I didnt get many days this spring to get out after Black Bear but June 6 was an incredible hunt.  My few days available to hunt the previous two weeks were squelched by terrible spring weather.  June 6 would probably be my second to last day of the season to get out...and was it a doozey!!

This hunt begins in a SW Montana drainage of the "big woods" variety.  Wilderness hunting.  
The hunt begins with a steep, rough climb for about an hour up a finger ridge.  Then it tapers off as you continue to climb towards the "big" main ridge another 45 minutes or so.  Once you get the initial crappy part of the hike out of the way its possible you could see a bear in any of this awesome bruin habitat.

After testing my legs on the steep climb I had been into the "good stuff" for about an hour and I was just about 400' below intersecting the big ridge.  I had stopped to video some mule deer that were feeding on some of the new green grass. I wanted to have some footage to show my kids when I returned home.  My camera was making beeping noises when I pressed buttons so for a few minutes I got into the menu function so I could turn off "all sounds". When I was done some movement close in front of me caught my attention.  Looking up I found myself about 40 yds away from a head-on Grizzly Bear.  He was feeding right toward me and didnt have a clue about me being there.  Fingering my pepper spray I figured I better introduce myself.  Thank god it was a single bear and not a sow with cubs.  "Hey Bear!" I said.  He looked behind him so I said it again.  "Hey Bear!"  We locked eyes for about 3-5 seconds and then he slowly turned his head away from me and took off running, making a very angry huffing noise as he did so.  Phew!  Got my heart rate up just typing it! I managed to get a couple seconds of video as he ran off.  The kids will like that I thought...the wife...maybe not so much.        :D        

After climbing the rest of the way up to the main ridge I had a choice to go left or right.  I went right (south) and still-hunted my way through some fabulous ridgetop habitat.  I had cell service on the very top so I sent out a text about my Grizz encounter.  (Note to self: Dont include my Wife or Mother in such texts in the future).                I took a short video.

When I got to the little "knob" I figured the bears had been on I took a few minutes to slow down, test the wind some more and cool off.  I also put on my fleece "sneaky slippers".  At this point I had the wind mostly in my face which felt like I had won the lottery as it seems to not happen very often.  The wind direction being what it was and pretty consitant I was able to start my stalk right away and thats what I did.  I needed to lay eyes on a bear so I started oozing forward.

More later...gotta run.

     

   

Shoot straight, Shinken

 

Very exciting so far!  Keep it coming!    

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

Randy you're a tease!

Don't leave us hanging!

This sounds fun!!    keep it comin!!

Steve

Hey Randy, where'd ya go?  

Sorry guys I have some other stuff going on I cant postpone.  I want to get back on here as soon as possible to finish this tale.

I hope I remember how to use photobucket!      

Will be either tonight or tomorrow morning at the latest.

R.

Congrats Randy. Thought you told Hunter you was not interested in chasing bears this year    

On another subject, how is the pup coming along?

Way to go Randy!!

 
Have a feeling this one is gonna get good!

Love to read bout your bear hunts Randy!! I feel congrats are in order!  

Sweet !

Yes! A good nail biter!

Hey Randy,

I'm in the panhandle heading out to fly fish with my son!    :D . I'll be checking back to hear "the story".  Congrats!   Heading over towards Columbia Falls later in the week....

Tim

I am liking where this is going.

We are waiting... And we know Sunday mornings are slow for you.

Yep, that is one of my "bucket list" hunts.  I want to stalk and kill a big black bear.  Tried to do it in SE Alaska and failed    :( .  It may be the way I see the Brooks Range as I see my Dall sheep hunts slipping away, but I would not mind trying MT, WY, or even on the Prickly Pear flats in AZ.

One of my all time favorite pixs was the cover of an old PBS magazine with Dick Robertson shooting at a blackie on a logging road in Montana! I'm with Steve O that stalking a blackie is at the top of the bucket list for sure...mine just has to be in MT so I am really looking forward to Randy's tale!!!!!