Idaho Bear Hunt Report

pete p · June 18, 2015, 01:22:00 PM

great story, incredible scenery! thanks

R. W. Mackey · June 18, 2015, 02:01:00 PM

Great story Roy, the country and that river were spectacular.
Nice shot on the bear, June is tough on hides, getting pretty hot by then.
Knew you were getting a new Blacktail, looks like you shoot it well.

RW

Bowwild · June 18, 2015, 02:25:00 PM

Thanks for the comments folks.

The shot was 16 yards and almost level. It felt much like the thousands of shots I've taken from my basement range.

There was immediate blood where the bear had been standing. I didn't follow the blood trail though because I knew where the bear had tumbled.

My grandson (oldest of 5) has a new favorite uncle...my brother Tony.

Bowwild · June 18, 2015, 02:30:00 PM

Actually as for next hunting plans:

I drew a KY Cow Elk Archery tag for this coming October. I'll be trying to extend my effective range by 10 yards for that hunt.

I'm looking into (for our group) one of the following for 2016:

--January or February -- Pigs or Javaline in TX?

--May or June -- Bear in Quebec or Manitoba

--July or August -- Fishing and Sitka Deer in Alaska

The AK trip is the one I'm working on the hardest.

June 18, 2015, 03:47:00 PM

If you end up in Tx, let me know and maybe we can meet up!

Bisch

Biathlonman · June 18, 2015, 03:55:00 PM

Awesome adventure.

If you can stretch your effective range to 40 yards you'll be golden on the cow elk. I can't tell you how many times they would stand and look at me from about 40. If you'd take a step closer, they'd take a step back. They were cautious around people but most we encountered didn't seem scared if they had that 40 yard buffer. Definitely not western elk!

Florida lime · June 18, 2015, 04:44:00 PM

Way to go Roy !

Alexander Traditional · June 18, 2015, 04:55:00 PM

Gorgeous country. Congratulations on the bear!

Cyclic-Rivers · June 18, 2015, 05:52:00 PM

Awesome Trip. Congrats on your bear and an excellent shot but I bet your best memories will be from the camp life over the hunt!

mangonboat · June 18, 2015, 06:01:00 PM

Great story about a great hunt. Hunting with family is special.

cacciatore · June 18, 2015, 06:04:00 PM

Congrats Roy, great adventure.

ESP · June 18, 2015, 06:27:00 PM

Congrats on a great hunt. Idaho is one of the few states out west that I have not been to. Looks like I might be missing something.

oldway · June 18, 2015, 06:32:00 PM

Thanks for the story and pics!Congrats.

Blueridge · June 18, 2015, 07:23:00 PM

Great hunt Roy ! Congrats to your family and thanks for sharing. Your quiver should get there real soon.

Phillip Fields · June 18, 2015, 07:33:00 PM

Great story on hunting bear in Idaho. For your 2016 adventure all the hunts you list sound like fun. I really enjoy the pig/javelina hunt in Texas. My wife and I go to south Texas for pigs every year, usually in Feb. We stalk javelina during the day and hunt pigs at night.

durp · June 18, 2015, 09:06:00 PM

congrates Roy...glad you enjoyed my back yard...sounds like your gradson had more fun than the rest of ya...hope he gets a chance to come back with a bow and fly rod someday soon !!!

btw roy thats not steep it's just average, you should see where i sent a nother tradganger for his spot and stalk bear hunt...he didn't get a bear but saw mt goats everyday. (now thats steep)...LOL

Stickbow · June 18, 2015, 10:16:00 PM

DiamondD · June 18, 2015, 11:55:00 PM

Great story and congrats on the bear. I just went and checked out their website wanting a better look at the type of bow you are shooting and those are beautiful bows.

Thanks for sharing.

Dean

Bowwild · June 19, 2015, 07:55:00 AM

Durp,
I saw some of that goat range from the St. Joe higway. Yep, that stuff is practically overhanging steep! Much of it didn't even have trees hanging on. My son was driving that highway on the way to camp. He declared seeing something "white" on the mountain. Frankly, I didn't know we were in goat range. We figured he must have seen a goat but ribbed him the rest of the trip for having mistaken "Lyle Lovett's pony" for a mountain goat!

Bisch,
Thanks for the tip on the "ding". I bought the GN detachable system before the hunt and put it on the bow but didn't take it on the hunt. I didn't notice the ding when I removed the quiver the first time.

However, after your insight I inspected the bow and the quiver QD mount and you are absolutely correct. I had screwed the small bolt down too far into the mount. So I adjusted it and now it won't "ding" any more limbs.

I have another GN with Blacktail logo coming from Stan in Georgia, he donated to the St. Judes Auction. I will be careful with this screw setting.

Your advice has surely saved me from dinging other bows on my rack.

So, that swing into the steps with the too-short haul line didn't leave a "momento" mark on the Blacktail.

Thanks!

June 19, 2015, 09:01:00 AM

Sorry! Did not mean to take a momento away from your hunt! I just knew as soon as I saw that mark where it came from, as I've got a bow or two with the same mark.

If you had to move the screw, I would completely take it out of the mount, add some loctite, and screw it back in to the proper depth. I think what happens is that once it is loose, it moves just a tiny bit every time you lossen/tighten the thumbscrew, until it is sticking out the back, and scratching the bow.

Bisch