What a fine time ......... Next year.

Before the Week 2 Crew starts regaling us with their stories and successes, I want to say "Thanks!" for a great thread.  As an alum of BQ4, the pictures and hunt reports stirred a lot of wonderful memories.  It was good to see faces of some of the men with whom I shared my hunt who became friends in the space of that short week.

Doc, if you kill the biggest bear four or five more years in a row, folks are going to start believing it's not just "luck!"  And, the La Tuque Skinner looks like it is going to be a beautiful and special piece.  Don't you ever sleep?

Fred, yours was an excellent story, well told!  There's so much about it that shows what hunting is really about.  I'm glad you had such a wonderful hunt.

Thanks for taking the time to share some of your experience with us, guys.  I really appreciate it!

Daryl

What a great week of hunting, and stories well told!
Jeff, for the record, how many times have you been to BQ, and of those how many times have you taken the largest bear?  There is more than random luck involved there!!

Fred, I've always known you were one of the hardest hunters I've ever met, and your story just confirms that.  Outstanding week of hunting!

Congratulations to all - first timers, biggest bear, supremely challenged - every story is outstanding!  TP's bear camp is as good as it gets!

Whip,
Don't be too quick to think I took the largest bear!

I glued up the La Tuque Skinner this morning...but I had a little fun first.  We all know Bowdoc is a little more unorthodox that most of us  :eek:   In the past he has mentioned jumping out of his stand to do hand to hand combat with a spear!  So I figured I'd give him the option: either learn how to shoot this arrow or hand to hand combat    

 

Can you tell about how you package your meat for the long trip how, such as do you bone it out and what how do you take care of the hides?

ranger 3,
There are three freezers in camp run by generators.  Hides and boned out meat is frozen.  When bears come in there are usually 2-4 guys skinning and getting shoulders, hams, loins, and even inside tenderloins cut off.  You then can be as picky in cleaning up your own meat as you like.  Your tag is filled so you got plenty of time...unless you shoot on Friday night.  We don't salt hides as freezing is a preferred method.

La Tuque Bear Skinner finished...OAL 7" same as my two skinners in camp.  Forged from a 3" scrap of 1084 steel and weathered bear bone. It is incredibly light in the hand...just might have to be next year's BQ7 Big Bear Knife    

       

     

     

     

Top is my Bear skinner from this year.

     

Rebecca Parker sheath adds the final touch!

 

QuoteOriginally posted by Whip:
Jeff, for the record, how many times have you been to BQ, and of those how many times have you taken the largest bear?  There is more than random luck involved there!!

Well said, Joe.  That was the point I was trying to make with my quip. Feeble attempts at "comedy" don't always translate well to a forum, I know! Jeff has shown himself to be an amazing hunter, with great skill, decision making, and timing on shot selection.

PS- That is a great looking knife, Doc, and chock-full of significance!

great Bears and well told stories,,, Mike what did your Bear weigh? the picture looks like it is a nice one.
congratulations to all.

Great stories guys.  Congrat's on all the bears.  I have got to get back up there.

QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
Whip,
Don't be too quick to think I took the largest bear!

True enough.  We'll need to wait for the week two stories to unfold.  Those boys should be about rested up by now, shouldn't they??

But whether your bear gets beat or not, it is still one heck of a fine bear!!  You're doing something right up there  

Waiting for the week 2 guys to chime in...im dying here!!  

The combination of Tippet knife and Parker sheath is intoxicating!  Great work!

QuoteOriginally posted by gregg dudley:
The combination of Tippet knife and Parker sheath is intoxicating!  Great work!

Totally agree

It's Monday already.....what happened to group 2?    :confused:

QuoteOriginally posted by buckeye_hunter:
It's Monday already.....what happened to group 2?     :confused:  

Yea, WTheck, y'all going to make us beg for pictures!  

Week 2 seems to have a lot of gear to unpack...so I'll keep it going with a picture of Future La Tuque Bear Skinners   :rolleyes:  

 

I can see a couple really interesting potential handles in there.  The twisty one at the lower right is neat!

Jeff, better hide them from the dogs or you will have La Tuque bones buried all over your yard!

Jeff, I wonder which one of those might be from your past bears, or perhaps my first bear? Beautiful knives you've struck since your return         The suspense is building in anticipation of the tales of week two.