
good job buddy.way to adapt.
You are NOW, indeed, a story teller.
Thanks for posting, and sincere congrats! :thumbsup:
Kip Nice bear and good shooting I love the A@H limbs I bought from you Jerry
Thanks Jerry I'm glad you are enjoying the Limbs :)
That's nice! I spend alot time in the panhandle of Idaho....It is sweet! Miss it already! NICE bear!..Just goes to shows how some outfitters will work for you.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Sounds like a perfect hunt. That display of "Hook" is too much.
Trapper Hook hanging on the wall kind of got my attention :)
What a great hunt and story! Thanks Kip!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great story and pictures, love to hear a good hunt.
Looks Good Kip, You hunted noy far from my old stompping grounds in Montana. Nice job on the bear.
Chuck
Awesome, congrats on a fine bear! :thumbsup:
Great bear and great pics. I could just walk into country like that and never come back. Just walk right off the grid. Thanks for taking us along.
Kip,I don't know how I have lost this!Very nice bear story and adventure.Congrats for a good shot.
Kip, like the others, congratulations is the first thing I think of....but there is more. You clearly sound like a guy who can see the glass is half full instead of half empty. Where a lot of guys would have whined and griped about a less than ideal set-up, you took what you got and made a great hunt out of it. For that I have high admiration for you. May you have many more great hunts. :clapper:
Hey my friend,what a great story and great pics,Beautiful country.I always liked trips where a little fishing was invoved.Topped off with a great bear ! Kudus my friend :thumbsup:
Well done. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
:thumbsup: Congrats!!!
Thanks guys, these mountains really are about as far off the grid as you can get without pack mules and there is lots of wilderness for them.
Arrow k9 you picked the right place to walk off, beautiful, steep, deep are the words that come to mind.
I'm going back next spring for a turkey hunt bought at a benefit auction for the Wild turkey Federation in May if the conditions are right I might try to combine that hunt with another bear hunt.
I don't have a lot to compare Idaho to as this was my second ever bear hunt (both in Idaho) but no bugs very reasonable outfitter prices and drop dead gorgeous country with the bonus of some really nice bears.
I'll give you a trail cam taste of the quality that you might find.
As far as we know this bear still roams the mountains.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/SUNP1002.jpg)
I haven't got the finished Bear Rug yet but I got the clean Skull back....
How this for a set of Choppers :)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/BearSkull002-1.jpg)
Kip,
Congratulations on a fine bear, couldn't have happened to a better fellow.
Sweet!
Congratulations,the pictures make me miss the mountains
Very nice :thumbsup:
Looks like leg meets bear trap!
Excellent!! Thanks for sharing.
way cool !! :clapper: :clapper:
Congrads on the Bear. Man that poor Mountain man,one tough Ombre' !!
Thanks for sharing.
I don't know? I had no idea that some much of my man closet would be donated to my finished Bear!!! I didn't take a very good picture and the silver in the cape does not show up that good, but for my first bear I'm very pleased :)
That is the Big Jim Buffalo Bow I used and the re-fletched Arrow with it's re-sharpened Broadhead :)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/2010%20Bear%20Hunt%20Idaho/MorrisonIlfmini13Cfoamcarbon564528001.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/2010%20Bear%20Hunt%20Idaho/MorrisonIlfmini13Cfoamcarbon564528004.jpg) (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/2010%20Bear%20Hunt%20Idaho/MorrisonIlfmini13Cfoamcarbon564528005.jpg)
Great story and pics! Also, congrats on a nice bear too!!
:thumbsup:
well done ,nice bear ,great story :notworthy:
Beautiful area and nice shot.
Good Job Kip!!!
God Bless