Well last year I had the hunt of a lifetime in one night. I made it up to Ryan's camp (Stickflingers) and killed a beautiful bear. The bear of a lifetime really. Here's the post: http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=104915#000000
After I got home the St Jude auction was going full force, and I was fortunate enough to win a skull mount donated by Brad Harriman (fireman_3311). I got the skull to him a few months later and he put his beatles to work. Not only did the beatles do their job well, but Brad worked his magic too! I got it in the mail today as I had fully intended on driving over there to the "Show Me State" when it was done this spring. Not only is Brad a fine fella for donating his services to Tradgang for St. Jude, he is official scorer for B&C, P&Y, and Compton. I have never been a "book" guy. I have killed a dozen or so P&Y minimum whitetails and mule deer but have never entered them. I had a change of heart with this critter and will enter it to honor the animal...I know how special he is and just want to dagnabit :) So, if you are not a score guy, avert your eyes. It is not meant to brag. It is to show how great this animal is, the quality of the bears in Manitoba (and specifically Ryan Delago's camp), and how special a 7 foot bear with a 20 inch skull is.
Thanks again for Brad Harriman's work. It could not have turned out better...and thanks for donating to St Jude Children's Research Hospital.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/IMG_1555.jpg)
*Chocolate Thunder
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/Bearskull001.jpg)
*Beautiful Skull Job
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/Bearskull003.jpg)
*B&C Score
Great trophy, well done!
Mike that's a beautiful bear and skull mount!
congratulations, friend.
Congrats Mike Awesome !
To cool my friend :bigsmyl:
Great story and great bear, enjoyed reading it again. Congrats!
Yep, Brads a good guy and does great work.
Tracy
:thumbsup: Love seeing that bear!
Great bear and story! A well done skull is hard to beat for showcasing an animal like a bear, hog, javelina, or big cat!
Scoring critters really has nothing to do with boasting, we are ensuring that future generations see what our animals were like during this time.
It is a historical document and proof that the conservation efforts that hunters undertook long before the tree-huggers were involved worked and continue to work. We owe it to the critters and the future generations.
I love skull mounts!
Thats awesome man. Can't wait to see it in person! As Ive said before congrats my friend.
Mike that is one helluva bear and a tremendous job on the skull! Sure would like to shoot one that big someday.
Way to go Buddy!! That is a GREAT bear!! Congrats :thumbsup:
Toad of a blackie right there. Congrats on the fine bear and an even better cause.
Hey Mike, that is a very exceptional animal and deserves to be is the record book! Also, you have every right to be proud of him! I know I would be! Congratulations again pard, you done good!
Awesome bear, congrats! :thumbsup:
Nice looking skull as well :thumbsup:
gorgeous congrats again
cool! make sure you show us that fullsize mount when you get it done. love the color of your bear, :thumbsup:
Just saw that brute in person. I'm telling everyone that pic doesn't do that skull justice. Just absolutely amazing. Congrats again.
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Great Bear!!!
Mike,
Proud for you bud. That is one fine bear.
Congrats,
Lanier
What a trophy Mike! Have you thought about how you will display it?
Joe
Thanks everyone! Brad did an awesome job. I plan on having a full body of the bear. Should be done in 4 weeks or so. The skull will be incorporated into the rock/pedistal and will be able to be "handled".
Shucks Mike, thanks for the kind words!!! It was a pleasure to work on a bear of that caliber!!! Heres a few pics that I took as well...
Here it is next to a good average sized skull
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b147/fireman_3311/17116.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b147/fireman_3311/20316.jpg)
Very nice!
Great bear! I wish Stickflingers wasn't booked through 2015; I would love a chance at a beauty like that. Congrats on a real brute!
Gosh, that is a heck of a bear! Mine just got delivered to the taxidermist...I need to see pictures of your mount Mike.
As soon as I get it back I will post up some pics Steve. I have my wife living in an 800 foot apartment in the barn while our house is being built. When she finds out she gets to share that space with "Chocolate" AND our 2 kids she is gonna love me fo' real :)
Hah! I'd tell the taxidermist to take his time!
Happy for you brother...awesome on all levels!!!!
Very cool. That is a brute. Always like to see St Judes pay offs. That takes some time and talent to get a skull looking that great.